Police Officers Commended, Standoff Suspect Appears in Court

A police officer was calling for help in Doylestown Township, and Cpl. William Doucette responded.

It was Sunday, Father's Day, and Doucette, a Doylestown Borough officer, headed toward a report of shots being fired at 25 Bittersweet Dr., in the Doylestown Lea neighborhood off of Wells Road.

Doucette and two other Doylestown Borough officers - Sgt. Paul Kreuter and Officer David Carlen - were commended on Monday for bravery during the standoff with what would turn out to be an armed off-duty police officer who on June 17.

The suspect in that shooting, Richard Klementovich, appeared at a preliminary hearing Thursday in District Judge Mark Douple's court. The Intelligencer reports that he now faces six counts of attempted homicide, down from the original 13 originally filed against him.

When Doucette arrived on the scene that day, he immediately came under fire from the suspect. His police car was shot up and immobilized, but Doucette hunkered down and held his position.

"Using your disabled vehicle as cover, you remained calm and proceeded in a professional manner to warn other responding officers of your situation," according to the official commendation.

While waiting for backup, Doucette tried to determine where the firing was coming from, the citation said. A bullet struck the street or a curb and kicked up a piece of concrete or debris that struck him near the right eye.

Carlen was directly behind Doucette's car when bullets began striking it. He was able to back up and position his vehicle diagonally across the street, blocking Bittersweet Drive, according to police.

Carlen then saw neighbors walking along Bittersweet Drive a few houses away. He got them to return home and stay inside, then went to two other nearby homes and instructed those residents to remain inside and out of view of the shooter.

Kreuter was off-duty at the time, but when the call went out, he, too responded.

Accompanied by three other officers, Kreuter drove the Lenco Bearcat armored vehicle to rescue Doucette.

While under fire from barricaded subject, Kreuter was able to maneuver the Bearcat between the shooter and Doucette's position.

"You opened the driver's door of your vehicle and effected the rescue of the injured officer," the commendation reads. "You transported him to safety and medical assistance.

After safely evacuating Doucette, Kreuter and the others returned to the scene "and engaged in a prolonged exchange of gunfire with the male," according to police.

The commendations praise the three officers for bravery under fire.

"Your actions substantially contributed to no other officers or civilians being injured," the commendations concluded.

Klementovich eventually surrendered nearly 12 hours later and was initially charged with 13 counts of attempted homicide and a litany of other charges.

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