Adams Twp. honors Trump rally first responders
ADAMS TWP — Residents packed the township building to recognize three of their own for their bravery on July 13, 2024.
Adams Township officers Chris Kopas, Edward Lenz and Aaron Zaliponi were honored at the township’s board of supervisors meeting Monday, Nov. 24, with proclamations recognizing their actions during the attempted assassination of then-candidate President Donald Trump at a rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds more than16 months ago.
Community members, police officers, firefighters and government officials showed up to applaud the community heroes.
“We do work with an amazing group of people. The officers and the township everybody get’s along very, very well. I think we all work toward a common goal, and that really is in service of others,” Lenz said.
The proclamations cited the actions of the three officers that day.
Kopas, a patrolman, was serving as an operator with the quick-action force of the Butler County emergency services unit. He was monitoring the area when multiple individuals caught their attention, including Thomas Crooks, the shooter. Kopas relayed information to the command post to have uniformed officers investigate.
When shooting began, Kopas deployed to the AGR building, and was one of a handful of officers who got on the roof to confront the shooter who tried to assassinate Trump. He was recognized for his actions, “attention to details” and “willingness to act with others in mind.”
Lenz, a sergeant with the Adams Township Police Department, was a tactical commander overseeing police officers from Butler and Beaver county emergency services. Lenz and the Butler County Emergency Services Unit cooperated with the investigations that followed, testifying in front of the United States House of Representatives’ task force in Washington, D.C. Lenz was recognized for portraying the “well represented role of municipal police forces” and their importance to protecting community members.
Zaliponi served as team lead for the counterassault team of the Butler County Emergency Services Unit. When the shooting began, he stood outside between the shooter and stage, managed to locate the shooter and disabled Crooks with one round, all within six seconds.
A representative from the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, also presented Zaliponi with a “certificate of special congressional representation” for his bravery and actions on July 13.
The board of supervisors said further loss of life was prevented due to Zaliponi’s neutralization of the shooter. He then went on to assist civilians who were shot in the bleachers.
Police officers in attendance said the actions of Kopas, Lenz and Zaliponi saved lives, while their courage is also on display on a daily basis.
“The job we do is not easy, day in and day out, the job of first responders, the things we got to deal with, this day we’re talking about. Their actions, not only what they do for the ESU team, but what they do in the township, the amount of time these three officers put in, it’s amazing what they do,” police Chief Shawn Anglum said. “They go and train with the ESU team, they are not compensated for all their time. The amount of hours they have to put in to train for that team is way more than they put in here. What they do is outstanding.”
Supervisors said the township will always be proud of them and forever grateful.
“Until you get into that situation, you never know how you’re going to react. You can say what you want, but you have to commend these guys for stepping up to the plate,” Supervisor Ronald Nacey said. “These guys go out every day, you never know when somebody’s not going to come back. That’s the truth of the matter, and it’s unfortunate, but these guys put their lives on the line. Not just that day, but every day.”
State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, told the three officers during the ceremony she remembers how she felt that day and how hard the aftermath was.
Scialabba said she was seated in the front row and is indebted to the three officers for possibly saving the life of her and others seated near her.
“The thing about emergencies is that the preparation for them and the response for them happens well in advance and your actions that day are a testament not just to your training, but to your heart,” Scialabba said.
Despite the cheers and rounds of applause for the brave actions of that day, the officers said they were doing their job.
“It’s humbling. It’s not the reason we do what we do,” Kopas said. “Our standard level, our mission is to protect the people. We try to stand in that way to protect people. We don’t operate to be recognized. So it’s very appreciated, but not what we’re expecting.”
