BELPRE - Belpre city officials and council honored officers with the city police department and Washington County Sheriff's Office as well as a dispatcher and pharmacist on Monday for their part in the arrest of three Tennessee residents earlier this month.
Mayor Mike Lorentz, Police Chief Ernie Clevenger and Washington County Deputy Sheriff Mark Warden gave certificates of recognition to Belpre officers Sgt. Joseph Field, Sgt. Michael Stump, Patrolman Eric Augustein, Patrolman Garry Freed, reserve officer William Wilson and dispatcher Rebecca Davis as well as Washington County Sheriffs deputies Scott Mankins, Cody Huffer and Jeremiah McConnell.
Kroger pharmacist Peter Senchyshak was also thanked for his part in the case. Washington County Sheriff's Detective Kevin Hornbeck was not present at Monday's Belpre City Council meeting.
Mankins was awarded the Mayor's Medal for his work.
They all were honored for their efforts in the Sept. 8 arrests of Memphis residents Mario L. Reed, 28, Nickolas Q. Pruitt, 29, and Felicia A. Bryant, 34, for a total of 26 felony counts including illegal processing of drug documents, possession and complicity.
Because they were dealing with multiple suspects who were targeting multiple locations, the Belpre Police Department called in the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Major Crimes Task Force to assist.
"What really amazes me about this whole thing is the cooperation we have," Lorentz said. "A phone call from the pharmacy to the officers and this is how it works right here."
Warden accepted the Chief's Citation on behalf of Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks who was not able to attend.
"Mincks has tirelessly performed his duties and assisted and coordinated resources for the betterment for the city and county," Clevenger said. "This is a great example that the cooperation between the departments is going well " these three people were wanted from Memphis all the way to Virginia and we were able to get them because of the great work between the departments."
