CLEARFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA – Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan P. Sayers announced today, at the end of National Police Week, the recipients of the Officer of the Year Award and Civilian of the Year Award for calendar year 2024, and provided full biographies for each of the nominees.
Officer of the Year: Awardee – Trooper Kacey Osborne (Pennsylvania State Police, Punxsutawney)
Trooper Kacey Osborne of the Pennsylvania State Police serves part of Clearfield County from the Punxsutawney station. In August of 2024, Trooper Osborne initiated an investigation into a repeated rape and sexual assault of four female juvenile victims. The victims were of the approximate ages of six, five, three, and two years old when the incidents began, and which lasted for approximately two years. Through patience, diligence, and a language barrier, Trooper Osborne was able to conduct an extensive and thorough criminal investigation and ultimately obtained a confession which led to the arrest of the perpetrator.
In addition to her duties as a criminal investigator, Trooper Osborne is an alternate for the Member Assist Program with the State Police. In this role she helps those troopers involved in shootings or other traumas at work or at home. In the community Trooper Osborne has served as a DuBois Little League T-Ball coach and is a member of the Trooper Monty Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Committee.
The individual that nominated Trooper Osborne said, “Trooper Osborne’s efforts protect the citizens of Clearfield County and the Commonwealth as a whole. She treats victims with compassion and respect and does her utmost to arrest perpetrators.” DA Sayers added, “the purpose of this award is to recognize law enforcement officers that do outstanding work while in uniform and give back to their communities when off-duty. Trooper Osborne works hard on each case she has in Clearfield County, she continues to give of her time and talents to the community, and she is very deserving of this honor!”
Nominee – Officer Ethan Fritz (Clearfield Regional Police Department)
Officer Ethan Fritz is a patrolman with the Clearfield Regional Police Department. On the job, Officer Fritz responded to a suicidal subject armed with a gun who barricaded himself in a vehicle. Of the officers on Duty, Officer Fritz volunteered to be the one to place himself in harm’s way. He approached the subject who was holding a loaded gun and without ever drawing a weapon himself, he started a dialogue and immediately began employing de-escalation techniques to diffuse the situation. After a tense two-hour stand-off, the subject was ultimately taken safely into custody and directed towards appropriate mental health resources. Also in 2024, Officer Fritz concluded two major investigations, one that involved bringing charges against a local drug dealer and one that involved bringing charges against a local child predator.
In addition to his police work, Officer Fritz is currently assigned to the 220th Military Police Detachment of the United States Army, serves as Captain of the Falls Creek Volunteer Fire Department, participated in the Life Fast Forward program at the Clearfield and Curwensville High Schools, and attends multiple local public safety events.
Nominee – Troopers of PSP DuBois
Troopers Michael D’Andrea, Jeremy Bloom, Robert Marshall, Adam Bowser, Dylan Himes, and Zachary Horwat, and Corporal Dennis Twigg are assigned to the Pennsylvania State Police station at DuBois. On September 29, 2024, PSP DuBois received a call that a 26 year old male was attempting to break into a residence. While on the phone with the caller, the suspect broek out a door window and was able to gain entry into the residence. The suspect then climbed the stairs to the second floor and attempted to enter the room where the occupants were located. The 911 caller then fired six rounds from a 9mm handgun, striking the suspect four times in the torso and abdomen. The suspect fled the room but collapsed in the living room.
Upon the arrival of the Troopers, they immediately took action to secure the scene and ensure the safety of fellow Troopers and EMS who were summoned to the scene. Once the scene was secure, they assisted in providing combat medical aid to the suspect who was in a critical state. A tourniquet was used, and multiple chest seals were deployed on entry wounds. The suspect was checked from head to toe and all wounds were addressed to the best of PSP’s ability until EMS arrived. Once EMS arrived, they decided to “scoop and go” with the suspect using a soft stretcher. Troopers assisted EMS in loading him into an ambulance so that he could be transported to Penn Highlands DuBois. The suspect was rushed into surgery to stabilize and repair internal damage. All of the Troopers involved in this incident acted courageously and swiftly. Their exceptional first responder care likely saved the suspect’s life.
Civilian of the Year: Awardee – Dr. Mary Tatum (Clearfield County Child Advocacy Center)
Dr. Mary Tatum is the director of the Clearfield County Child Advocacy Center. Dr. Tatum grew up in Coalport, Clearfield County, and is the daughter of retired Department of Corrections Quehanna Boot Camp Commander Henry “Hank” Tatum and Charlotte Tatum who retired as a Department of Corrections registered nurse. Tatum grew up in a household that supported the law enforcement community and cared about the people in the area where she lived. She carried that compassion and desire to help into her career where she worked in social services helping individuals meet goals, connect with providers, and get the mental health help they needed.
For almost a decade now, Dr. Tatum has focused her efforts by helping children and law enforcement in Clearfield County through the Clearfield County Child Advocacy Center. In this role, Dr. Tatum works with child victims of psychological, physical, and sexual abuse to find their voice and get the help they need. Her forensic interviews of child victims assists law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting perpetrators. Additionally, Dr. Tatum regularly helps to write grants to help law enforcement purchase much needed equipment and she creates protocols to streamline processes in child abuse cases.
“Dr. Tatum plays a major role in the law enforcement community of Clearfield County,” said DA Sayers. “She is regularly looking at ways to improve the system and to support the law enforcement agencies here in Clearfield County. Dr. Tatum is incredibly deserving of this award and behalf of myself and the law enforcement community of Clearfield County, we thank you for everything that you do for the Thin Blue Line.”
Nominee – Crystal Casher (Pennsylvania State Police, DuBois)
Crystal Casher serves as the Clerk at the Pennsylvania State Police, DuBois Station. In her civilian role with the State Police, Casher has been an integral member of the Pennsylvania State Police family since April 2018. From the moment she joined the PSP, she has consistently demonstrated a positive influence through her eagerness to assist others, her integrity, and her compassion. Casher continually prioritizes the needs of others, seeking ways to support them in overcoming their challenges. She goes above and beyond her official duties to assist fellow members at the station, and demonstrates unwavering dedication each day she is at work.
