Adams police, firefighters honored for response to shooting
ADAMS TWP — The Allegheny Health Network honored members of the Adams Township Police and Adams Area Fire District at a board of supervisors meeting Monday.
“On November of 2022, Butler County (Emergency Services Unit) attended a ‘Stop the Bleed’ class presented by AHN Prehospital Care Services — patrolman (Christopher) Kopas and (Sgt. Edward) Lenz were in attendance,” Nico Soler, AHN prehospital development specialist, said. “This training opportunity played a significant role in the story I’m about to tell you tonight.”
Soler said that Kopas arrived first at the Jan. 13 shooting of an Adams Township resident during a domestic disturbance.
“Patrolman Kopas identified a serious gunshot wound to the victim’s right upper thigh and immediately applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding,” Soler said. He said Lenz arrived on the scene at approximately 7:56 p.m. and Kozlowski arrived a minute later.
“An additional gunshot wound with minor bleeding was found on the victim’s left thigh and was wrapped in gauze,” Soler continued.
Lt. Tom Sonni, Andrew Hitchings and Chad Kinch of the Adams Area Fire District arrived moments later. The victim’s initial wound continued to bleed, and the Adams Area Fire crew helped apply a second tourniquet.
“The second tourniquet controlled the bleeding successfully,” Soler said.
From there the patient was transported to Allegheny General Hospital by emergency services, where it was confirmed that he suffered a femoral artery wound.
“Because of the officers’ commitment to community — as well as the fire department’s — commitment to educating others and in partnership with AHN Prehospital, Adam’s Township police officers and fire department were well prepared for the task at hand,” Soler said.
Soler presented Kopas, Lenz, Kozlowski, Sonni, Hitchings and Kinch with an AHN challenge coin to a round of applause.
“It reads: ‘Quality care, quality outcomes,’” Soler said. “Gentlemen, you have provided life-saving quality care, which speaks for itself — the patient is alive and well.”
Brian Perry, parks and recreation director, also told the board that the township’s new splash pad is under construction.
“Brian’s been tasked ... to assure and make sure that our splash pad is going to be ready to go when it becomes splash pad season,” Russell Ford, supervisor board chairman, said. “We were hoping Memorial Day.”
Ford said that construction on the splash pad was on track to meet that goal.
The township’s splash pad will be an alternative to an outdoor pool, according to Perry. It will also feature an attached pavilion.
“We’re excited to get it built and up and operating,” Perry said.
This story was updated at 1:49 p.m., Feb. 14, 2023 to reflect the officer at the scene was Sgt. Edward Lenz. A previous version of this story said, “Sgt. Megan Lenz,” his wife.
