This is with a sincere thank you to our Police Officers, Parking Enforcement Officers, and Civilian Staff.  This department is an example of an incredible team working together to serve the Borough of Kennett Square's residents, businesses, and visitors. 

 The annual awards ceremony is a time to thank the department members for a job well done. The awards we will present this evening are merely a glimpse into our staff's professionalism and unwavering dedication to our community.  It would be impossible to acknowledge everything they do, so tonight we will highlight some significant incidents from 2025 in which they served our community above and beyond the call of duty.

Citations 

KS-25-004996 - Criminal Attempt Homicide

On May 7, 2025, at approximately 1649 hours, Officer Chris D’Antonio and Corporal Chris Parrish were dispatched to the 400 block of Center St for a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival at the scene, they located a juvenile male who had been stabbed several times and was suffering from a deep laceration to his right arm.  The victim was bleeding profusely and beginning to lose consciousness.  Officer D’Antonio and Parrish rendered first aid to the victim by utilizing a tourniquet to reduce the blood flow from reaching the life-threatening wound. The victim was immediately transferred to AI Dupont Hospital by EMS, where he underwent emergency surgery.

As a result of the investigation, the offender was taken into custody and charged with Criminal Attempt Homicide. He is currently awaiting trial and is being charged as an adult.  The investigation also revealed that a Borough of Kennett Square resident of Center Street, Christian Strohmaier, played a vital role.  Strohmaier invited the victim onto his front porch while calming him, providing water, towels, and attempting medical aid.   

Medical records later revealed that the juvenile victim's blood pressure was 57/28 indicating the true severity of the injuries that had been sustained.  I firmly believe that, thanks to the immediate actions of a community member and these officers, a human life was preserved, avoiding the impact of a homicide on this young man's family and our Kennett Square Community.  

We now recognize our officers for their meritorious efforts in this incident:

• Officer Christopher D’Antonio (not pictured due to response to police call)

• Corporal Christopher Parrish

Additionally, we present a Citizens Award to our community member:

• Christian Strohmaier
   

KS-25-008662 – Assist Other Agency with Homicide Incident

On August 10, 2025, at 2015 hours, Officer Andress and Corporal Parrish were requested by the Kennett Township Police Department to assist with a homicide investigation that had occurred just north of the Borough of Kennett Square. The incident investigation was conducted by the Kennett Township Police Department and the Chester County Detectives. With swift work by all collaborating departments, a suspect living in the borough was identified.  With the assistance of Officers Parrish and Andress, the suspect was taken into custody later that evening at his home without further incident or additional loss of life. The suspect was housed at the Kennett Square Police Department while the investigation continued, and further significant evidence was being collected and preserved. 

I credit Officer Andress with applying his training and years of experience on the Chester County Regional Emergency Response Team, which led to a safe and successful outcome in which the suspect was taken into custody.   

We now recognize our officers for their meritorious efforts in this incident:

• Officer Jacob Andress

• Corporal Christopher Parrish

KS-25-010404 – Aggravated Assault

On September 27, 2025, at 1905 hours, Officers Schwab and Graham were dispatched to the 100 block of Race Street for a stabbing that occurred. Officers Schwab and Graham arrived on location and encountered the suspect, who was still brandishing a knife and attempting to enter the victim’s apartment.  Utilizing their training and de-escalation tactics, the officers quickly took the subject into custody without further harm or loss of life.  The officers rendered first aid to the victim until EMS arrived at the location.  The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. 

We now recognize our officers for their meritorious efforts in this incident:

• Officer Alex Schwab (not pictured due to response to police call)

• Officer Zachary Graham

KS-25-004838 - Luring a Child into a motor vehicle / sexual assault

On May 2, 2025, at 2002 hours, Officer Blackburn was dispatched to the 500 block of Center St for a report of a sexual assault of a minor.  The minor was confronted by an older adult male acquaintance and physically forced into a vehicle, where he began to assault the victim.  The victim was able to get out of the vehicle and ran to a friend for help.  Ofc. Blackburn conducted a swift and thorough investigation, during which he identified the male subject and issued an arrest warrant, which led to the defendant's arrest. 

