‘We will continue to grow’
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation presented the Peters Township Police Department with a $9,600 donation to purchase helmets. Attending the ceremony, from left, were Peters Township police Officer Pat Mazzotta; police Capt. Michael Yanchak; Firehouse Subs area representative Matt Liggett; Michael Silvestri, township manager; Abeer Kronawetter, franchisee; township police Chief Harry Fruecht; and Frank Arcuri, township council member.
Modeling a helmet with a ballistic shield, one of several purchased through a $9,600 donation from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, is Peters Township police Officer Pat Mazzotta.
McMURRAY – In the past few years, Peters Township police have responded to 11 critical incidents, two of which resulted in shots being fired. Now, thanks to a donation of about $9,600 by the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, the police department was able to purchase eight helmets and 11 ballistic shields, said police Chief Harry Fruecht during a presentation last week at the Firehouse Subs location, 126 Gallery Drive, McMurray. Along with the most recent donation and with the department purchasing additional helmets from another source, the Peters Township Police Department now has 25 helmets and ballistic face shields. Each officer, Fruecht said, is now equipped when and if the need arises. “The $9,600 really helped us out a lot,” he added. Fruecht said statistics indicate that more than half of officers responding to critical situations since August 2011 are now being killed by head shots, making the need for helmets and ballistic shields vital. Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation development manager Meghan Bender said the sub company was founded in 2005 by brothers and former firefighters Chris and Robin Sorensen following their efforts to feed survivors of Hurricane Katrina. A nonprofit foundation was established to provide money, educational opportunities and equipment to first responders and public safety agencies. The foundation has given more than $5.2 million to organizations across the country since its inception. Since opening 13 months ago in the Peters Township location, the foundation has made two donations in the township, one to the police department and another to the local fire department. Money is raised various ways including “round up” the sub cost, and the sale of the sub shop’s plastic pickle buckets. Since expanding into the local area, Bender said the foundation has donated $48,100 to first responder organizations. “And we will continue to grow,” she said.