15 Lower Merion Officers Honored By Montco District Attorney

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — More than a dozen officers in the Lower Merion Police Department have been recognized for exemplary service to the community by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele honored eight civilians and 43 law enforcement officers, including 15 from Lower Merion, with commendations for their extraordinary efforts and exemplary work in protecting and serving the residents of Montgomery County.

Awardees were honored at a socially distanced ceremony at the Montgomery County Fire Academy and streamed for family and friends to watch.

"Montgomery County residents are always willing to step up to help our law enforcement officers do their job of keeping us all safe and making sure criminals are apprehended and prosecuted," Steele said. "And we are blessed here in Montgomery County to have some of the finest law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania, working each and every day at an extraordinarily high level of professionalism. These honorees are among the best, and I am proud to honor each of these civilians and law enforcement officers for their actions."

Below are the honored Lower Merion officers:

For extraordinary work in saving a family and its pets after a defendant threw a firebomb on their home’s porch, then successfully investigating and arresting the defendant.

• Ofc. Eric Fries
• Ofc. Christopher Kubik
• Ofc. Alexander Muller
• Ofc. John O'Brien
• Ofc. Michael Pleasants
• Ofc. Andrew Rook
• Ofc. Jeffrey Seamans
• Det. Bryn Garner
• Det. Joseph Hunsicker
• Det. John Mick
• Det. Greg Pitchford

According to police, this stemmed from an investigation and arrest of a man responsible for an arson of an occupied residence that occurred on Jan. 26, 2019 in Bala Cynwyd. Two days after the incident, multiple felony charges were filed.

For the heads-up arrest of two individuals who ultimately had executed a string of armed robberies of 7-Eleven convenience stores.

• Ofc. Daniel Dalton
• Ofc. Joseph Lalor
• Ofc. Robert McGuire
• Ofc. Michael Theiss

Police said the arrests were made on Oct. 30, 2029 following a traffic stop on a suspicious car near the 7-Eleven store on City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd. The occupants were found to be in possession of very distinctive clothing, a note that read "give me all the money, right now," and a firearm. Both men were soon developed as suspects and charged in recent armed robberies at 7-Eleven stores in surrounding jurisdictions.