Officer Derek Kotecki, 40, was shot and killed in on 10/12/11 at approximately 7:00 p.m. while responding to a Dairy Queen to arrest Charlie Arthur Post, 33, who was wanted for an incident that occurred earlier on October 2nd on charges including attempted homicide and aggravated assault for allegedly firing several shots at his boss, Terry Janosky, 44, a New Kensington building contractor. Janosky told police he had a dispute with Post and agreed to meet him in a motel parking lot, only to have Post scream and open fire when he arrived. Janosky was not hurt. There were three bullet holes on the driver’s side of Janosky’s truck from a large caliber handgun, including one right above the driver’s side window. Police recovered 12 shell casings at the scene. Police knew that Post was dangerous and a Lower Burrell detective had reached Post by cell phone after the Oct. 2 incident and tried to convince Post to turn himself in. When Police learned he was at the Dairy Queen on 10/12/11 several officers were converging on the scene to make the arrest and Kotecki was among the first to arrive at the Dairy Queen which is located on on Greensburg Road, near the Plum/Lower Burrell border. Post saw the officers approaching and he stepped out of a Jeep he was driving and opened fire. Kotecki was only ten minutes into his shift when he was felled by the gunfire. Officer Kotecti died from gunshot wounds to the head, left arm and abdomen. Witnesses said Post lay in the rear of the Jeep holding a pistol, and as Kotecki got out of his SUV with Odin, Post fired the gun through the closed back window, shattering it. Post tried to escape, but came to a fence that he could not scale. He turned back toward the police officers and shot himself. At the same instant, the officers fired at Post. Post died from gunshot wounds to the head, chest and abdomen. Kotecki was an 18-year veteran with the Lower Burrell Police Department and was the department’s K-9 officer. Officer Kotecki’s first K9 Benny retired and died and was replaced by Odin, Kotecki’s K9 partner at the time of his death. Kotecki’s K-9 had to be muzzled after the shooting and led away because the animal would not leave the slain officer’s body. Officer Kotecki studied criminal justice at Mercyhurst College in Erie. In 1992, just before joining Lower Burrell’s force, he worked as an officer in Ocean City, Md. A horse-drawn carriage carried Officer Kotecki’s body to the church for the service. Officer Kotecki’s funeral was attended by approximately four thousand people and about fifty K9 officer’s attended with their K9’S. A gray hearse with Kotecki’s body was led into the cemetery with a riderless horse. The empty saddle and glossy riding boots facing rearward in the stirrups is a traditional military honor. Seven officers used ceremonial shotguns to fire three times each for the 21-gun salute. Moments later, a state police helicopter flew low over the cemetery to pay respects. A combined bagpipe and drum corps performed “Amazing Grace.” A little bit later, a flight of white doves was released. Officer Kotecki’s K9 Odin was retired and given to Kotecki’s family. Kotecki is survived by his wife, Julie J. Nash Kotecki and two sons, Nicholas Bert Kotecki,13, and Alexander Bert Kotecki,11 and his K9 partner “Odin”. A fund has been set up for the Kotecki family in honor of our fallen Police Officer Derek Kotecki at the following: S&T Bank, 4251 Old William Penn Highway, Murrysville, PA 15668 or Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund, C/O Fraternal Order of Police, Allegheny Valley Lodge #39. Make checks payable to: Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.
On 6/16/14 Amanda Christyn Walters, 25, was sentenced to two years’ probation for helping fugitive Charlie Post elude capture in the days before he killed Lower Burrell Patrolman Derek Kotecki. Westmoreland County President Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr. handed down the sentence. McCormick instructed Walters to enroll in a high school diploma equivalency program and not to have contact with the Kotecki family. Amanda Walters Aunt Nicole M. Walters 39, of Lower Burrell, was sentenced to two years of probation with six months of house arrest a week before Amanda’s sentence. Walters was ordered to submit to random drug-and-alcohol testing during probation and pay court costs. She must pay for mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and counseling, if the evaluation shows the need.
On 11/19/16 approximately 100 people attended a dedication of a city park in Kotecki’s honor for the unveiling of the new entryway arch. The arch bears Kotecki’s name and replica badge. Kentucky artist Stephen Paulovich, a New Kensington native, created a replica of Lower Burrell K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki’s police badge; the 6-foot sculpture hangs above the new entrance to Officer Kotecki Memorial Park and a sculpted bust of Odin, Kotecki’s canine partner, was mounted on a brick pillar below the badge. More than 50 people and businesses contributed to all aspects of the entrance, including the design and landscaping, forming and erecting the steel arch, building the masonry pillars, and crafting and hanging the sculptural elements. The columns supporting the arch are called cruciform beams because of their strength and cross-shaped symbolism and also appropriate was the name of the paint — “honorable blue” — chosen to coat the metal. The road below the arch will be paved, landscaping finished and plaques recognizing Kotecki and donors added to the pillars.
Police agencies across the Alle-Kiski Valley — including New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Allegheny Township, Harrison, Springdale Township, Indiana Township, Tarentum and Plum — have charged Charles Post with a slew of minor offenses over the past 17 years, including numerous incidents of traffic violations, disorderly conduct and harassment. Of the 50 different incidents, here are some examples:
• Oct. 2011: New Kensington police charged Post with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, theft, reckless endangerment and other charges.
• Dec. 2010: Lower Burrell police charged Post with possession of drug paraphernalia and six summary driving citations. All charges except for paraphernalia and driving with suspended license were withdrawn. He failed to appear for a guilty plea before Judge John Blahovec on Oct. 7, 2011.
• March 2002: Lower Burrell charged Post with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. An arrest warrant issued in 2005 because he tested positive for opiates and cocaine, a violation of his parole or bail.
• Oct. 2001: Lower Burrell police — Kotecki — cited Post for criminal mischief. He was found not guilty.
• Aug. 1999: Leechburg charged Post with driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and another traffic citation. He pleaded guilty to drunken driving, while the other charges were withdrawn.
• Aug. 1999: Lower Burrell police cited Post for a traffic violation.
• April 1997: Lower Burrell charged Post with drunken driving and a summary count of buying alcohol as a minor.
