When it comes to police officers and the media, it seems that negative stories are what consistently make news headlines. Rarely are the countless good deeds that are performed by our brave men and women in blue lauded. This is why when local police and rescue personnel saved two people and their dog, it was obvious that they should be recognized for their heroism.

On Monday, June 14, a call came into the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police that a dog was hanging off of the Black Bridge in Porter Township, just outside of Jersey Shore. The dog was in peril and needed to be rescued. Sergeant Brian Fioretti, Patrolman 1st Class Kyle Fera, and Lycoming County Detective Cody Lepley, who is also a part-time patrolman with Tiadaghton Valley, arrived on the scene to assist.

“The initial dispatch was that a lady called in, and it sounded like they were walking across the bridge with her dogs, and a dog went over the side. Our impression was that she was hanging on to the dog by its leash. We were thinking that we might be able to pull it up with our dog restraint but that it also might be too late by the time we got there since it sounded like the dog might be choking,” said Fioretti. “When I arrived, I had to park by the tracks of the bridge. I didn’t see anything at first, but then I could hear people yelling. I went down the path and looked over the cliff. I could see the lady, the teenager, and their dog down over a twenty-foot bank with another twenty-foot sheer drop. The scene was a bit different than I expected, as they were not on the bridge at that point. I went halfway down and lowered the restraint onto the dog, and I tried to get the dog back up the bank. The owner became concerned that we would hurt the dog, so we had to change tactics. I started back up the bank, and that is when Officer Fera arrived.

Fera added, “I arrived from the other side of the bridge since we didn’t know exactly where they were located from the initial dispatch. I ran across the bridge and was able to locate everyone. Sergeant Fioretti was halfway down the bank, and the boy was just above him. I could see the female and the dog panting heavily down below. The dog was on her legs, and she was right on the ledge. We were able to get the boy up to the top, and Sergeant Fioretti climbed up. Then we were ready to get out rope for the fire company. I checked the cliff to see if we might fall, and that’s when I took my gear off and climbed over to the last tree that I could hold on to near the female and the dog.” Fera went on to say that he worked to keep everyone calm and to explain what they were going to do. “I explained to the woman that her safety was my priority but that I would do everything I could to save her dog. I looked up, and at that time, Officer Lepley arrived. He came down the other side, and there was a small little ledge and a tree above her head. He was on one side of the woman, and I was on the other, and we maintained our positions until EMS could arrive.” “I was driving through Linden toward Williamsport when the call came in,” said Lepley. “As soon as I heard it, I turned around and got to the scene as fast as I could.”

With no regard for their personal safety, Officers Fera and Lepley were able to save everyone, including the dog. Fera shifted the dog’s weight onto himself to secure it while Lepley helped to secure the woman until the Station 45 Fire Department and EMS were able to pull the woman to safety. Fera was able to slide the dog up and get it on all fours so that it could climb back up the hill. “Chief Casey Lowmiller was able to come down to the tree above me and was able to get a rope around the female and pull her up,” said Fera.

According to an email sent to the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police by Station 94 Chief Casey Lowmiller, had Officers Lepley and Fera not intervened, “the outcome to the woman and her dog would have been tragic.” The email went on to say that Citizens Hose Company of Jersey Shore/Jersey Shore Area EMS would like to extend their profound appreciation for the good work the officers did that day and every day.