South Whitehall Police Honored at Ceremony

Responding to an alarm company call, South Whitehall police officer Timothy C. Shoudt came face-to-face with a burglar carrying a safe out of the , early on May 10, 2010.

The man dropped the safe and ran.

And Shoudt gave chase.

When the man turned to fight, Shoudt overcame him, taking him into custody.

For that service -- which South Whitehall officials said was done "at the risk of his own safety, under adverse conditions" -- Shoudt was given a top award of Meritorious Service on Thursday night at South Whitehall's Police Week Awards Ceremony.

The ceremony, held at , saw awards given to township police officers in six categories, for their distinguished service in 2010 and 2011. Shoudt received a total of seven awards, and several other officers received multiple awards.

Among the work recognized:

* A team of officers (Cpls. Paul Dickinson and Kevin Edelheiser, officer Timothy Shoudt, Darvin Faust, Rich Garner and Ryan Rhoads) coordinated efforts to find an elderly woman, suffering from Alzheimer's, who had wandered from home.

* Officers Timothy Shoudt and James Sandrock and Cpl. Scott Rehrig apprehended suspects attempting to pass forged checks at a bank.

* Officers Thomas Webb and Keith Heffelfinger quickly took into custody a suspected jewel thief.

* Cpl. George Hummel pulled a DUI suspect from a burning car.

* Officers Richard Meckes, Richard Mirarchi, Joseph Purfield, Matthew Gardner and Cpl. David Gross arrested suspects for stealing tires and wheels from cars at a local dealership.

* Officer Nicholas Erdo tracked down suspects who passed counterfeit money.

* Officers Thomas Bammer, David Jones and Ronald Scholler gave chase to a suspect in a burglary at a gas station, quickley bringing the person into custody.

* Officers Scott Smith, Ronald Scholler, Jeffrey Natysyn, Richard Mirarchi, Rich Garner, Jason Lakey and Cpl. David Gross apprehended a robbery suspect who had fled on foot from a Game Stop store.

Officers also received recognition for drug busts, DUI arrests and traffic safety enforcement. 

Police Chief Tom Toth congratulated those receiving awards. "Your actions show your dedication and commitment to the profession," he said.

Civilian Service Awards also were given to a young girl and one woman who alerted police to problems, one resulting in the capture of a robbery suspect.

Superintendant Richard Sniscak was the master of ceremonies. Parkland student , who resides in South Whitehall, sang the National Anthem.

Exceptional Service Awards went to Cpl. Kevin Edelheiser (5), Cpl. Paul T. Dickinson (4), officers Nicholad J. Erdo (4), Timothy C. Shoudt (3), Darvin R. Faust (2), Richard Garner (2); Cpl. David A. Gross (2), officer Jason V. Grozier (2), Cpl. George J. Hummel (2), officer Richard A. Mirarchi (2), Sgt. Jason Negron (2), officers Ronad G. Scholler Jr. (2), Thomas H. Bammer, Matthew Gardner, Andrew K. Gardo, Keith A. Heffelfinger, David M. Jones, Jason Lakey, Richard A. Meckes, Jeffrey S. Natysyn, Joseph Purfield; Cpl. Scot R. Rehrig, and officers Ryan Rhoads, James C. Sandrock, Scott A. Smith and Thomas R. Webb. 

The Chief's Achievement award was presented to Officer Chad Moyer.

Unit Citations for exemplary service went to officer Jerome Cramer, Cpl. Paul Dickinson, Cpl. Kevin Edelheiser, officers Nicholas Erdo, Kyle Golden, Keith Heffelfinger, Cpl. George Hummel and officers David Keck, James Sandrock and Timothy Shoudt.

A Drug Bust Award went to officers Andrew K. Gardo and Timothy C. Shoudt and Cpl. George J. Hummel.

Honorable Discharge awards went to office Michael R. Harbove and Cpl. Kenneth R. Eastridge, who retired.

One of the Civilian Service awards went to Cheyanne Solt, 11, a fifth grade student at Ironton Elementary School. Police say the youngster called 9-1-1 after an intoxicated man stumbled into her home. Her parents said she learned what to do in an emergency through the township's D.A.R.E program.

Another Civilian Service award went to Tammy Yocum-Cwienkala, who helped police nab a suspect in the robbery of a Game Stop store on Cedar Crest Boulevard by providing a description and information on the direction he fled.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin was on hand for the awards ceremony, along with township manager Jon Hammer and commissioners Tori Morgan and David Bond. State Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Julie Harhart and Justin Simmons also were there.

Serving on the awards committee were Lt. John T. Christman, Sgt. Michael Sorrentino and Sgt. Jason Negron.

Ceremony staff were Melissa Hudak, Amy Shafer, Michelle Lederer, Kristin Hlay and Jason Negron.