Slain cop to get valor award

The National Liberty Museum, which presents annual Awards of Valor to recognize acts of bravery and heroism by police officers and firefighters, will pay special tribute to fallen Police Officer Chuck Cassidy by honoring him with a posthumous award. Cassidy was fatally shot last Halloween, when he responded to a robbery in progress at the Dunkin' Donuts at 66th Avenue and Broad Street. He and other awardees will be recognized in a ceremony on Sept. 11.

Exec, Penn prez to be honored

Operation Understanding, which focuses on developing leaders in the African-American and Jewish communities, has announced that Dr. Amy Gutmann and Pamela Browner Crawley will each receive the Distinguished Community Leadership Award at a reception Thursday at the Pyramid Club.

Gutmann is the eighth president of the University of Pennsylvania. Crawley is senior vice president and director of corporate affairs for Citizens Bank.

Health-care forum at library

The Free Library will present a community forum and panel discussion on health care titled "Critical Condition: What's the Solution to America's Healthcare Crisis?" at 7 p.m. May 7 at the library. For more information call 215-686-5414.

He admits child-porn rap

A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Fla., to his involvement in a vast global kiddie- porn-trafficking ring.

Stepan Bondarenko, 38, pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to advertise, transport and receive child porn and related offenses. Authorities said Bondarenko was one of 14 alleged members of the enterprise who used large file-sharing networks to traffic in illegal images and videos depicting pre-pubescent children, including toddlers, engaged in various sexual and sadistic acts.

3 fishermen rescued

A Coast Guard small-boat crew yesterday morning rescued three fishermen who were aboard a disabled fishing boat two miles from the shore of Kitts Hummock, Del. *

- Staff and wire reports