Crime Alert Berks County honors three at ceremony

Mark Nemirow, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·1 min read

Sep. 25—Crime Alert Berks County honored three local leaders at its delayed 2020/2021 annual awards breakfast Thursday at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Reading before a record crowd of more than 200 attendees.

"We've had to reschedule this event several times due to COVID, but we're so grateful to all of you for showing up and supporting our honorees," Crime Alert President Rick Periandi told the crowd.

Retired Wyomissing police Chief Jeffrey R. Biehl received the Law Enforcement Award. Biehl logged 42 years with the borough police force and has been with Crime Alert since its 1998 founding, serving as a liaison between the group and law enforcement entities.

Mike Faust, former host of WEEU-AM's "Feedback," received the Barry E. Rohrbach President's Award. In his 20 years hosting the program, he hosted a number of live broadcasts spreading the word about Crime Alert and raising funds for its efforts.

Ronald C. Dunkelberger Sr. received Crime Alert's first Lifetime Service Award. He has been on the board since its inception, serving most of those years as its vice president as well as chairman of the rewards committee.

During the breakfast Berks County District Attorney John Adams presented Crime Alert President Rick Periandi with a $15,000 contribution from drug forfeiture funds.

Separately, Crime Alert recognized poster contest winners Emma Richards, 10, Gov. Mifflin School District; and Lucas Morris and Abbie Sith, both of the Wilson School District. The Mack Scholarship has been awarded to Evan Grim of Hamburg. It goes to a high school graduate planning to study criminal justice or law enforcement in college. He is a son of South Heidelberg Township police Chief Leon Grim and his wife, Gloria.