State troopers to be honored by Gov. Wolf for combating opioid epidemic

Three state troopers from Troop A in Greensburg, members of a specialized local drug task force that made multiple large drug seizures in recent years, are among 49 state employees to be honored Wednesday by Gov. Tom Wolf for improving the life of Pennsylvanians.

Cpl. John Isoldi and Troopers Anthony Arbaczewski and Zachary Del Sordo, all stationed in Greensburg, will receive the Governor’s Awards for Excellence during a virtual awards ceremony. Employees with nine other state agencies will also be honored.

The trio were among the first members of the Troop A Community Enforcement Team (TACET), which was created in 2017 to focus on combating the region’s opioid epidemic.

State police Cpl. Robert Evanchick noted the team frequently collaborates with various law enforcement agencies and frequently works long hours to take quick action on new information.

“The troopers behind TACET are a credit to the Pennsylvania State Police and proof that true vision and leadership come from all levels of the organization. The tactics and processes they developed are being implemented in other troops with the goal of achieving similar results, Evanchick said.

On Tuesday, Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck also lauded the team’s efforts.

“Their work has been exemplary to say the least, especially the large drug seizures they’ve made along the Pennsylvania Turnpike to keep the contraband from coming into this region,” Peck said.

Equally impactful, Peck said, is the team’s use of its expertise working with municipal police departments to battle drug trafficking in cities, boroughs and townships.

“In a short period, the difference they’ve made locally has been immeasurable in helping to stem the drug epidemic here,” Peck said.

On July 8, 2019, a drug bust by TACET on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township was considered the largest seizure of straight fentanyl ever in Western Pennsylvania, state police said.

Troopers with TACET discovered 3 pounds, 6 ounces of fentanyl hidden inside an SUV driven by Juan Junior Guzman, 42, of New York City, after they pulled over a 2019 Dodge Durango along the toll road in Mt. Pleasant Township. Police said the contraband was found in a secret compartment behind the radio and was believed headed to streets in the region.

The SUV’s owner, Hector B. Taveras, 41, also of New York City, was a passenger. Both men are being prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.

One other trooper in the state, Corporal Adam Kirk at Troop F in Montoursville, will be recognized for his heroic actions Dec. 10. A 14-year veteran, Kirk and two other troopers were called to perform a welfare check in Tioga County.

After receiving no answer at the front door and fearing the man may be in crisis or in need of medical care, they went inside, police said. As Kirk made his way toward the back of the house, he came to a doorway with a wool blanket tacked in the opening, but as he pushed the blanket aside, the man fired a 12-gauge shotgun striking Kirk in the chest at point-blank range.

Evanchick noted Kirk crawled back to the front of the house where he and the two troopers escaped out of a window.

“Although seriously injured, (Kirk’s) first thoughts were for the safety of his fellow troopers and the public. Corporal Kirk’s decisive actions undoubtedly prevented further injury or death, and I join Governor Wolf in thanking him for his service,” Evanchick said.

Evanchick noted in 2019, TACET was also instrumental in multiple homicide investigations, fugitive apprehensions and heroin/fentanyl seizures.

Isoldi enlisted in the state police in 2005 and is a patrol unit supervisor. Troopers Arbaczewski and Del Sordo each enlisted in 2014 and are members of the patrol section. They were nominated for the award by Lt. Richard Quinn.