During the Tuesday, April 22, meeting of the Derry Township Board of Supervisors, two officers from Derry Township Police Department (DTPD) were awarded for their heroism.
Officers Anthony Bernardo and David Still each received American Red Cross Life-Saving awards from Laura Burke, executive director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Red Cross, for their live-saving actions.
On Oct. 24, 2024, Bernardo and Still responded to a 911 call at a private residence. Upon entering the home, they found Michael Miller unconscious and not breathing, and his wife was performing CPR.
Bernardo quickly took over CPR as Still prepared an automated external defibrillator (AED).
“The officers worked as a team and delivered two shocks prior to EMS arrival, who determined that a pulse was restored,” Burke said.
Thanks to the quick actions of Bernardo and Still, Miller made a full recovery.
Upon presenting the officers with their awards, Burke stated that this is “one of the highest awards given by the American Red Cross.”
Miller was in attendance at the meeting to offer endless gratitude to the officers. He emphasized that, due to the actions and training of his wife, son, Bernardo and Still, he is part of the “one or two percent.”
“Ten percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest live,” Miller said. “More people die of that than every major cancer combined, and only one or two percent end up with their faculties all over again.”
Additionally, retired lieutenant Timothy Roche received the American Red Cross Live-Saving Instructor award, as Roche was responsible for providing the life-saving training that DTPD officers receive and was the person to nominate Bernardo and Still for their awards.
Burke thanked the board for the time to recognize the “heroic actions” of the honorees and emphasized the hope that their actions will inspire others to get trained in live-saving skills.
Guay Steps Down
Later in the meeting, the board unanimously accepted the resignation of Sean Guay from his position as secretary on the Derry Township Planning Commission.
Guay was appointed to the Planning Commission in January 2024, and his resignation is effective as of April 21.
Guay was recently in hot water with the board after he wrote a letter to the editor, which ran in the Patriot-News. Guay signed the opinion piece with his title as a Derry Township Planning Commission member.
“Serving on a Derry Township board or commission does not authorize a member to speak on behalf of the township, use the township seal or publish on behalf of the township without the express written consent of Derry Township,” chairwoman Natalie Nutt said during the board’s Feb. 26 meeting.
Guay reached out to The Sun to emphasize his gratitude for his time on the Planning Commission, stating that, “Serving the township as Secretary has been invaluable experience” and is a “stepping stone on the path to further expand my horizons.”
Additionally, Guay is facing criminal charges after allegedly injuring his wife during a domestic dispute.
Officers were called to Guay’s home on Overlook Drive shortly after 8 p.m. on March 31 after his wife reportedly told police that he had attempted to strangle her in front of their children.
According to the affidavit of probable cause in the case, police responded to the home and spoke to Guay’s wife, who said she and Guay were having an argument when he grabbed a hold of her, spun her around, grabbed hold of both of her arms and pulled them across the front of her chest.
Police said Guay’s wife told the responding officers he then squeezed her body and threw her to the ground, injuring her left hip. Police said Guay told the responding officers that he had grabbed a hold of her arm while she was pointing her fingers in his face but denied doing anything further.
According to police, Guay was ultimately placed under arrest for simple assault, a Class 2 misdemeanor and arraigned. The preliminary hearing in Guay’s criminal case was moved from April 8 to April 29.
Pictured, from left, are Michael Miller, officer David Still, officer Anthony Bernardo, chief Garth Warner and retired lieutenant Timothy Roche. Photo: Paige Dalto.
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