Horsham Police Receive Commendations

They’ve rescued people from burning buildings, saved lives of prisoners trying to commit suicide and caught a rapist red-handed.

All of the more than a dozen who were recognized during Wednesday night’s council meeting were described as going above and beyond the call of duty.

“We have the best police department that I know of,” Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker said moments before Chief Robert Ruxton honored his officers, as well as two Upper Moreland police officers. “No offense to Upper Moreland. You’re the No. 2 police department.”

But, on April 21, as emergency personnel from Upper Moreland worked hand-in-hand with Horsham on a , Ruxton noted the importance of having good neighbors. 

“We all have this unwritten agreement with all the police departments,” Ruxton said. “You go give ‘em a hand … For something this big, you can take all the help you can get.”

While all of the officers dispatched to the Blair Mill Apartments helped evacuate effected residents, Ruxton said Upper Moreland police officers Jose Ortiz and Pete Yeager caught children who, in fleeing their fiery residence, had jumped from a second-floor window.

Other commendations were so long overdue – 27 years – that the police in question, Jon Clark and Joseph Repkoe, have since risen from the ranks of officer and sergeant to lieutenant and captain.

“We’re still attempting to catch up for official recognition for things that happened in the past,” Ruxton said.

Individuals recognized 

Captain Joseph Repkoe - Merit

Lt. Jon Clark - Merit

Lt. William Daly - Unit Commendation

Sgt. K. John Potts - Unit Commendation

Sgt Jeff Woodruff - Merit

Detective Adam Dunning - Merit

Officer Brandon Byrne - Merit

Officer Darin Daley - Merit

Officer Terence Edwards - Merit

Officer Joseph Hopkins - Unit Commendation

Officer Fred Keevill - Merit

Officer Andrew Nisbet - Heroism

Officer Jose Ortiz - Merit, Unit Commendation

Officer Kevin Perozze - Merit

Officer Michael Peter - Unit Commendation

Officer Joseph Rivera - Heroism

Upper Moreland Police Officer Peter Yeager - Letter of Official Commendation

Horsham Township resident, Andrew Bortnichak

To read more about the awards the officers received Wednesday night, see the attached PDF.