'Selfless' servants: Somerset honors retired Police Chief Cox for service, officers for heroic act

SOMERSET, Pa. – Three Somerset Borough police officers whose “selfless” acts saved a woman from a fire in March were saluted Monday alongside their longtime boss, whose community-first mindset prepared them for that day, officials said.

A crowd of local leaders, law enforcement colleagues and longtime friends honored recently retired police Chief Randy Cox and awarded medals of valor and merit to Sgt. Stephen Borosky and officers Kevin Huzsek and Eric Grus.

“There’s no greater honor than for someone to give of themselves for their community, or for others,” said state Sen. Patrick Stefano, R-Fayette. “Thank you for your service – for running into danger when most of us are running away.”

Cox retired early this spring after more than 20 years as Somerset’s police chief to shift his focus to an ongoing cancer battle.

He was joined Monday by his wife and family and flanked by his department’s uniformed officers, who stood outside the Somerset Borough office as local dignitaries recognized his four decades of accomplishments in law enforcement.

That included reinstilling a focus on neighborhood-level, community policing; implementing a dedicated school police officer program to protect students at Somerset Area School District; and launching a motorcycle patrol unit, colleagues said.

But more than that, Cox has been a man of integrity and “community-first” character, Somerset Area School District Superintendent Krista Mathias said.

He taught his officers to serve the right way – and led by example, Mathias and borough council President Pamela Ream added.

“Professionalism from Day One and forever ... that’s how he leads,” said Ligonier Valley police Chief Mike Matrunics, who described Cox as a mentor.

It’s been more than 20 years since Cox led their department, he said, but “we still often say, ‘How would Randy handle this?’ ”

Mathias credited Cox for making school safety personal.

Over the last 14 years, she said, he’s made it his mission to develop a rapport and close relationships with students, faculty and staff – something she said was just as vital as the department’s efforts to prepare and plan for ever-evolving threats.

“Under the chief’s leadership ... they know our schedules and our routines, and they know when something is out of place,” she said.

That’s helped the district weather scary, challenging times – and likely prevented many from becoming even worse, Mathias said.

She greeted Cox at a podium and handed him a folder full of creations made by Somerset Area students.

They included colorful, crayon- drawn “Get Well” cards from students returning their concern and respect to the 67-year-old chief.

Somerset Borough Manager Michele Enos pointed to a teal ribbon on her collar and told Cox that the Somerset community is standing by him in this difficult time.

“Remember that we together will continue to stand with you, stick with you ... and forge forward, to get you through these difficult times and get to a much better place,” she said.

Hometown ‘heroes’

While Cox was honored for a lifetime of dedication, Borosky, Huzsek and Grus were recognized for one decisive moment.

Yet it was a truly heroic one, Mayor Fred Rosemeyer said.

Huzsek was the first to arrive at a Clark Street house fire and ran into a burning basement to save a woman in her 80s from thick smoke and flames, responders said at the time.

Borosky and Grus lifted and carried the woman to safety from a broken window and then pulled Huszek from the smoke-filled cellar.

Each was applauded by a crowd of more than 75 people while medals of valor and merit were presented – for dedication to duty and risking their own lives to save another.

“To answer the call the way they answered it ... is the measuring stick for all law enforcement,” said Somerset County President Commissioner Brian Fochtman, a retired state trooper.

The uniformed officers didn’t have safety gear to protect them from the toxic smoke or deadly flames.

And in that instant, state Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Somerset, said, “They didn’t even know who it was” inside that bedroom.

Rob Shaw did.

He’d just escaped the burning home when he saw Huzsek run toward the blaze, kick down a door and disappear into thick, black smoke.

“He saved my mother’s life,” Shaw said, “and I just can’t thank them enough.”