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Operation Our Town on Thursday presented its top award to recently retired Altoona Police Chief Janice Freehling.
The Community Partnership Award is presented annually to Blair County law enforcement individuals who have demonstrated their commitment toward making the community a safe place to live and raise families.
"I congratulate Chief Freehling for all of your years of service and hours of support to Operation Our Town. She is someone who always had the right response to crimes," said Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks.
Freehling, Altoona's first female police chief, retired March 1 after 44 years in law enforcement, the last 20 years as chief.
"I am very honored to receive this award. Operation Our Town has been a godsend to Blair County law enforcement," Freehling said.
"Their vision has been incredible. … I accept this award on behalf of all of law enforcement and the entire community," she said during the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club held via Zoom.
Operation Our Town also presented several law enforcement awards.
Five Altoona Police Department officers were honored for their efforts in the arrests of Isaiah Payne and Onyah Lewis in a May 28 double homicide case on Beale Avenue.
Those recognized were Detective Cpl. Derrick Tardive, Detective Cpl. Shane Strobel, Detective Cpl. David Dey, Detective Sgt. Nathan Snyder and Sgt. Derek Swope.
Weeks said this and all successful investigations are a result of cooperation and team effort of all departments working together and help from the public.
"Blair County is set apart from other counties. We have a culture that when it matters, people will talk to law enforcement," he said.
Hollidaysburg Police Department Detective Jeffrey Friday was honored for his role as lead investigator in a Nov. 22 homicide on the 500 block of Allegheny Street.
"This couldn't happen without the collaboration of a multitude of agencies and officers," Friday said upon accepting the award.
Three officers were honored for their work on the Jonathan Delacruz and Tori Wilt drug investigation, which turned out to be the largest fentanyl seizure in Blair County history, said Jim Walstrom, retired supervisory narcotics agent for the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.
Those honored were Sgt. Chris Moser of the Altoona Police Department and agents Brian Pazak and Jarod Quist from the attorney general's office.
Walstrom said as a result of search warrants, agents and officers seized 225 grams of heroin/fentanyl with an approximate street value of $85,000. Also seized were four vehicles worth $186,000.