Press Notices for CLRPD

Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department

9878 State Highway 285
Conneaut Lake, PA 16316
814-382-4364 / FAX 814-382-4365
clrpd@zoominternet.net Todd Pfeifer
CHIEF OF POLICE

January 18, 2023

In June of 2022 the Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department found the need of replacing the Automated
External Defibrillators (AED) in each of the police vehicles. The department was conducting daily duties
with two AED’s being transferred from cruiser to cruiser. In June one of the AED’s was disabled due to the
age and use of the unit and the department learned the two units were outdated resulting in batteries and
parts no longer being able to be obtained.
This came to the departments attention after an officer had arrived on scene to an incident where an AED
was utilized in life saving procedures, prior to arrival of Emergency Medical Services units, resulting in a
citizen being resuscitated and still alive today. Officers utilize the AED’s during numerous incidents
throughout each year when responding to calls in addition to assisting Emergency Medical Service
providers.
The department had received a quote for a new AED in the amount of $2,550.40. Due to budgetary
constraints, Sgt. Gary Shidemantle Jr. approached several local businesses and public interest groups for
assistance, receiving an outpouring of support. As a result, these businesses and public interest groups came
together to support the effort, donating enough monies to purchase three new AED units. This outpouring of
assistance not only replaced the two outdated AED units, but also made it possible to outfit the third police
vehicle with a unit. The third unit eliminates the wear and tear of swapping AED units from one police
vehicle to another at shift changes and ensures a longer life for each AED unit.
The Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department in addition to the department’s governing Police
Commission expresses much appreciation and heartfelt thanks to the following businesses and organizations
for their support in donating $7,650.80 to cover the costs of the units. This generosity not only aids local
citizens in having another life-saving tool at their disposal, it also saves citizens thousands of tax dollars.
Our thanks go out to Lake View Ford donating $2,550.40, Al’s Melon’s and Farm Market donating $1,275.20,
Tom Abbott donating $775.20, Lake Church donating $500.00, Knights of Columbus donating $1,000.00,
North Shenango Twp. Community Center donating $1,200.00 and North and South Shenango Crime Watch
donating $350.00. Without each of these donors, the department would still be awaiting funding to replace
the AED’s. The department would also like to applaud and give many thanks for the assistance provided by
Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service Chief Paraskos in ordering, invoicing and obtaining the AED units
for the department.
An order was placed in August of 2022 and the AED units were received in late December 2022 and placed
into service at the beginning of January 2023.
The department strives to ensure its ability to provide the most efficient and updated equipment to serve and
protect the community.