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Wheeling police officer to receive national award

Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register photo Wheeling police Sgt. John Schultz is being honored by the National Association of Police Organizations.
Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register photo
Wheeling police Sgt. John Schultz is being honored by the National Association of Police Organizations.

WHEELING, W.Va. — A second Wheeling police officer in as many years is receiving national recognition for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Sgt. John Schultz, the prevention resource officer at Wheeling Middle School, will be in Washington, D.C., on May 14 to receive a coveted Honorable Mention during the National Association of Police Organizations’ Top Cops awards ceremony.

Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger nominated Schultz for the award in recognition of his effort in saving the life of a drowning eighth-grade student during a June 2 outing at the Wheeling Park swimming pool.

Another Wheeling officer, Sgt. David Drahos, received the same award in 2014 for his actions after a gunman opened fire on the Wheeling Federal Building on Chapline Street on Oct. 9, 2013.

Schwertfeger said Schultz is one of 42 officers nationwide, as well as international and federal categories, to be selected.

“It’s nice that officers who who do good acts are recognized,” Schultz said. “There are a lot of good officers out there, and it is nice to see them portrayed as a positive image. I didn’t expect to be nominated, let alone winning.”

He said the student he pulled from the water last year is doing well.

“I visit him once in a while just to say hi and see how he is doing,” Schultz said.

Each year since 1994, NAPO has presented the Top Cop Awards to educate the public about America’s heroes and to pay tribute to law enforcement officers in federal, state, county, tribal and local agencies from across the country for actions above and beyond the call of duty during the preceding year.

Schultz will represent West Virginia during this year’s awards presentation.

Schultz, who was previously awarded the Wheeling Police Department Lifesaving Award in connection with the pool rescue, will be recognized for receiving the national award during the March 28 Ohio County Board of Education meeting.

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