Police receive award for 2015 gang busts
Pottstown police have been working hard over the past year and they’ve got the recognition to prove it.
“It really was a nice presentation and we got to be down there around a lot of police departments. It was a very prestigious award and it was very nice. I had a very nice time accepting the award on behalf of the borough of Pottstown,” said Pottstown Police Chief Richard Drumheller of their recent award.
The award Multi-Unit Citation Award was presented to the department in Philadelphia on May 18 alongside the Unit Citation Award, which was given to the City Wide Vice Enforcement Unit for uncovering several human trafficking rings in Bucks County and Philadelphia. Drumheller said in the time that he has been with Pottstown Police Department as both chief and captain, it was the first time he had heard of the department receiving the award.
Pottstown Police, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County Correctional Facility received the award in recognition of their work from 2015 in dismantling two violent gangs in the borough, “Brothas From Anotha” and “Straight Cash Money Gang.” The lengthy investigation, dubbed ‘Operation War Ready,’ followed multiple shooting reports throughout the year and resulted in the arrest of over 30 individuals.
“We had a major issue going on. I reached out to then District Attorney Risa Ferman and then Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele, we had a meeting, explained the situation and frankly I asked for help. We came up with a game plan to remedy the problem. It turned into a tremendous team effort. These are things the community expects us to do; solve their problems. And how we solve them is really up to us but in this case it was just a good old fashion collaboration,” explained Drumheller.
Drumheller was accompanied at the awards by Sgt. Edward Kropp and Detective Cpl. Thomas Leahan, who was recently named Police Officer of the Year.
Pottstown Detectives Brooke Fisher and Mark Wickersham also received commendations from The Montgomery County District The Multi-Unit Citation award was given to the Pottstown Police Department, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County Correctional Facility in recognition of their work in dismantling two violent Pottstown gangs in 2015. Attorney’s Office earlier this month for their work in a long-term investigation that connected two Pottstown shootings in November 2014 with an obliterated serial number handgun and the suspect.
“It’s just always nice to be recognized by your peers,” said Drumheller.