16 Cheltenham police officers to receive District Attorney commendations for murder-for-hire investigation

16 officers from the Cheltenham Township Police Department will be honored on Tuesday, May 21 by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele during the annual District Attorney’s Law Enforcement & Civilian Commendation Ceremony at the Montgomery County Fire Academy Auditorium in Norristown.

The ceremony is scheduled for 12:00pm and will recognize heroic actions, excellent investigations and acts of valor by law enforcement.

40 officers, one K-9 and four civilians will be recognized, according to a press release on behalf of the District Attorney’s office.

Cheltenham Township officers will be recognized for the murder-for-hire investigation involving Julie Jean, 35, and Zakkee Alhakim, 34, each of whom have been sentenced to life in prison on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy for coordinating and carrying out the “assassination” of Rachel King, a Philadelphia teacher who was fatally shot in a Cheltenham Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru line with her 11-year-old son in the car in March 2023.

The officers’ names are as follows:

  • Cheltenham Township Det. Ryan Murray
  • Cheltenham Township Lt. Daniel Farley 
  • Cheltenham Township Lt. Andrew Snyder  
  • Cheltenham Township Lt. Joseph O’Neill 
  • Cheltenham Township Lt. Richard Schaffer 
  • Cheltenham Township Det. Ronald Cupo 
  • Cheltenham Township Det. Steven Motta 
  • Cheltenham Township Det. Philip Degliomini 
  • Cheltenham Township Sgt. Michael Moore 
  • Cheltenham Township Ofc. Stephanie Pappas
  • Cheltenham Township Ofc. Brian Walsh
  • Cheltenham Township Ofc. James Stocklos 
  • Cheltenham Township Ofc. Justin Sneeringer 
  • Cheltenham Township Ofc. Kevin Norton 
  • Cheltenham Township Ofc. Adam Heath 
  • Cheltenham Township Ofc. Zachery Koerper

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