88890941
Four locally assigned officers were honored for their bravery on the job at a museum’s awards ceremony last week.
Old City’s National Liberty Museum hosted its seventh annual Awards of Valor, which recognized 46 police officers, firefighters and correctional officers throughout the region, including 3rd District Officers Nicholas Colville and Charles James, as well as 17th District Officers Mark Davis and John O’Connor, Sept. 20.
While patrolling the 2300 block of South Warnock Street in an unmarked vehicle July 21, 2011, the 3rd District officers noticed Dominic Cosmo Menniti, then 29, allegedly casing vehicles, police said. James followed Menniti on foot and ordered him to stop as Colville drove around the block, but instead the man allegedly punched the officer in the face several times and struggled over his weapon, causing it to discharge four times.
After James fell to the ground, Colville followed Menniti, ordering him to drop the weapon, police said. When he allegedly ignored the request, Colville fired four times, striking Menniti, who was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. James was treated for cuts and bruises.
The pair also received valor awards from the Citizens Crime Commission in May for the same incident.
Menniti was charged with disarming law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, assault of law enforcement officer, firearm violations and related offences, according to court records. Out on $100,000 bail since July 25, Menniti will head back to court for his trial Nov. 19.
The 17th District officers were patrolling at 8:37 p.m. Sept. 28 when they came across a shooting and ordered Rahmik Beckett, then 22, of the 1500 block of South Patton Street, who allegedly was firing at and killed Kevin Jones, 24, of Grays Ferry, to drop his weapon. Instead Beckett allegedly turned his fire toward the officers, police said. Davis returned fire, but Beckett allegedly fled north on 32nd Street and continued firing until he disposed of his firearm under a parked car. The officers apprehended Beckett, who suffered a graze wound to his neck, after a struggle at 32nd and Dickinson streets.
Beckett also is believed to have struck the jaw of an 18-year-old woman at Patton and Tasker streets, police said.
Beckett was charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault of a law enforcement officer and firearm violations; one count of murder and related offenses, according to court records. He is being held without bail awaiting a Nov. 8 pretrial conference.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
88872121
88890961
