New Kensington honors first responders for recent efforts to save lives

New Kensington Council bestowed commendations on several first responders and a marina employee who all, successfully and unsuccessfully, tried to save lives in recent tragic incidents in the city.

Police officers Christian Leonarski and Jerry Hobeck and Assistant Fire Chief B.J. Kersey were honored for efforts to try to save Angel Gray from her burning Fourth Avenue home on March 6. Gray, 49, did not survive.

Police Detective Sgt. Sam Long; Assistant Deputy Fire Chief John Shirey; medic Matt Stewart; and Butch Hurley, who works at The Lighthouse Marina, were recognized for saving a woman from the Allegheny River after she had jumped from the Ninth Street Bridge on March 18. The unidentified woman survived.

“We are so proud and in awe of all of our first responders,” Mayor Tom Guzzo said. “They do such amazing work being there to keep our town safe. They are called into action in a moment’s notice and act immediately. They deal with all sorts of tragedies that most people don’t even realize they deal with and, ultimately, they work to save lives.”

In the March fire that killed Gray, the home was engulfed in flames when police officers arrived.

After learning someone might be trapped inside, Guzzo said that Leonarski, one of three new police officers, kicked down a door after removing a dog that was blocking the way. He and Hobeck went in to try to get Gray, who was lying on a couch.

They were forced out by the smoke and fire, police Chief Bob Deringer said.

Kersey went in and pulled Gray out.

“While it is unfortunate that Ms. Gray was unable to survive, these three men selflessly went far above the call of duty in their efforts to save another person’s life,” Guzzo said.

On March 18, police and firefighters responded to a report that a woman had jumped from the Ninth Street Bridge.

Long, one of the first at the scene, saw the woman in the river. He went to the marina, commandeered a kayak and paddle, and went out to the woman in the cold water, keeping her afloat until Hurley arrived piloting a pontoon boat from the marina with Shirey and Stewart aboard.

“That person is alive due to the amazing efforts of these gentlemen,” Guzzo said.