State police official discusses communication concerns after Freeport Twp. shooting
A state police official said the agency “took responsibility” for inaccurate information that was provided to the community in the hours after a New Freeport teenager allegedly killed his mother and wounded his father.
Sgt. Ryan Burns, station commander of the Waynesburg barracks, spoke about the response and the search for Jarrod Noll, 18, at Monday’s meeting of the Freeport Township supervisors.
Noll allegedly shot his mother, Mary Noll, 52, and his father James Noll, 65, on Dec. 27 at the family’s home on Garrison Ridge Road.
Jarrod Noll was apprehended in Hundred, W. Va., the next day while still possessing the .22-caliber Beretta believed to be used in the shooting. During a court proceeding less than one month after the shootings, officers testified Noll said he’d intended the incident to be the start of a killing spree that would ultimately lead him to taking over the country.
Township supervisors said there had been initial confusion in the community based on early reports from the state police that the shooting was an isolated incident, and there was no danger to the public.
Burns said the state police took responsibility for the early reports, though he did not specify the source of the original information.
“I would have felt the same way,” he said. “And then I had information coming out that tells me it’s a contained and isolated incident when in fact it wasn’t. We corrected the problem and took responsibility.”
Last month, members of local township boards, county commissioners and county emergency management Director Richard Policz held a joint meeting to discuss the shooting and coordinate communication during future incidents, said Guy Hostutler, chairman of the Freeport Township supervisors.
As a result of discussions after the meeting, Policzs’ department now has the ability to listen to radio calls they had previously not been able to access, Hostutler said.
“In the event that there is another issue, … Rich’s team can now listen in on the 911 calls and all the communication, and then he can relay that information to the townships as well,” Hostutler said.
Burns said during a major incident, any direct communications from the state police to the public would go out from its X account at @PSPTroopBPIO, which covers Washington, Fayette, Allegheny and Greene counties.
In those types of incidents, Burns said, the state police will have a command post set up with a media staging area nearby.
“That’s a good source of information … there’s very little room for any kind of interpretation, because it’s coming 25 feet across the road to the media staging area,” he said.
He thanked the township for the use of its fire hall, saying “they really opened up their home to us.”
Burns said anyone who sees suspicious behavior should call the barracks to report it.
“When we get a call, we come down and investigate,” he said. “When we’re not actively investigating calls, we will be on patrol … all the guys that I have in my barracks live and work in this community also, and it’s in their best interest. And they all take it seriously.”
Community members thanked Burns for the police response.
Jarrod Noll is charged with criminal homicide and attempted homicide. He is next scheduled for a plea court hearing in Greene County Court of Common Pleas on April 15.
Burns said the legal process might take a year or longer to play out, whether that results in a guilty plea or goes all the way to trial.