CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County Emergency Response Team members were issued new equipment on Wednesday.
The equipment purchase was made possible by the Department of Homeland Security funding of approx $42,000 through the Northwest Central PA Emergency Response Group.
The tactical equipment will be used to protect officers in the field and included tactical vests, ballistic plates and helmets. The ERT serves as an emergency response unit within Clearfield County during high-risk warrant services and other potentially violent situations.
“This should greatly improve our officers safety,” said Josh Quigley, director of the Clearfield County Emergency Management Agency.
Clearfield County Commissioner Chairman John Sobel agreed but hoped the equipment doesn’t see much use. “I hope that for their sake they never have to use it except in training.”
“I just want to thank all of you,” said Joan Robinson-McMillen, commissioner. “You do an outstanding job … “you’re not appreciated near enough.”
Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. noted that Wednesday was a great day for Clearfield County law enforcement.
Shaw said that in the past, if a situation arose the state police ERT would be called in.
“They do a fine job,” said Shaw.
He noted that the only problem with the state police ERT was the time it took to mobilize them. With the county’s ERT being composed of officers from various departments, response times can be within minutes.
“We’ve made multiple deployments for barricaded persons and to street officers who are in situations more than they can handle. It provides an immediate response to emergency situations. We want to be available and ready for any situation that may arise,” said Shaw.
Shaw thanked Quigley and the staff at EMA for the job they did in securing the funds for the tactical equipment.
Sheriff’s Deputy Jerry Nevling thanked EMA as well for providing tactical medics. Nevling stated that the medics accompany the ERT during training as well as in the field.
Lawrence Township Police Chief Jeff Fink thanked Lawrence Township for providing the ERT with a vehicle. He also thanked the students at the Clearfield County Career & Technology Center who are currently working on the vehicle.
The ERT is made up of officers from Clearfield Borough, Sandy Township, Lawrence Township, Curwensville Borough and DuBois City Police Departments as well as the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Office.