Collegeville SWAT Officer Among Those Honored for Bravery

The ASIS International’s Philadelphia Chapter will recognize and honor four members of the Ches-Mont Emergency Response Team (CMERT) for their exceptional service and bravery for their actions in arresting a barricaded shooter at a Pottstown apartment complex in February of 2012.

The CMERT is a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. The members of this law-enforcement team, who will be recognized at a special March 20 ASIS International Philadelphia Chapter ceremony, are:

• Pottstown Police Chief Mark Flanders

• Pottstown Officer Steve Morrissey

• Pottstown Corporal Jamie O’Neill

• Collegeville Officer Mike Shirey

The ceremony will take place at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill. The Ches-Mont Emergency Response Team members will be among a group of 25 Philadelphia-area law enforcement officers to receive honors and recognition.

According to a Pottstown Patch report on the incident, a Pottstown man had barricaded himself in the Logan Court apartment after police responded to reports of a disturbance. When CMERT SWAT members located the Pottstown man in one of the apartment buildings, Patch reports that the individual began shooting at the officers.

According to a press release on the ASIS International Philadelphia Chapter recognition ceremony, CMERT officer Jamie O’Neill, a SWAT sniper, fired a single shot, striking the suspect in the hand and arm, which also damaged the individual’s weapon. Police then took the individual into custody.

According to Patch, the Pottstown man was arraigned on numerous charges of attempted first-degree murder, assault on law enforcement officer and related charges.

 “Throughout the 12-hour period, officers displayed extraordinary acts of courage, without regard for personal safety while in the pursuit of an armed and dangerous adversary, and working to safely evacuate citizens from the area,” Eileen Behr, Montgomery County Sheriff, said. Behr was responsible for nominating the officers for the ASIS International recognition.

ASIS International is an organization for security professionals with more than 38,000 members worldwide.