Blogs > Chester County Cops

Criminal investigations and other public safety issues in Chester County.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Funeral Scheduled for Bicyclist

Paul Hally, 35, of West Goshen, was killed while riding his bicycle on Route 3 Wednesday night just a mile from his home.

The crash is still under investigation.

Hally was a father of two daughters. He is a graduate of Henderson High School.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, 233 W. Gay St., West Chester, where friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be at St. Agnes Cemetery.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Mental Health Recovery Court

A Mental Health Recovery Court, similar to drug court, is going to be launched at the Chester County Courthouse in July. Check out this Powerpoint presentation on the court, which was presented at the Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Seminar Wednesday:
MHRC.pdf

Homicide charges held for trial in dairy farm slaying

A judge has ordered the homicide charges against a man accused of strangling his ex-girlfriend be held for trial.

Mauricio Bedolla-Camacho, 26, of Cochranville, was arrested May 1 for the murder of Daicy Vasquez, 25, of Kennett Square, who he allegedly strangled with twine on April 27 at a West Fallowfield dairy farm where he worked.

Magisterial District Judge Nancy A. Gill held homicide charges Thursday for trial in Common Pleas Court, but dropped the charges for attempted kidnapping and attempt to interfere with child custody.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Handling Domestic Disputes

Police officers from throughout the county attended a training seminar Tuesday and Wednesday intended to help them better handle a common call -- domestic disputes.

I sat in on a portion of the training Wednesday. Check out the article on the seminar this weekend in the Daily Local News .

Teen busted at horse show

It seems one 17-year-old girl may have had her mind set on another form of "entertainment" while at the Devon Horse Show.

Tredyffrin police arrested a 17-year-old girl at the horse show Tuesday for possession of marijuana and wooden pipe. She was later turned over to her parents.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Man pleads guilty to shooting Philly cop

Antonio Coulter, 20, pleaded guilty Monday to shooting rookie Philaldelphia Police Officer Richard Decoatsworth. Coulter shot Decoatsworth on Sept. 24. Last month, Decoatsworth was in Chester County accepting the 2007 Legion of Excellence award from the Delaware Valley Association of Professional Police Officials.

The following is from an interview with Decoatsworth after the ceremony in East Whiteland.

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Philadelphia police officer Richard Decoatsworth was honored April 26 for chasing a suspect after getting shot in the face on Sept. 24, 2007.

The new officer had just encountered a vehicle with four males inside when one of them shot Decoatsworth. But the officer was able to return fire and chase the gunman for three blocks.

Responding officers took Decoatsworth to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Since then he has had two other minor procedures and will need additional surgery.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man shortly after the shooting and located a sawed-off shotgun nearby. The man faces attempted murder charges and is awaiting trial.

Decoatsworth plans to return to his job soon – the only job the 22-year-old has had where it didn’t feel like work.

“I’ve worked a lot of small jobs in my short life. Police work is the only job where I go to bed and can’t wait to wake up,” he said. “Getting shot is an unfortunate part of this business. For me, it’s made me realize that there’s more to be done and I can’t quit after getting hurt.”

While recovering, he has gone to the hospital when other city cops have been killed or injured on the job.

“When an officer gets shot or hurt, I feel I’ve been there so I want to show them that it may seem rough, but I promise you it’s going to get better,” he said.

But he is blunt about how it feels to be hurt in the line of duty.

“It sucks. It’s a set back. It really knocks you off your post,” he said.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told Decoatsworth at the event he has a spot waiting for him in the department.

“You got your choice of assignments,” Ramsey said. “All you got to do is get well and come back.”

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Gunfire Rings Through City

Gunfire rang though Coatesville early Sunday morning. Get the full report in Monday's edition of the Daily Local News. Or read it online here.

Monday, May 12, 2008

National Police Week Events

Sept. 11 survivor Will Jimeno will be speaking at the Coatesville VAMC in Caln on Friday at noon in Building 5.

Jimeno, a NY/NJ Port Authority Officer, was one of the two officers who survived the collapse of the North Tower during the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. A motion picture film depicting Sept. 11 from the eyes of Jimeno and Officer John McLoughlin was released in 2006.

Then, on Friday at 6 p.m., the FOP in West Chester will host a Law Enforcement Memorial Service to remember the officers killed in the line of duty in 2007. The FOP is at 218 N. Church Street

Monday, May 5, 2008

Caln Officer Dies at Age 50

Caln Police Sgt. John Kissinger died today after a lengthy battle with lung cancer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Joseph Church, 338 Manor Ave., Downingtown, on Thursday, May 8 at 10 a.m.

A visitation will be at the James J. Terry Funeral Home, 736 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, on Wednesday, May 7 from 5 to 9 p.m. and on Thursday from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Interment will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Anneville, PA.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Kathy Kissinger Education Fund, c/o First National Bank of Chester County, PO Box 514, West Chester, PA 19381.