CANFIELD — Canfield / Ellsworth American Legion Post 177 honored a group of local first responders and police officers for their contributions over the past year in keeping the community safe.

Their actions involved investigating gunfire at the Canfield Fair leading to an arrest, rescuing a driver from a car sinking into a pond, solving vehicle thefts and training new state troopers.

Each was issued a proclamation and a Legion coin Tuesday during Post 177’s annual ceremony.

“We really do appreciate all of these men and women for all they do,” Post 177 Cmdr. Mike Kubitza said.

The recipients are:

l Firefighter / paramedic Herb Fogle and firefighter / EMT Kara Kesner, Cardinal Joint Fire District, who were nominated by fire Chief Don Hutchison.

“During the Canfield Fair on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, at 10:22 p.m., a call came in concerning a car in the pond with the driver still in the car. Station 2 on Herbert Road was only a half- mile away and thus got the call,” Hutchison said.

He said Fogle and Kesner arrived to find a car mostly submerged with the driver yelling for help.

“Our crews removed anything that made them sink and hopped into the murky muddy pond. With water above their waist, they calmed down the driver and waited for more help to arrive from Station 1.”

After more help arrived, “They entered the car’s back seat and wrapped the life rope around the driver. With the water up to the driver’s neck, they then pulled the driver out through the back passenger side door. The driver was moved to the ambulance and was checked out.”

Hutchison said the firefighters and paramedics jumped into action.

“I believe without their quick thinking, the car with the belted driver may have gone under water,” Hutchison said. “Both of these firefighter medics had to return to Station 2 and decontaminate themselves and get ready for the next call.”

l Detective Sgt. Joshua Wells, Canfield Police Department, was nominated by Canfield Assistant Chief Scott Weamer. Wells was nominated for his efforts solving vehicle thefts as well as multiple thefts from vehicles.

“Throughout the summer of 2022, over 16 communities in the Mahoning Valley, including Canfield, were victimized by thefts of approximately 40 automobiles and hundreds of items from the inside of cars,” Weamer said.

“Detective Sgt. Wells kept abreast of the crimes and was authorized to investigate accordingly. He solicited the assistance of his fellow investigators countywide in order to positively identify the suspects. Sgt. Wells took the lead and informally established a group of officers to proactively investigate as a collective.”

Weamer said he also met with Canfield police dispatcher Tony Sgambati and together they were able to begin crime analysis and ultimately established successful crime mapping to predict when offenses were likely to occur.

“In November 2022, this mapping resulted in the identification of the location of a stolen vehicle and an apprehension of two of the five suspects after a vehicular pursuit,” Weamer said.

“Detective Sgt. Wells … prepared several subpoenas, executed search warrants and managed personnel from other agencies who assisted and ultimately identified and apprehended individuals responsible for Canfield and other victimizations. He also conferred with county prosecutors to ensure that his investigative steps were consistent with their professional expectations to maximize potential for success upon prosecution. His performance during this lengthy and complicated investigation is certainly worthy of commendation and is consistent with Canfield Police Department expectations.”

l Detectives Patrick Mondora and Tyrone Hyshaw, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, were nominated by Capt. Stephen McGeary for their efforts in a gunfire incident at the 2022 Canfield Fair.

Mondora and Hyshaw were the assigned detectives for the Canfield Fair shooting / fight incident that occurred 9:30 p.m. Sept. 3.

“Because of the chaotic situation that ensued during and after the incident, both detectives had a monumental task of sorting out exactly what had occurred, but especially who the suspect(s) were,” McGeary said.

“Further, because of the incident setting and the Canfield Fair being in progress, detectives Mondora and Hyshaw had the daunting task of identifying and then making contact with witnesses along with identifying and the gathering of evidence. Because of both detectives’ due diligence along with the hours they put in to solve this case, the shooter was arrested and pleaded to a gun charge and is now incarcerated.”

l Trooper Nicholas Cayton, Ohio State Highway Patrol, was nominated by Lt. Eric Brown, Canfield Post commander.

Brown wrote, “Nick is a well-rounded officer that has served at the Lisbon Post and currently the Canfield Patrol Post. He is well versed in his job duties and is often looked up to by his fellow officers.”

In 2022, Cayton was selected by his peers as the Canfield Post Trooper of the Year. He is currently a field training officer and takes an active role in developing new troopers.

He also is a member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Pipes and Drum unit and the Steel Valley Pipes and Drums, where he plays the bagpipes. Cayton is an Army veteran and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. His final deployment was with the 838th Military Police Company, Ohio Army National Guard.