Latest news with #PennHighlandsCommunityCollege
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
PA coroners learn new ways to solve cases in state seminar
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania coroners flocked to Johnstown to kick off the PA Coroners Conference at Penn Highlands Community College on Friday. 80 participants from 19 counties across the state heard from speakers about different tips and experiences from their time out in the field. Mike Murphy, the CEO of MPower USA, an international management consulting firm providing management and leadership guidance to public and private agencies, shared different ways his team solved cold cases, using image canvassing, DNA samples and mental preparation when talking to families and religious groups in terms of exhumation. Criminal justice advocates call for changes in Pennsylvania 'You're always going to have those cases that your leads have exhausted, whether it be 10 years ago, 20 years ago or even a current case,' Cambria County chief deputy coroner Joseph Hribar said. 'So learning new technologies and learning the new methods that are available to give more forensic science and leads to those cases are very important.' Through the event, each office's members have discussed cases they have worked on. This leads to others implementing tactics mentioned in each discussion and inspires new ways to do the job efficiently. 'We may be talking about our own cases we have back home. Insight and ideas may come from other folks,' Hribar added. 'So sometimes, folks are going back home with ideas to add to their cases and potentially solve some of them.' The conference has aided state coroners for 24 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Late Johnstown police chief memorialized by police academy award; scholarship
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Friends, family and police officers gathered outside the Police Academy classroom of Penn Highlands Community College to present an award dedicated to the late James Mock. For over 40 years, Mock served in the Richland Police Department starting in 1964 as a patrolman. Five years later, he earned the title of police chief, to which he held that role for 33 years. He was also paramount in creating the Johnstown Municipal Police Academy in 1975. Mock died in 2003 at the age of 63. Thursday morning his family, especially his daughter Catherine Rager, saw his name live in infamy in the halls of Penn Highlands Community College. The Chief James Mock Memorial Police Academy Achievement Award will be given to the top cadet of each police academy class, starting with the current class in session. Jersey Mike's month of giving to support Pink Zone Little League Challenger 'It was the way I wanted to honor my father for his many, many years in law enforcement,' Rager said. 'He was such an integral part of this region, this area, just like the small enforcement community.' The recipient will get their name engraved into a small section of the plaque, along with a $1,000 scholarship. Cadets are usually awarded as the top of their class in different skill sets related to the job. 'This is the first one that's more kind of all inclusive and all around with that includes leadership and things like that,' Penn Highlands Police Academy Director Cregg Dibert said. 'He always wanted the very best for his police officers to go out in the street,' Rager added. 'He wanted them to be well trained, not only for their protection, but for everybody's protection. That was extremely important to have.' After submitting the story of her father to the school's foundation board, director Carole VanMeter wanted to aid in helping out. After talks with Rager, they decided upon the plaque and scholarship. 'I wanted to just really learn about her father and his dedication and service to the area,' VanMeter said. 'After learning about how instrumental he was to not only to the community at large, but specifically to the start of the police academy, we felt that it was really necessary to honor him and the proper way of giving an award and a plaque that shows the cadets throughout the years and their achievements.' The added award at the graduation ceremony of each class will all strive to be the top dog. That added competition is going to be driven by the memory of a former police chief. 'We're honoring someone who has been involved in the police academy for so long and has such a great legacy,' Dibert added. 'That I think that that's going to that's going to be something that they're all going to strive to do.' 'I hope it incentivizes them to do their very best,' Rager said. As cadets walk through the entrance, they will see the gold plaque next to the informational corkboard about the police academy. Rager believes seeing her father's legacy heading into training will set a standard by an officer who was impactful for his department and community. 'What they are doing is vital in our communities,' Rager said. 'And for anyone who does not realize how rigorous a program this is or what it takes to be a police officer, they will understand that.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
