The Mon-Vale Health Resources Fund Development Committee has provided another major boost to community safety techniques for the Carroll Township Police Department.

Mon-Vale Health Resources, Inc. is the parent company of Monongahela Valley Hospital, which is located in Carroll Township.

As the result of funding by MVHR, Carroll Township will purchase another advanced TASER™ (stun) gun which is equipped with a video camera. According to Police Chief Paul Brand, the new equipment will enable Carroll officers to record incidents during which a TASER gun may have to be used to subdue suspects in criminal activity.

“This is an excellent tool in the fight against crime,” Brand said. “And it serves a dual purpose. Not only will it provide the impact of a TASER gun, but it also will give us an electronic (video) record of the circumstances under which we have to use the gun. In other words, it will eliminate any questions that the
TASER had to be used and that our officers didn’t overreact to a situation.”

Officer Michael Fendya of the Carroll Police Department explained that TASER guns are devices that deliver an electrical shock to perpetrators as deemed necessary at the time of an incident.

The shock lasts approximately five seconds, Fendya said, and affords officers an expanded opportunity to subdue a suspect.

“By having this weapon available, police officers are able to respond more pro-actively when dealing with suspects,” Fendya said. “It offers a non life-threatening means of protection.”

Brand said the camera guns allow law enforcement officers to have full access to a review of criminal incidents. This includes events prior to using the TASER, deployment of the electrical shock and the after-effects on the suspect.

This donation by MVHR extends a longstanding partnership between Monongahela Valley Hospital and Carroll Township Police.

“We are very pleased to perpetuate this alliance in the area of community safety,” Louis J. Panza Jr., president and chief executive officer of Monongahela Valley Hospital, said. “It’s another way of giving back to the community and that is in keeping with our mission and the emphasis on our Together In Community theme. We have always had a good relationship with Carroll Township, as well as other police units in the area.”

Fendya offered similar sentiments in extending “sincere gratitude” to the health system for the monetary help with the new TASER gun, the second in the Carroll Police Department’s repository of crime prevention tools.

“We can’t say enough to express our appreciation,” Fendya said. “We have enjoyed a strong relationship with the hospital for many years and this benevolence certainly extends that association. Being able to purchase another TASER gun means we will be better able to serve the community.”

That point also was emphasized in December 2002 when Carroll Township Police opened a substation in area of the Emergency Department at Monongahela Valley Hospital. The unit, staffed by Carroll Township police officers, evolved in response to increased activities for area law enforcement departments.

“Municipal and state police in the area are receiving more and more calls in the community that require them to come to the hospital as part of their investigations,” Donna Ramusivich, senior vice president at MVH, said when the substation opened.

“Because of their close proximity to the hospital, Carroll Township Police are, for the most part, the first responders to any situation at our hospital,” Mrs. Ramusivich said. “They often take the lead on situations here involving other police departments. Having a substation for them at the hospital complements other efforts to solidify security or safety measures and facilitate the overall process involving any law enforcement agency.”

The substation is linked via a computer system to the Carroll Township Police Department. This allows the Carroll officers on duty at the hospital to work a normal schedule as well as respond to anything else.

Previously, the Mon-Vale Health Resources Fund Development Committee approved funding for automated external defibrillators (AED) for Carroll Township Police and other community emergency departments in the area. The AED units are portable, computerized devices used to “shock” an arresting heart victim back to life.

Eye of the TASER (left to right)–
Tom Rapp, Carroll Township Supervisor, Louis J. Panza, Jr., President and CEO of Monongahela Valley Hospital, Paul Brand, Police Chief of Carroll Township Police Department and Carroll Township Police Officer Michael Fendya, examine the details of the video-equipped TASER donation.