Falls Responders Honored For Saving A Life At Graduation

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA — First responders save lives. Recently, the Falls Township Board of Supervisors recognized a group of 10 of them who did just that recently.

During the supervisors’ August meeting, Police Chief William Wilcox presented unit citations to 10 police, fire and rescue squad members, along with Pennsbury school personnel, who assisted in resuscitating a man who went into cardiac arrest during Pennsbury High School’s graduation.

Supervisors Chairman Bob Harvie commended the emergency responders’ efforts and said their selfless action "certainly warrants attention and warrants awards."

Wilcox said the department’s awards committee witnessed the incident and recommended the responders for the Lifesaving Award.

The honorees are: Mike Lowe, Joe Tomcjak, Mike McClellan Jr., Jim McCole, John Weiss, Gary Campbell, Steve Lowden, Brian Russell, Tony Montonario and Rich Dippolito.

"Our emergency services did a bang-up job," Wilcox said. "They did a great, great job."

Wilcox said an automated external defibrillator was used to help revive the man, who was then
transported to the hospital. He has since fully recovered.

Wilcox publicly thanked those in attendance for their role in saving the man’s life and shared the police department’s appreciation for fellow first responders’ day-to-day assistance in emergencies.

"You’re our backup," Wilcox said to honorees. "When we need you, you’re always there."

Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito, one of the honorees, called the lifesaving incident a "team effort."

"Everybody had a hand in something," Dippolito said. "It worked out well."