We now recognize our officer for his meritorious efforts in these incidents:

• Officer Kyle Blackburn

KS-25-007669 - Life Saving

On July 16, 2026, at 0852 hours, Ofc. Blackburn was dispatched to a residence to assist EMS with an individual who had accidentally sustained a wrist laceration. Ofc. Blackburn arrived at the location and contacted the subject, who was bleeding uncontrollably from a laceration to their wrist.  Ofc. Blackburn was able to slow the bleeding with the use of a tourniquet and quick clot gauze until EMS was able to arrive and continue first aid measures. The subject was later transported to the hospital by EMS.

We now recognize our officer for his meritorious efforts in these incidents:

• Officer Kyle Blackburn

KS-25-014268 - Kidnapping (Adult)

On December 22, 2025, around 0840 hours, Ofc. Blackburn was dispatched to the area of South Mill Road for a delayed third-party report of a domestic disturbance involving a knife that occurred the prior evening.  Ofc. Blackburn was able to contact the female victim and was informed that her ex-boyfriend had held a knife to her neck, threatened to kill her, and restrained her from leaving her apartment for the evening.  Ofc. Blackburn immediately contacted Det. Sgt. Christopher Gravina and conducted a thorough investigation, leading to the defendant's arrest on charges of Kidnapping, Burglary, Stalking, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and other related charges.  Once an arrest warrant was issued, the subject was taken into custody.

We now recognize our officers for their meritorious efforts in this incident:

• Officer Kyle Blackburn
• Detective Sergeant Christopher Gravina

Plagues for Presentation 

1. Service Award – Officer Johnathan Ortiz

KSPD would like to thank and acknowledge Officer Ortiz for his many years of dedication spent representing the Kennett Square Police Department as a member of the Chester County Regional Emergency Response Team.  Officer Ortiz recently concluded his participation in ERT, but we thank you for the knowledge and skills you brought back to the Police Department.  You’ve provided dedicated service not only for the Borough of Kennett Square, but also for all the residents of Chester County.

1. Chief of Police Award of Achievement – Officer Jacob Andress     

This award is presented to Officer Andress for outstanding achievement and continuous contributions to the Kennett Square Police Department's success.  Officer Andress took on the responsibility of improving our firearms training platform. Officer Andress is our lead firearms instructor, and he has spent significant time and effort improving how we conduct our training exercises.  Officer Andress led us to significant improvements in our training while remaining cost-efficient.  These improvements not only elevate our training efforts but also continue to better prepare our officers as we serve the Borough of Kennett Square. 

1. Officer of the Year

This award recognizes one officer for excellence, dedication, determination, and commitment to the Kennett Square Police Department and the Kennett Square Community for whom they serve.  The Officer of the Year award has special meaning as it is not presented solely on one person’s nomination.  The award is determined through a selection process by a collective vote of the officers’ peers, supervisors, and the Chief of Police.

This award acknowledges an officer’s ability to demonstrate professionalism, understanding, and patience in sometimes challenging situations or circumstances.  It is the ability to demonstrate humanity and compassion toward people while remaining dedicated to the Oath of Office for which they swore to uphold their duty as a Police Officer.

This year’s recipient has been selected for the 2025 Kennett Square Borough Police Department Officer of the Year award for his dedicated hard work and exemplary efforts to better the Kennett Square Police Department.  I am proud to announce this year's recipient – Officer Zachary Graham 

In closing, I thank Mayor Fetick and our Borough Council for their unwavering support and dedication to the Kennett Square Police Department.  Thank you for allowing us to recognize the Department members this evening for some of the outstanding service they have provided to the Borough of Kennett Square.

Respectfully,

William T. Holdsworth

Chief of Police