Police bravery seen during Dry Tavern shooting incident
When rapid-fire gunshots rattled through the sleepy village of Dry Tavern last week, it understandably sent the community into a panic.
The gunfire coming from a house near restaurants and a grocery store was unsettling, especially when no one knew what exactly was happening.
The quick work by two Cumberland Township police officers eating lunch nearby to radio in the situation and detain two people prompted a flurry of state police troopers to respond in just a few moments.
Dozens of troopers wearing body armor stood with guns drawn behind a parade of police cars along Route 88. A specialized response team of troopers wearing paramilitary fatigues lined up behind a motorized battering ram positioned to enter the home where the gunfire was heard.
Rumors posted of social media added fuel to the fire. No one knew for sure who fired the shots or if anyone was injured.
It was a scary scene.
The two people taken into custody by Cumberland police claimed intruders had entered their home, prompting one of them to fire a gun inside and outside of the residence. John Pochron III and Holly Bercosky were later taken to the hospital for an evaluation, and police said they could face charges. Investigators said they found no evidence of a break-in or intruders at the house.
Some bystanders were shocked to see so many police cruisers and officers in the tiny town in the upper corner of Greene County. But in this day and age, it was the perfect response to an unsettling situation.
This region experienced tragedy just a few months ago with the killing of Canonsburg police Officer Scott Bashioum and the wounding of his partner James Saieva after the gunman killed his wife, Dalia Sabae, inside their Canonsburg home.
Waynesburg and Cumberland police officers had worked closely with Bashioum as he trained them to inspect tractor-trailers.
Although there is a brotherhood within the police force, those officers in Greene County experienced the tragedy firsthand by losing a friend and a mentor.
The state police troopers and other law enforcement agencies at the scene showcased what it means to be a professional and should be commended for their work.
While no one was injured during last week’s very bizarre incident, it still illustrated how important police officers are to keeping us safe.
No one can predict when something awful might happen, but we know the officers who showed so much courage in the face of such uncertainty will be there to protect us when it does.