A West Geauga High School student’s heroic actions were once again recognized April 20, this time by Chester Township officials.
A West Geauga High School student’s heroic actions were once again recognized April 20, this time by Chester Township officials.
Trustees Ken Radtke, Joe Mazzurco and Craig Richter honored 17-year-old Casey Orloski with a proclamation during their regular meeting.
“We should all be grateful that when this young man, Casey Orloski, saw something, he said something. Casey’s actions and those of School Resource Officer Nick Iacampo and school officials averted what could have been an unimaginable tragedy,” Radtke said. “West Geauga High School is a better place because of the actions of Casey and he is to be commended for his actions.”
Casey’s discovery of a bullet in a bathroom stall on the morning of April 3 led to the arrest of 18-year-old Brandon Michael Morrissette, who brought a handgun to school with plans to shoot multiple students.
Mazzurco said Casey became a young man by stepping up and doing what was right.
“We need more people like that to be stepping up when situations come up that aren’t going the way they’re supposed to be going,” Mazzurco said. “He possibly saved many lives and foiled something that was going to be wrong.”
Mazzurco said it was a vision of the trustees to have resource officers at West Geauga Schools.
“We had a vision to have a school resource officer there. To be able to work with kids, to be the deterrent, to be able to help people and to keep it quiet to get the things done in the right way,” Mazzurco said. “With the school involved, they were focused on it, too, so it was a good situation that was put in order five years ago.”
Mazzurco added Casey followed the protocols for such situations, which the school and resource officers have taught students.
“They don’t practice these events for nothing. They practice them for a reason,” Mazzurco said. “It’s taught the student and hopefully other students that are there that we need to be vigilant. To watch out for each other. We’ve got to have each other’s back.”
Casey was also recognized by Newbury Township Trustee Bill Skomrock and honored with another proclamation.
“We, the board of Newbury Township Trustees, recognize Casey as a hero for his actions taken on that day,” Skomrock said.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending school violence, recently gave Casey the National Student Hero Award for his quick actions, as well.
