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NEW HOPE: Kozuhowski lauded for ‘heads-up’ police work

Commended for work in apprehending three armed bank robber suspects

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   NEW HOPE — A New Hope Borough police officer recently received a commendation for his part in apprehending three armed bank robber suspects.
   Officer Kenneth Kozuhowski spied the three men Feb. 17 in a cul-de-sac on Shire Drive not long after they had smashed through the Route 202 toll plaza heading toward Pennsylvania. They temporarily eluded pursuit by Lambertville police.
   Officer Kozuhowski notified the Bucks County Police Radio of his location and “challenged the three suspects,” according to the commendation.
   ”Two of the suspects fled the area,” the commendation said. “Officer Kozuhowski was able to take the third suspect into custody at gunpoint. While doing this, Officer Kozuhowski was able to advise the other police units in the area the direction that the other two suspects had fled.”
   Officer Kozuhowski exhibited “heads-up thinking,” New Hope police Chief Michael Cummings said. “He did everything he was supposed to. This was a serious crime for New Hope, and he should be recognized for the actions he took.”
   The commendation was presented March 11 during a meeting of the Borough Council. Citizens in the audience cheered Officer Kozuhowski, who is married and the father of two young daughters.
   After Officer Kozuhowski radioed in his location, Lambertville police arrived and located the two suspects who had fled. Solebury police also responded and assisted Officer Kozuhowski with the third suspect.
   ”It was a great job by everybody involved,” Chief Cummings said. “Everybody did their part.”
   The FBI later took the trio into custody. A judge in U.S. District Court in Trenton denied them bail, and they are housed in the Monmouth County Jail.
   Federico Feria, 24, of Lambertville, and Emilio Ruiz and Cirilo Feria, both 23, of New Hope, were charged with armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
   Their weapons included an “Uzi-type firearm” and a shotgun, according to an affidavit filed by the FBI.
   The three men are suspected of also holding up the New Hope branch of Wachovia Bank in January.