Clay Twp. officers receive medals
Brookville Star
2019-05-29
Kay Dawson
Contributing Writer
CLAY TOWNSHIP - At the May 20 Clay Township board of trustees meeting, Clay Township awarded the Medal of Valor and the Combat Cross to two police officers involved in a November 2018 shooting incident.
On Nov. 30 a person fired shots at the township building and was then chased by police from Clay Township and other jurisdictions, and subdued on Diamond Mill Road after shooting at officers.
The recommendation for the medals, written by Officer Anthony Scott because Police Chief John Van Gundy was involved in the incident, described how Van Gundy and Detective Sgt. James Hawkins “could just as easily have sheltered in place and awaited the cessation of shooting and hoped the shooter was not intending to make entrance to the building” but instead “chose to confront the shooter and may have prevented the shooter from advancing his attack into the building.”
Scott further said the two officers provided the suspect with a chance to surrender without violence, only returning gunfire when the suspect refused to surrender. He further noted that “Chief Van Gundy chose wisely not to engage the subject due to obscured vision but remained in the position of danger within the area should the assailant move into a position for him to engage the suspect.”
Scott also noted the involvement of Officer Jim Corcoran and officers from other jurisdictions.
At the same meeting, trustees announced this year’s Keep Clay Clean event will take place from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Phillipsburg Community Park.
“Residents will receive a flier about it,” Trustee President Steve Woolf said.
Residents are already getting letters offering them the energy aggregation package the township contracted for with Trebel LLC. Woolf said some packages he has viewed offered savings. Trustees reiterated that it is an “opt-out” system, so residents wanting the package have to do nothing, and residents not wanting it need to follow the instruction to op out.
The next trustee meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 3, at the township building at 8307 Arlington Road.
On Nov. 30 a person fired shots at the township building and was then chased by police from Clay Township and other jurisdictions, and subdued on Diamond Mill Road after shooting at officers.
The recommendation for the medals, written by Officer Anthony Scott because Police Chief John Van Gundy was involved in the incident, described how Van Gundy and Detective Sgt. James Hawkins “could just as easily have sheltered in place and awaited the cessation of shooting and hoped the shooter was not intending to make entrance to the building” but instead “chose to confront the shooter and may have prevented the shooter from advancing his attack into the building.”
Scott further said the two officers provided the suspect with a chance to surrender without violence, only returning gunfire when the suspect refused to surrender. He further noted that “Chief Van Gundy chose wisely not to engage the subject due to obscured vision but remained in the position of danger within the area should the assailant move into a position for him to engage the suspect.”
Scott also noted the involvement of Officer Jim Corcoran and officers from other jurisdictions.
At the same meeting, trustees announced this year’s Keep Clay Clean event will take place from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Phillipsburg Community Park.
“Residents will receive a flier about it,” Trustee President Steve Woolf said.
Residents are already getting letters offering them the energy aggregation package the township contracted for with Trebel LLC. Woolf said some packages he has viewed offered savings. Trustees reiterated that it is an “opt-out” system, so residents wanting the package have to do nothing, and residents not wanting it need to follow the instruction to op out.
The next trustee meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 3, at the township building at 8307 Arlington Road.