Wednesday, July 25, 2012
In April 2011, Clairton police Officer James Kuzak was shot in the line of duty while responding to a home invasion.
The trial in the shooting of Clairton police Officer James Kuzak, who spent 13 years with Peters police, began Monday. Kuzak was left paralyzed after he was shot in the line of duty responding to a home invasion in Clairton on April 4, 2011. Monday's first testimony traced the events up until the two intruders escaped. The homeowner said the two men broke into her home, gathered her, her two daughters and her fiance, and then held a gun to her 4-year-old girl, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Later, they put the gun in the woman's mouth and started to sexually assault her, she said. The suspects are identified as Emilio Rivera, 27, of McKees Rocks, and Marcus Andrejco, 19, of Rankin. Kuzak was shot three times—once in the chest…
Thursday, April 26, 2012
With the help of UPMC, and Mines and Meadows, the injured officer is back to enjoying one of his favorite hobbies.
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Thursday, April 26, 2012
Officials from UPMC Sports Medicine and a former mine site on the border of Butler/Lawrence counties—Mines and Meadows—started talking last fall about joining forces with spinal-cord injured patients so that they could enjoy all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding at the RV/ATV resort. Former Peters Township police Officer Jim Kuzak launched that effort Wednesday. Kuzak, who was shot in the line of duty in Clairton last year, has been riding ATVs for more than a decade. On Wednesday, he got aboard his own Polaris for the first time since the summer of 2010. His girlfriend, Cris Okulanis, said he enjoyed riding it so much that he used it to take down and tote their Christmas decorations or to take their two German Shepherds for a spin. Since his …
Monday, August 29, 2011
Pit Boss Shorty Rossi joined a lineup of other speakers and demonstrators at Peterswood Park, to promote pit bull and canine awareness and benefit the Officer James Kuzak Benefit Fund and a new police support foundation.
Celebrities, vendors, demonstrators and volunteers collected at the amphitheater in Peterswood Park on Saturday for a day-long event which benefited two exceptional causes and promoted education about a third exceptional cause. Three causes at one event may seem like a lot of causes, but it’s nothing compared to the number of paws that were there! The event was Paws for the Cause, and it was organized to promote pit bull and canine awareness and to benefit both the Officer James Kuzak Benefit Fund and the Western Pennsylvania Police Benevolent Foundation. Officer Andrew Volchko, of the Bethel Park Police Department, was largely responsible for organizing the event. Over the past few months, Volchko has been instrumental in a number of …
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Peterswood Park
172 Meredith Dr, Venetia, PA
/articles/a-barking-good-time-paws-for-the-cause-benefit-at-peterswood-park
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
What are you doing this weekend? Tell us in the comments!
1. Movie Night Where?/When?: Peters Township Public Library, Thursday, 6 - 7:45 p.m. Why Go?: It's a movie night at the library! All ages are invited to watch Gulliver's Travels. The movie is rated PG. Pricing: Free 2. Campfire Jam Night Where/When: Mingo Creek Park, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Why Go: Join the park staff around the campfire for an evening of Country and Bluegrass music in Mingo Creek Park. Musicians who play an acoustic instrument are encouraged to share their talent. Everyone should bring a chair and/or a blanket. Light refreshments will be served. Pricing: Free 3. HOPE Ministry Information Night for Volunteers Where/When: St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church, Thursday, 7:15-8 p.m. Why Go?: The HOPE Ministry is looking for …
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Kuzak, who was injured during an incident in Clairton, was once a Peters police officer.
Police work is a brotherhood. When one man goes down, each brother feels it, too. Such is the case with Officer Jim Kuzak of the Clairton Police Department. Kuzak was shot multiple times in the line of duty on April 4 and was paralyzed by the attack. Ever since, his brothers (and sisters) have seen to it that Kuzak and his family have not been left any worse. Pittsburgh’s unofficial brotherhood of police officers have organized a number of fundraisers in Kuzak’s honor, including Saturday night when the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League held a Guns ’n Hoses boxing event at the Pittsburgh Expo Mart in Monroeville. All proceeds from the fighting fundraiser benefited Kuzak and his family directly, as well as the Give Kids the World …
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Here are our top 10 picks for this weekend. Add your own in the comments section.
1. Steel Magnolias Where/When: South Park Theater, Thursday - Saturday, 8 p.m. Why Go: This live performance of Steel Magnolias is set in a beauty salon in Louisiana where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to get their hair done. This play is filled with hilarious repartee and humorous verbal collisions. Pricing: $12 admission, $10 for subscribers 2. Free Blood Pressure Screenings Where/When: Community Recreation Center, Friday, 8:45 - 10 a.m. Why Go?: Canonsburg General Hospital is offering free blood pressure screenings at the Peters Township CRC. Pricing: Free 3. Home Depot Kid’s Workshop Where/When: Home Depot, Saturday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Why go?: Children ages 5 through 12 will make this Home Depot Valet Organizer for Father's Day…
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Central Blood Bank hosted the first of two drives for former Peters Township patrolman James Kuzak Jr.
There wasn't a single vacant parking space available Monday afternoon at the Peters Township Fire Department, as volunteers filed in to donate blood for wounded police officer James Kuzak Jr. The Central Blood Bank hosted the first of two scheduled drives for Kuzak, 39, a patrolman with the Clairton Police Department who was shot while responding to a call last week. On the evening of April 4, Kuzak was called to a reported home invasion at a residence in Clairton, where he was shot three times by fleeing suspects. He was transported by ambulance to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he underwent surgery to stabilize his conditions, according to a press release issued by The Central Blood Bank. "Kuzak lost half the blood in his body …
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A former Peters police officer was wounded on the job in Clairton late Monday night.
"He was out there always hunting," said Peters police Chief Harry Fruecht as he reflected on the career of former Peters police Officer James Kuzak, who spent 13 years with the force. Now a policeman in Clairton, Kuzak, 39, remains in critical condition, according to police, after he was shot in the chest as he was responding to a home invasion in that city late Monday night. Kuzak joined the Peters Township Police Department in 1997 and resigned last June 1, according to Fruecht. "Jimmy was a very aggressive officer when he worked for us," Fruecht said. "He was never the kind of officer who just sat in his car. He was always searching." A part-time Clairton officer, Kuzak is also a detective for the Washington County District Attorney's…
Stephanie Holland Vukmanic
3:32 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
So inspirational Jim! You should consider sharing your story at https://www.upmcstories.com/share-your-story/. more ›