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Rotary Club honors first responders for heroism

Second annual event held at Appletree Terrace recognizes police officers, firefighters and emergency medical techs.

By Rebecca Bria rbria@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

The second annual Dallas Rotary Club First Responders of the Year Awards was held on Thursday, May 14, at Appletree Terrace at Newberry Estates in Dallas.

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Bob Besecker, of Dallas, was awarded a lifetime award for over 50 years of service to the community with the Dallas Fire and Ambulance Company.

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Shavertown Fire Chief Gary Beisel looks over his award for being named Fireman of the Year.

Charlotte Bartizek photos/ For The Dallas Post

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The event honors the police officer, firefighter and emergency medical technician of the year, as well as the first responder of the year. In addition, a lifetime achievement award is given to recognize someone who has served an extended period of time as a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical technician.

Joseph W. Schmider, director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, was the guest speaker. Close to 200 people attended the awards dinner which was held . during National Police Week 2009, which was May 10 through May 16.

Rotary Club members first came up with the idea for the awards two years ago as a way to recognize associates of the 14 fire departments, 13 emergency medical services departments and six police departments of the Back Mountain.

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Lehman Township) and Rep. Karen Boback (R-Harveys Lake) are co-sponsors of the Rotary’s First Responder of the Year Awards. The awards are self-supporting through funds solicited from Back Mountain businesses and individuals.

First Responder of the Year

Officer Carl Puskar, Jackson Township Police Department

Officer Carl Puskar was off duty on October 28, 2008 when he observed a vehicle that matched the description of one belonging to an alleged burglar who robbed several residential homes and homes under construction in the Back Mountain. Puskar called for backup by cell phone because he was concerned the suspects had a police scanner. Assistance was provided by Sgt. Scott Davis, also of the Jackson Township Police Department.

Puskar followed the vehicle into a Jackson Township housing development and observed three suspects stealing property. One suspect surrendered and the other two fled on foot. Puskar apprehended a second suspect in the woods.

Police Officer of the Year

Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Section, Troop P, Wyoming Barracks: Lt. Richard L. Krawetz, Trooper First Class Charles Prula, Trooper First Class Michael Boone, Trooper First Class Joseph Plant

This unit citation was awarded for the dedication, professionalism and commitment to the Back Mountain community and working with investigators from Back Mountain law enforcement agencies.

Lt. Richard L. Krawetz serves as the unit commander of the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Section, Troop P, Wyoming Barracks. The Criminal Investigation Section provides police departments with the services of a criminal intelligence officer, a fire marshal, a polygraph examiner and forensic science personnel. Krawetz’s excellent supervision of his section resulted in the prompt and professional utilization of his manpower, which has supported crime prevention efforts of the Back Mountain.

In February of 2008, information about a white-collar theft at the Dallas School District was reported to the Dallas Township Police Department. Trooper First Class Charles Prula was assigned to assist the investigative team. As a team effort, numerous search warrants were executed and bank records were obtained, resulting in interview admission obtained by the investigators. The subject of the investigation pleaded guilty to the felony theft charges.

The Forensics Services Unit, an important part of the Criminal Investigation Section of the PA State Police, was requested to process a crime scene on Lower Demunds Road in Dallas in June 2008. Trooper First Class Michael Boone was assigned to the investigation and collected blood droplets from the crime scene that led to identification of DNA. The DNA was searched in the national database ad a suspect was identified. A search warrant for the suspect’s blood was executed and an arrest is pending.

The Dallas Township Police Department was involved in the investigation of a number of burglaries in September 2008. Trooper First Class Joseph Plant was assigned to the investigation to provide the services of the Forensic Services Unit. Plant photographed and casted tire tracks at the crime scene. The castings were similar to other cases in the Back Mountain area. The vehicle was located and numerous burglaries were solved.

Firefighter of the Year

Chief Gary E. Beisel, Shavertown Fire Department

Fire Chief Gary E. Beisel responded to 60 percent of all emergency calls received by the Shavertown Fire Department in 2008. His service to the department requires the commitment of almost 1,100 hours per year. In addition, Beisel has been responsible for obtaining federal and state grants that have saved the community approximately $1.5 million. Beisel has been a member of the department for 39 years and has served as fire chief, which he was elected for at age 25, for 30 years.

EMT of the Year

Robert G. Smith Sr., Franklin-Northmoreland Township Ambulance Association, Franklin Township

George Snyder, Fairmount Township Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company, Sweet Valley

Robert G. Smith Sr. responded to more than 25 percent of all ambulance calls made by his department in 2008. In addition, Smith served as an instructor in CPR, first aid, automated external defibrillator and electrical safety to his department, other ambulance companies, fire departments, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and the private industry.

George Snyder responded to more than 33 percent of all ambulance calls to his department in 2008 as a vehicle driver and EMT. Snyder also served as treasurer for the department and maintained the facilities. It is estimated that Snyder spends 700 hours per year at the department.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Robert Besecker, Dallas Fire and Ambulance

Robert Besecker has served as a member of the Dallas Fire and Ambulance Company for more than 52 years.

Besecker served as the department’s fire chief from 1984 to 1988 and from 1991 to 1993. He was also the assistant chief from 1980 to 1983. Besecker was elected as a department trustee in 1994 and continues to serve in that capacity. Besecker has responded to thousands of emergency calls over the years.

In 1970, he responded to an active premature labor. The child was lifeless with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. Besecker instinctively placed two fingers on the three-pound baby’s chest and began compressions.

During the celebration of Besecker’s 50th year of active membership with the department, Leonard Roginski, treasurer, personally thanked Besecker for saving his life.

Chief Robert B. Walsh and Lt. Alice D. Walsh, Sweet Valley Fire and Ambulance Association, Inc.

Chief Robert B. Walsh started his career with the Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire Department in 1949 when he reached the age of 16. He became assistant fire chief in 1962 and fire chief in 1972.

In 1968, he was one of the founders of the Sweet Valley Ambulance Association. Walsh has run approximately 250 ambulance runs a year for the past 20 years. On many of these runs he was assisted by his wife, Alice. He rarely missed a call whether it was a minor ambulance call, motor vehicle accident or structure fire.

Lt. Alice D. Walsh has served as a member of the Sweet Valley Fire and Ambulance Association, Inc. for more than 30 years. She served 221 patients during 2008.

She serves as treasurer of the association and has held this position for 30 years. Prior to the implementation of the 911 system, Walsh served as the dispatcher for the Sweet Valley Ambulance and Sweet Valley Fire Department for almost 30 years.

She was also a member of the Sweet Valley Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary for about 40 years and served as its president until the auxiliary disbanded. Walsh continues to be an active member of the Sweet Valley Ambulance Association and goes with her husband, Robert, on 90 percent of the department’s calls.

Richard R. Bartholomew, Franklin-Northmoreland Township Ambulance Association

Richard R. Bartholomew has served both as a member and fire chief of the Franklin Township Fire Department and as ambulance chief for the Franklin-Northmoreland Township Ambulance Association for more than 40 years.

Bartholomew retired from the fire department after more than 40 years of service. He is still very active in the ambulance association and serves as chief.

The financial secretary for the ambulance association, Bartholomew is also a member of the National Association for Search and Rescue and the International Fire Training Association and is certified in water rescue and in first aid in dive accidents.