In the early hours of Oct. 3, many public safety workers risked their lives to save a couple from a burning home, and two of those people were honored Monday by Shenango Township supervisors.

Shenango patrolmen Dale McAdams and Jason Newton were given meritorious service awards for their role in saving John "Babe" and Shirley Pollock, both 74, from their home at 18 Old Bedford Road, West Middlesex.

The Pollocks' son, 46-year-old Mark, who was a volunteer firefighter in West Middlesex and Shenango, died in the fire from carbon monoxide poisoning, Mercer County Coroner J. Bradley McGonigle III said earlier.

Newton, of Hermitage, has been with the police department for three years and has been a Hermitage volunteer firefighter for seven years. He said he went into the Pollocks' home without thinking of his own personal safety.

"You just kind of do what you've got to do, I guess," Newton said. "It's what we get paid to do, really."

McAdams, of Fredonia, who has been with the department for one year, met Newton at the door of the home to help remove the residents.

"It's really great," McAdams said of the award. "But I think any police officer would have done the same thing."

Supervisors Chairman Larry Robinson said the pair acted "above and beyond the call of duty," and their service is appreciated.

"This is what happens when you have professional people doing a professional job and working together," West Middlesex Mayor David George said.

George also read a letter from Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Chief Riley Smoot to Shenango Chief Ronald Preston commending the department for acting quickly and putting their lives in danger to save the Pollocks.

George said the Pollocks are still hospitalized.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at:
kgarrett@sharonherald.com