Officers Who Saved Resident's Life Receive Award

A number of Hellertown police officers were honored for their contributions to keeping residents safe at Borough Council's Monday meeting.

Police Chief Robert Shupp presented his department's annual awards to officers he said went "above and beyond" in performing their duties over the past year.

Among the awards presented were the following:

Excellence in DUI Enforcement: Cpl. Matt Andree, Ofc. Carl Fischer, Ofc. Tim Piotrowski, Ofc. John Donato

Excellence in Narcotics Enforcement: Ofc. John Donato, Ofc. Kevin McCartney, Ofc. Tim Piotrowski, Cpl. Matt Andree, Ofc. Dominick Fragano, Inv. Michael Dattilio, Ofc. Michael Twerdi, Ofc. Mike Scicutella

Officer of the Year: Ofc. Michael Twerdi

Shupp explained that the winner of the Officer of the Year award was chosen from a field of candidates nominated by fellow officers.

The honor is bestowed upon a sworn officer who exhibits "exceptional professionalism" and bravery, excels in performing his duties, and maintains positive relationships with community members.

Shupp also presented the Hellertown Police Department's first-ever Lifesaving Award to two officers he said helped save the life of a borough resident on July 8, 2012.

On that day, Scicutella and Dattilio responded to a home to perform a welfare check on a resident, after police received a worried phone call from a mother who had received a strange text message from her son.

The mother was out of town at the time, Shupp explained.

He said that after the officers determined that a car was running in the home's garage, they broke in and discovered "the male slumped over" from inhaling carbon monoxide.

An ambulance was called and the resident's life was ultimately saved because of the officers' quick-thinking, Shupp told council and family members who were present for the awards ceremony.

Council members led a round of applause for the officers and thanked all of the award winners for their service to the borough.