DA to give out police plaudits Wed.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said today she will present special commendations to law enforcement officers on Wednesday, May 25th, during a noon ceremony in courtroom C at the courthouse in Norristown. Those to be honored are: 

1. The Pennsylvania State Police, and its Criminal Intelligence Center, are commended for providing assistance to Montgomery County Law Enforcement Agencies.

2. Detective Sgt. Joseph Fenerty, of the Whitpain Township Police Department, for his work to assure that justice was done in the case of Commonwealth v. James Costello. Costello sexually assaulted his adopted daughter for eight years.

3. Detective Sgt. Terry Kennedy, of the Lower Providence Police Department, for his efforts in the investigation of Commonwealth v. Seth Griffith. Griffith was found guilty of attempted rape, burglary, attempted sexual assault, criminal trespass, indecent eposure and simple assault.

4. Sgt. Robert Sobeck and Police Officer Nicholas Santo, of the Norristown Police Department, for their investigation into a series of violent robberies in Norristown which lead to the arrest and conviction of Stanley Howard. Howard pleadd guilty to third degree murder in the killing of Noel Lopez-Garcia.

5. State Police Troopers Curt Schillinger and Stephen Penkala, of the Skippack Barracks, for their team work in entering a residence for a report of a domestic disturbance with a weapon involved. The officers were confronted by an armed male, but had little information. Their restraint and good judgment surely prevented further harm to the innocent women and child trapped in the house.

6. Officer Michael Burton, of the Whitemarsh Police Department, for his quick actions in administering CPR to Michael Topf, who suffered a heart attack while riding his bike. Officer Burton kept Topf alive until the paramedics arrived to transport him to the hospital.

7. Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Curt Schillinger, Morgan Crummy, Paul Carr, and Charles Burkhardt, of the Skippack and Belmont Barracks, for their investigation of a crash between a school bus carrying 46 middle-school students and a car. The passenger in the car died. The crash took place in Zieglerville. Due to the troopers' efforts, the bus driver, Frederick Poust, III, pleaded guilty to the charge of homicide by vehicle.