‘Quality’ officers recognized
WAYNESBURG – Three Waynesburg police officers were honored by borough council Monday night for their quick action to capture a state prisoner less than an hour after he escaped custody last year.
Charles E. Ulrich, 30, of Waynesburg, was serving time for a parole violation on drug charges when he ran away from security staff upon arriving at WHS-Greene hospital for treatment Sept. 8.
He was captured about 30 minutes later while standing on the banks of Ten Mile Creek in Morrisville. Waynesburg police Officer Tom Ankrom found Ulrich standing in the water while trying to quiet an alarm from a tracking device attached to his ankle, and was assisted in the arrest by officers Marcus Simms and Nicholas Rennie.
Ulrich was serving time at SCI-Greene’s Progress Community Corrections Center, a step-down unit, for a parole violation.
“It shows you what kind of quality officers we have here,” Waynesburg police Chief Rob Toth said. “They all rose to the occasion to assist the DOC and state police on the search. We’re proud of them for their effort.”
Toth presented the three officers with uniform merit badges for their work.
In a letter of commendation to the officers, Progress Community Corrections Center Director David LeMasters thanked them for their quick action and resourcefulness. Officers used a cellphone app to track the GPS coordinates from Ulrich’s tracking device to locate and arrest him.
“This patience paid off as they closed in on the escapee to which he surrendered and was apprehended,” LeMasters wrote in his letter of commendation. “The most amazing thing about this recapture is the time it took to capture him.”
Toth said Simms had just finished his shift, but remained to assist with the search. He said the three officers worked well together, along with state troopers and the Department of Corrections officers, while searching for Ulrich.
“To catch someone in 30 minutes is amazing,” Toth said. “They used their resources and tools available, which is what they’re supposed to do.”
Also during Monday night’s meeting, the borough council unanimously approved a contract for Toth, who has been serving as the department’s police chief since May 2013. The contract includes a $65,000 salary with 2 percent increase in 2017. Toth has been with the department for 20 years.