Lansdale Police Hold 2nd Annual Recognition and Awards Ceremony

Keith Heffintrayer•

Lansdale Borough Police Department held their 2^nd Annual Recognition and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday night, highlighting the commitment and exceptional actions of the borough’s police personnel.

The presentation began with Lansdale Borough Police Chief Michael Trail presenting Certificates of Recognition to Sgt. Richard Bubnis and Sgt. Adrienne Gori for their completion of FBI LEEDA training.

“It’s absolutely a feather in their cap, and we’re very glad to have them here with that training behind them,” said Trail.

A Certificate of Recognition was also issued to Officer Richard Kruppenbach for his completion of D.A.R.E. training, making him a certified D.A.R.E. instructor.

Next up was the Iron Officer Award, which is given to police personnel who made it through the year without using any sick time. The recipients for 2019 include Sgt. Richard Bubnis, Sgt. Amanda North, Det. Joel Greco and officers David Pelzer, John Albany, Richard Kruppenbach, Christian Gregory, James McVeigh and Corey Pfister.

Trail then moved on to award two Citations of Meritorious Conduct, with the first going to Officer Hazel Bundy, who intervened and deescalated a volatile domestic incident on Nov. 13, 2019, involving a resident and the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth

“Officer Bundy was quickly able to recognize the deteriorating situation and intervened to take charge and deescalate the matter,” said Trail, adding that Bundy’s actions allowed Children and Youth officials to accomplish their objective.

The second Citation of Meritorious Conduct was awarded to officers Scott Keeler, Chad Bruckner, John Albany, Christian Gregory and police support services clerk Ashlee Perry for their response to, and compassion following, a domestic assault of a child that occurred on Sept. 8, 2019. Following the incident, all five awardees pooled their money together to purchase a replacement iPad for the child, as his had been broken during the incident.

“Following this incredible act of kindness, I was contacted by the victim’s mother,” said Trail. [She] told me that the actions of the officers had a profound impact on how her child views police.”

In keeping with the theme of incredible gestures, the ceremony continued with Sgt. Adrienne Gori receiving a Citation of Life Saving, for her role in saving a 2-month-old baby that was choking on food in late July. When Gori arrived, the infant was limp, losing color and did not have a pulse, but Gori was able to resuscitate the infant via several cycles of CPR.

The baby was then taken to the hospital, and later released.

“Sgt. Gori’s swift actions and immediate intervention without question saved a life during this incident,” said Trail.

The ceremony then moved on to the presenting the department’s second highest award, the Award or Merit. Recipients included:

Officers James Owens, Scott Keeler, John Albany, Christian Gregory, George Johnson and Tim Cornelius, for their roll in investigating a stabbing at the Broadmore Apartments on Jan. 25, 2019, and their work to define and apprehend 31-year-old Randall Stewart as the suspect.
Officer Corey Pfister, for his role in an Oct. 11, 2019 traffic stop on North Cannon Avenue, which yielded a large amount of marijuana, a 9mm handgun with no serial number and the arrest of a 16-year-old male.
Officers George Johnson, Richard McCarrick and Scott Keeler, for the deescalation of a domestic incident involving a suicidal male on Oct. 23, 2019. The male was reportedly intent on suicide by cop, but following a 45 minute standoff, police were able to deescalate the situation, which resulted in the male surrendering.
Officers John Albany and Christian Gregory, for their role in a traffic stop along Moyers Road on Oct. 19, 2019, in which police recovered a large amount of marijuana and a stolen handgun, leading to the arrest of two juvenile males.

“There is no higher honor, if you will, then taking an illegal firearm off of the street,” said Trail. “Given the number of gun violence victims in our communities across this country, those actions are significant and they do save lives.”

Up next was the presentation of the Award of Valor, the Lansdale Borough Police Department’s highest honor, and the sole recipient for 2019 was Sgt. Dan Gallagher, who was stabbed in the shoulder while subduing an armed suspect in Richland Township on July 5. Gallagher was off duty at the time of the incident, but police credit his actions in saving the life of the suspect and preventing an officer-involved shooting.

“This is a sacred award, reserved for those individuals who go above and beyond in a selfless act in a situation where lives are on the line,” said Trail.

State Rep. Steve Malagari also presented Gallagher with an official citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

In a small towards the end of the ceremony, Trail had 2018 Officer of the Year Richard Kruppenbach approach the podium to present the award for the 2019 Officer of the Year. The award, which was based off of a peer vote, went to Officer James McVeigh.

Afterwards, the ceremony concluded with all police personnel being standing and being sworn-in by Mayor Garry Herbert.