(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Two Beaver County police officers who work on the state force have been honored for their courageous acts in the line of fire.

Following a chaotic and dangerous incident in the summer of 2022 at a convenience store in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Trooper Jonnie Schooley was awarded with the Purple Heart for his actions during that scene during a ceremony held by the State Police on Thursday morning. Additionally, he was awarded the PSP’s Commendation Medal for his duty during the scene along with Trooper Shawn Palmer. Both men serve as members of Troop D, which covers Beaver County along with four others (Butler, Armstrong, Lawrence, Mercer).

The ceremony took place at the Penn State Beaver campus in Monaca, presided over by Commander Major William Maitland of Area 1. Colonel Christopher Paris, who is the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, commended Schooley and Palmer for their decision-making and effort to uphold the honor of the PSP “Call Of Honor” that serves as the mission statement of the force. The award presentation was led by Troop D Commander Kana Moy, who described in detail the hostile nature of the scene in Aliquippa that evening, and the noble actions of the troopers to place themselves in the line of fire.

Also commended for their actions were Charles Hines and Lamarr Rawl–who received the Outstanding Citizenship Award from the PSP–and Roscoe Hodge and Matthew Weekley, who were honored with the Meritorious Citizenship Award. All four men assisted Schooley and Palmer during and through the aftermath of the July 2022 incident. The four men were not in attendance at Thursday morning’s ceremony.

Also at the scene to assist were Lt. Glenn Brunelle of UPMC Presbyterian Public Safety, along with Sgt. Joshua Gonzalez and Patrolman Andrew Golletti from the Aliquippa Police Department. These three men were presented with the PSP’s “Troop Commander’s Letter of Commendation”

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the Purple Heart is awarded to “members or enforcement officers who receive serious bodily injury in the line of duty while performing duties, or who are shot by a criminal and require medical treatment, no matter the degree of injury.” Schooley was shot in the leg during the July 2022 incident.

In the audience along with dozens of State Officers were Beaver County Commissioner Dan Camp, District Attorney David Lozier, and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan B. Walker–who remarked to Beaver County Radio that the ceremony marked “a good day for Aliquippa.”

To see additional photos from the ceremony, check out the gallery below: