DISTRICT ATTORNEY RECOGNIZES THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE OF MCKEAN COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT – LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY (McKean County, Pennsylvania; January 9, 2026): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer recognizes our Officers on this Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. DA Vettenburg-Shaffer: “January 9th is set aside to honor the sacrifices and recognize the service of our officers.

Our area is not immune to the heroic sacrifice of police officers and we have to look no further than Kane to see the legacy of Patrolman Steven Jerman and we look to Bradford City for the honorable service of Sergeant David Distrola and we can look to Bradford Township to see the extraordinary career and  devotion of Lt. Jeff Shade and we can look to the State Police for the highest honor of Trooper Jay Rougeau. Each of these men gave their life while protecting us. And in the same way we hold these Officers with the highest of esteem, we pray for and honor the officers that continue to protect us and deflect harm from us while accepting harm unto themselves. 

The same officers you see at community events and off-duty enjoying time with their families are ever-ready to face life and death situations on behalf of us.  The certainty that they will face violence yet report for duty is remarkable and nothing short of heroic. We honor all law enforcement officers – McKean County Detectives’ Bureau & K9 Unit, McKean County Drug Task Force, Bradford City Police & K9 Unit, Pennsylvania State Police,  Bradford Township Police, Foster Township Police, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Police, Otto Police, Smethport Borough Police, Port Allegany Police, Kane Borough Police, Sheriff’s Department, Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, U.S. Marshalls, , McKean County 911, FCI-McKean, SCI-Forest,  McKean County Jail, Potter County Jail, Warren County Jail, McKean County Juvenile and Adult Probation, State Parole and the families of our Officers. God bless our Officers and their families. On behalf of the McKean County District Attorney’s Office, thank you”. – Stephanie L. Vettenburg-Shaffer, District Attorney

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/mckean/da/136029/post/district-attorney-recognizes-sacrifice-and-service-mckean-county-law-enforcement-law