Canonsburg's First Female Police Officer Sworn In

At the regular Canonsburg council meeting last night, two newly hired, part-time police officers were sworn in by Mayor David T. Rhome and police Chief R.T. Bell.

Thomas Emmanuel O’Rourke and Ashley Lynn Price took the oath of office, solemnly swearing to “perform their duties in a dedicated and honorable manner” as well as “protect and defend the Constitution of this Commonwealth and that of the United States of America”.

Price is the first female officer to be hired in the borough. She is from Canonsburg and a recent graduate of the Police Academy.

O’Rourke is a veteran of the Air Force and also serves as an officer for Baldwin Township and Oakdale Borough Police. He is from Cecil Township.

The newly sworn in officers were welcomed by a handshake from all council members present as well as plenty of applause from the audience of residents, family members, and friends.

During his report, Rhome commended the police department for handling the home invasion situation on South Central Avenue last Tuesday with the highest regard for safety.

“We as leaders of this community should be proud of our police department,” he said.

“The incident went as good as an incident (like that) could go. My officers all did what they should do. Nobody got hurt and no one outside in the neighborhood was endangered,” police Chief R.T. Bell said.

Bell also cited the good working relationship between all of the communities and the availability of the SWAT unit, whose presence helped in persuading the third assailant to exit the apartment.

The monthly police report, presented by Rhome, indicated that police responded to 521 complaints and made 13 arrests during the month of April. There are seven ongoing criminal investigations and seven juvenile cases were handled.