July 18-24 is Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, and to celebrate we will be highlighting exceptional parole agents or offices in the DOC. Check back each day for a new feature celebrating the excellent parole staff in Pennsylvania.
In June 2021, Agent Kevin Swartz arrived at a reentrant's residence at 8:35 a.m. and knocked on the door. The door was answered by the reentrant's three- and six-year-old children. The children told Agent Swartz that the reentrant was asleep, so Agent Swartz asked them to wake her. The children returned to the door with their 11-year-old cousin who said they could not wake the woman. Agent Swartz called 911 and, after receiving permission from his supervisor, entered the home. His concern was that the reentrant had a history of heroin use and had just recently been released from inpatient treatment.
Agent Swartz went to the second floor of the home where reentrant's 13-year-old child met him outside of a bedroom. The child informed Agent Swartz that the door was locked and they were unable to wake their mother. After calling out several times and receiving no response, Agent Swartz kicked in the bedroom door and entered, while also ensuring that the children remained outside the bedroom. He found the woman curled up on the bathroom floor. Agent Swartz was still on the phone with 911 and asked for an ambulance immediately.
While attempting to render aid, Agent Swartz determined that the woman was deceased. He left the bathroom and escorted all the children downstairs and asked the 13-year-old child to contact his grandmother. He spoke with the grandmother and advised her of the situation and comforted the children until their grandparents arrived.
We commend Agent Swartz for his actions on that day. His quick thinking and compassion serve as an example for the Department of Corrections.