23 graduate from county Fall 2023 Fire 1 Academy

The Fall 2023 Fire 1 Academy Class. On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 23 dedicated first responders, representing 14 first responder agencies graduated from the Chester County Department of Emergency Services (CCDES) Fall 2023 Fire 1 Academy, class #2391013. These students spent 188 hours (19 weeknights and 18 weekends) starting on September 6, 2023, at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus...

Coroner’s Office hosts training for first responders on Xylazine

More than 160 people, many representing the first responder community, attended the Chester County Coroner’s Office xylazine training event. The Chester County Coroner’s Office hosted Xylazine: Arrival, Trends & Effects of this Prevalent Drug, its first-ever continuing education training seminar/webinar, on Friday, September 15. Xylazine is a large animal sedative used as an adulterant in illicit...

Command and Leadership Academy to honor Chester County’s inaugural graduates

Graduates, including 18 Chester County first responders, plus instructors and sponsors of the inaugural NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership Academy in Chester County. On October 21, 2022, 18 Chester County first responders take the stage in East Windsor, NJ, to receive certification from a special leadership program. Pennsylvania’s inaugural class is among the newest graduates...

Houlahan, Urscheler meet with first responders to reflect on impact of Hurricane Ida

(Front row from right): Fire Chief Brazunas, Rep. Houlahan, and Mayor Urscheler with members of the Phoenixville Fire Department This week, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-16) and Mayor Peter Urscheler gathered at the new Phoenixville Fire Station with nearly 50 first responders and community leaders in reflection of Hurricane Ida’s destruction one year ago this week. Wednesday’s visit included...

County Sheriff’s Office recognizes 9-11 Responder Sgt. Paul Bryant, Jr.

Sgt. Paul Bryant, Jr., Chester County Sheriff’s Office, received recognition as a 9-11 responder at Saturday’s Phillies game.Photo credit: Chanda Jones/Phillies WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) honors Sgt. Paul Bryant, Jr., who travelled with his former K-9 partner Azeem to Ground Zero to search for missing persons shortly after 9-11.  Humble and quiet about his 2001...

Chesco to start antibody testing of first responders, healthcare professionals

WEST CHESTER — After nearly a month of intensive efforts by Chester County Government to overcome restrictions imposed for antibody testing, the County confirms it is now able to begin point-of-contact testing for essential function individuals who are on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis in Chester County – although questions about both the reliability of such tests and whether infection provides...

First responders take 148 million steps toward WalkWorks goal

Representatives from Chester County’s Fire Chiefs and Police Chiefs Associations and the EMS Council join Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline and Terence Farrell, County Health Department and Emergency Services Department representatives, and two of the three top walkers in revealing the results of the WalkWorks ChesCo! First Responder Challenge. The Chester County Hero Fund is the true...

Chesco opens tactical firing range for first responders

Chester County Commissioners Terence Farrell, Michelle Kichline and Kathi Cozzone with President of the Chester County Police Chiefs Association, Chief Shane Clark, and Director of the Chester County Department of Emergency Services, Bobby Kagel. SOUTH COATESVILLE — Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell were joined by more representatives of the first responder...

Local Cross Fit offers classes to veterans and first responders

Promotes exercise and connecting with others By Lauren Parker- Gill, News Editor, The Times Veterans and their families meet for The Weekly Fight every Sunday at Cross Fit Inspire in Frazer to work out and support each other. EAST WHITELAND – Cross Fit Inspire in Frazer has been doing great things for first responders and The Weekly Fight, a nonprofit organization for veterans and their families,...

Meehan introduces bipartisan anti-Swatting bill

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7) Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) introduced the Interstate Swatting Hoax Act of 2015 Wednesday, legislation to combat attacks known as swatting. Swatting is defined as the intentional misleading of emergency responders in order to provoke a S.W.A.T. team response. In recent years, swatting has become a widely used tool for online...