Abington Officers Honored By DA For Preventing 'Suicide By Cop'

ABINGTON, PA — A pair of Abington Township police officers were among those honored by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office during a ceremony on Thursday afternoon.

Sgt. Oswaldo Toledo and Officer Gary Martinez were recognized with Law Enforcement Commendations for "the successful and safe resolution of situation with an armed man who wanted to commit

suicide by cop, thereby saving the man’s life."

Just before midnight on Sept. 25, Martinez spotted the man and stopped to talk to him.

"The officer offered to give the man a ride to his home," Abington Township Police Chief William J. Kelly said. "The man had both of his hands in his pockets and refused to remove them."

The officer then found a gun on the man while patting him down and the male drew the gun, began waving it, and saying "shoot me," Kelly said.

Toledo, who was also on the scene, lunged at the suspect in an attempt to disarm him before anyone got hurt. Kelly said the man's gun discharged several times during the struggle, but fortunately no one was hurt seriously before he was taken into custody.

Authorities later discovered the man had said goodbye to his family and left a suicide note.

"Needless to say, I am very appreciative of the dedicated and courageous actions of the officers who spared the life of this suicidal man," Kelly said at the time.

Toledo and Martinez were just two of 34 law enforcement members and civilians who were honored with commendations during the ceremony at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus.

Civilian Commendations

Rachel Attebery, Philadelphia
Ryan Porto, Havertown
For rescuing a trapped driver and her baby from a burning vehicle following an accident in
Lower Merion Township.

Chris Doerr, North Penn High School employee
Chris Sharkey, North Penn High School employee
For quick action in assessing the fire at North Penn High School and helping direct the efforts of
responding fire companies.

Deavona Robinson, Pottstown
Rommell Robinson, Pottstown
For saving the life of an unconscious overdose victim in Pottstown by performing CPR until
emergency personnel arrived with naloxone.

Ronald Shields, King of Prussia
For rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a car crash in Gladwyne.

Ernesto Teutle, Hatfield
For his quick-thinking and decisive action that helped rescue his sister from an assault by an
intruder.

Law Enforcement Commendations

Sgt. Oswaldo Toledo, Abington Township Police Department
Officer Gary Martinez, Abington Township Police Department
For the successful and safe resolution of situation with an armed man who wanted to commit
suicide by cop, thereby saving the man’s life.

Officer Joseph Morrissey, Cheltenham Township Police Department
For the exceptional investigation into the death of a 92-year-old pedestrian who was struck and
killed by SEPTA bus driver Katrina Sanders.

Officer Stephen Winneberger, Limerick Township Police
For astute observations on routine traffic patrol that led to the arrest of two suspects wanted for
murder in Michigan.

Officer Eric Fries, Lower Merion Township Police Department
Officer Vincenzo Tucciarone, Lower Merion Township Police Department
For their quick-thinking actions that saved a man from committing suicide on train tracks in
Ardmore.

Officer Stephen Patton, Lower Merion Township Police Department
For rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a car crash in Gladwyne.

Officer Scott Burnick, Lower Pottsgrove Police Department
For the heads-up traffic stop that led to the apprehension of a man wanted for a Pottstown armed
robbery using a sawed-off shotgun.

Corporal Thomas Ward, Montgomery Township Police Department
For a traffic stop and subsequent search of a vehicle, motel room and storage locker that led to
the apprehension of a drug trafficker.

Trooper Jason Henley, Pennsylvania State Police, Skippack Station
Trooper Susan Rivchin, Pennsylvania State Police, Skippack Station
For dedication in protecting drivers and making Montgomery County roadways safer through
identification of impaired drivers.

Sgt. Michael Ponto, Pottstown Borough Police Department
For saving a gunshot victim’s life by employing first-aid procedures that prevented him from
bleeding to death.

Detective Michael Paul, Towamencin Township Police Department
For the exemplary arson investigation into the fire at North Penn High School set by a juvenile.

Det. Sgt. James Kelly, Upper Moreland Township Police Department
Detective John Schramm, Upper Moreland Township Police Department
For the challenging investigation that led to charges against a mother and her boyfriend for child
abuse that left the 3-year-old child with permanent head injuries.

Detective Charles Leeds, Norristown Police Department
Detective Michael Glauner, Pottstown Police Department
Detective Robert Hill, Jr., Abington Police Department
For the exemplary investigation of a one-day crime spree where the defendant, Kenneth Jones,
robbed four different victims at gunpoint in Norristown, Pottstown and Abington.

Detective Thomas Wittig, Whitpain Township Police Department
Detective Mark Welsh, Jenkintown Police Department
Detective Daniel Grassi, Delaware State Police
Supervisory Special Agent Scott Duffey, FBI
For the long-term investigation into multiple bank robberies committed in Pennsylvania and
Delaware over a number of years and the successful capture of Joseph Mieluchowski.

Officer James Throop, Souderton Police Department
Officer Wayne L. Black, Souderton Police Department
Sgt. David Bechtel, Telford Police Department
Officer Ryan J. Kochersperger, Telford Police Department (now Franconia Police)
For saving the life of a woman being threatened by her husband in a violent domestic situation
that ended with the heavily armed man safely being taken into custody

Patch file photo