Last night Berks Lodge #71 of the Fraternal Order of Police held their annual recognition and award ceremony.  Berks Lodge #71 is the union that represents most police officers in Berks County.  Each fall Berks Lodge #71 accepts nominations from their membership to recognize officers and civilians who have gone above and beyond during the course of serving their community. 

On this evening, Berks Lodge #71 recognized officers and a civilian who were involved in about a dozen different incidents in 2025.  Included in receiving recognition were Cpl. Kyle Patton and Officers Alro Vooz and Kevin Ebersole of your South Heidelberg Police Department.  Our Officers received an Honorable Service award.  This award is bestowed for a creditable act in the line of duty, which meets some, but not all the requirements for other awards, unusual in nature showing initiative and accomplishment.  The Officers were issued a solid blue bar to display above their badge on their uniform.

Each Officer also received a citation that read, in part, the following:

The Honorable Service citation is hereby presented to Officer’s Name of the South Heidelberg Twp. Police Department,

On November 6, 2025, South Heidelberg Police Department was dispatched to a Heidelberg Township residence for a tree into a house. The caller stated his mother was trapped in her bed due to falling tree.  Officers found that the 50-year-old female homeowner was trapped in her bed due to the falling debris. She was pinned below material, rafters, and the tree itself.  Only her legs were sticking out from under the debris.

Officers displayed bravery while comforting and supporting a trapped victim in her residence, even though by doing so, they placed themselves at risk.  Officers evacuated the remaining occupants and had to intervene when the emotionally charged husband attempted to remove the tree from the house.  If not further intervention, injuries and potential death, to the trapped woman and emergency responders would have resulted.

Officer’s Name is a credit to himself, his department and the Fraternal Order of police.

The South Heidelberg Police Department is very proud of our Officers.  Great work! Congratulations to Cpl. Kyle Patton and Officers Arlo Vooz and Kevin Ebersole on receiving this Honorable Service away from Berks Lodge #71.

(Image Credit:  Dean Patton Sports Photography, LLC.)