WHEELING, Sept. 27, 2017 — Three Wheeling police officers who saved a man from his burning vehicle were honored by the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association over the weekend.
Officers Harry Myers, Robert Scott and WLU alumnus Ryan Moore traveled to Charleston with Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger to receive the Lifesaving Awards.
The awards were given at the police chiefs’ annual banquet. The officers helped pull a man from a burning vehicle in March on McColloch Street in East Wheeling with the assistance of off-duty Assistant Fire Chief Paul Harto and his son Tyler.
The three first responders worked together to remove a Moundsville man as his truck began to burn. Officers removed the driver from his vehicle after cutting off his seatbelt.
Moore began performing CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene, said Wheeling Police Spokesman Philip Stahl. The driver was taken to Ohio Valley Medical Center for his injuries.
Thanks to the officers rushing to the 45-year-old man’s aid, his life was saved.
One of Moore’s college professors was very happy to hear of a West Liberty University criminal justice graduate making strides to help his community.
“Ryan (Moore) has been a visible member in the community since his employment with the Wheeling Police Department,” says WLU associate professor of criminal justice Keith Bell. “It comes with no surprise that he was awarded for doing the very job he is educated and trained to perform.
“His work ethic hasn’t changed from the classroom to the community. The faculty and West Liberty continues to be impressed by the service and respect our graduates exhibit in the greater Wheeling community and to the profession of policing,” Bell continued.
Schwertfeger also stated his appreciation for the officers bravery. “Officers Moore, Myers and Robert Scott, who was not able to attend the event, went above the call of duty for this particular incident. They saved a man’s life on March 13. All three officers, along with Assistant Fire Chief Paul Harto and his son Tyler, demonstrated a pure act of heroism. The community should be proud to have them on our force.”
WLU Editor’s Note: Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger also is an alumnus of WLU, class of 1989.