UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Two Fayette County police officers were awarded the Congressional Badge of Bravery on Wednesday following their actions during a shooting at a district magistrate’s office in 2018.
The awards were presented to Masontown Borough police Chief Ronald “Scott” Miller and German Township police Cpl. John Lingo by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey at the Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport.
On Sept. 19, 2018, a man entered the Masontown Borough Complex and opened fire in District Magistrate Daniel Shimshock’s office, wounding three people. Miller, who was a sergeant at the time and later promoted to chief, quickly drew his weapon to engage the shooter and protect those around him. During the firefight, Miller was shot in the hand and incapacitated.
The shooter continued firing until Lingo ended the incident by shooting the suspect.
“Every day across Pennsylvania, about 25,000 men and women put on the uniform, and they answer the call of anybody who needs help. While the rest of us have the luxury to run away from trouble, they run toward it, to protect and defend all of us,” Toomey said. “There is no doubt that Chief Ronald Miller and Cpl. John Lingo are heroes. Their bravery and response on Sept. 19, 2018, saved lives, and I am honored to recognize those actions.”
Lingo and Miller were two of only 18 recipients nationwide chosen by former U.S. Attorney General William Barr to receive the Badge of Bravery for the 2018 cycle.
Lingo said, while he appreciates the honor, he believes “an award should go to every officer there that day,” especially Masontown Officer Alexis Metros. He also praised Shimshock and his office staff for “doing wonders” in a high-pressure situation.
“Those ladies in the office, especially, they did everything they could’ve done to hide people, barricade the doors and get them out. They were just excellent,” Lingo said. “It could’ve just as easily been Officer Metros who took out the shooter. I just happened to pick the right hallway and find him first. I just thank God no one else was killed. I wasn’t trying to be a hero or anything. I just did my job.”
Miller also said he wishes all the officers and magistrate staff were being recognized by Congress.
“We were just the first two that reached the person but there was many other people that did the same thing we did without hesitation,” Miller said. “We received the accolades today but we receive it for everybody that was there that day.”
Stephen Kaufman, acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District, also participated in Wednesday’s ceremony, which was attended by the Fayette County Board of Commissioners; Fayette County Sheriff James Custer; Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower and many more.
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