Danielle Jackson

Pittsburgh — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) presented 17 members of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop A, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, with plaques to honor their efforts to crack down on waste haulers at landfills in the southwestern part of the state.

During Operation Clean Sweep in May 2001, police helped conduct safety and environmental inspections, removed 556 of the 1,952 trucks from the road and took 110 drivers out of service for violations. More than $1.7 million in penalties has been collected so far from the inspections.

Members honored include Corporals Todd Caughey, Christopher Karnes, Michael Schmidt, Charles Seilhamer, Tedd Pounds and Louis Veitz; and Troopers Rodney Carpenter, Patrick Dowling, Richard Gemmell, Terry Glessner, Joseph Huber, Eric Johnson, Lonny Kirkland, Robert Minser, Steven Morningstar, Donald Shirey and Matthew Sinosky.