Washington County 2023 Public Safety Awards recipients named

Local heroes in Hagerstown and Washington County have been named as recipients of the Seventh Annual Public Safety Awards, to be presented at a breakfast awards ceremony hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, according to a chamber news release.

The awards ceremony recognizes first responders in fire, police, emergency telecommunications and EMS departments.

“We would like to thank each of these heroes, and teams of heroes, for their dedication to protecting the well-being of our citizens, making Washington County a safer place to live and to run a business or nonprofit,” said Chamber President and CEO Paul Frey in the release. "We want to be sure that their hard work is not overlooked. We are fortunate to live in a community with so many great first responders and healthcare professionals around us."

The awards will start at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 8, at Community Volunteer Fire Co. of District 12’s banquet facility at 18002 Tilghmanton Road in Fairplay. Registration details are available at Hagerstown.org on the Chamber Events Calendar page.

What awards are being given during the ceremony?

Medal of Valor Awards are given for several reasons. There are three levels: gold, silver and bronze.

The gold award recognizes an act of bravery involving extreme personal risk that is clearly above and beyond the call of duty, or an incident of valor that results in serious injury or death.

The silver award recognizes acts of bravery involving great personal risk beyond the call of duty.

The bronze award recognizes acts of bravery involving unusual personal risk beyond expectation while performing the usual responsibilities of the job.

Bronze-level recognition also may be awarded to a member who demonstrates unusual judgement, zeal or ingenuity during an emergency situation when such an act is beyond that normally expected in the line of duty.

This year’s recipient of the Gold Medal of Valor Award is Detective Sgt. Phillip Martin of the Maryland State Police, honored for his response to the active shooter event on Bikle Road in Smithsburg in June.

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The recipients of the Silver Medal of Valor Award are Sgt. Jason Batistig, Officer First Class Keith Fuqua, Officer Scott Huff, Officer Michael McDermott and Master Police Officer Jon Molineaux of the Hagerstown Police Department, honored for their response to a homicidal suspect armed with a knife in Hagerstown in April 2022.

The recipients of the Bronze Medal of Valor Award are Trooper First Class Joshua Socks and K9, Master Trooper David Thompson of Maryland State Police and Deputy First Class Javier Montenegro of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, all honored for their responses to the active shooter event on Bikle Road in Smithsburg in June.

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The Good Samaritan Award recognizes a non-uniformed, untrained citizen who clearly goes above and beyond, performing an act of selflessness and bravery during an emergency situation, the release states.

Robert Dewayne Love and Christopher Jones Rinehart are receiving the award for assisting a Washington County Sheriff with an aggressive, intoxicated driver on Dual Highway in Hagerstown in January.

The Telecommunications Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional contribution to the improved delivery of emergency medical, fire and law enforcement services to the citizens and visitors of Washington County through outstanding dedication and service.

Emergency Dispatcher Samantha Palmer of the Maryland State Police Emergency Dispatch department is receiving the award, honoring excellence in emergency dispatch and telecommunications.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who encompasses leadership and an exceptional work ethic. He or she has consistently performed above and beyond normal expectation throughout their career, the release states.

Dave Baer of Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Co. is receiving the award in honor of his dedicated service since 1971. Jack L. Emery of Pioneer Hook & Ladder Co. of Hagerstown also is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his dedicated service since 1970.

The Community Service Award is presented to an individual, group or organization who has worked to better the lives of those in Washington County, either inside or outside of normal job duties, or has performed a single outstanding prevention, according to the release.

Volunteer Dennis Rudden of Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Service Inc. is receiving the award in honor of his volunteer efforts to educate the community with "Stop the Bleed" Training.

The Volunteer Achievement Award is presented for volunteer dedication and initiative above and beyond the call of duty over a period of time that has affected and benefited the citizens of Washington County and beyond.

Volunteer Walter David Irvin Sr. of Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Co. & Clear Spring Ambulance Club is receiving the the award in honor of his dedicated service since 1964. Deputy Chief Phil Ridenour of Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Co. also is receiving the award in honor of his dedicated service since 1975.

The Hero Award honors an individual or team whose actions attempted to save or succeeded in saving a human life, according to the release. Recipients demonstrate strong knowledge of medical and rescue efforts, quick action, and a commitment to service on and off duty.

Trooper First Class Jeremy Wills of Maryland State Police is receiving the award to recognize his heroic act of performing life-saving CPR at Liberty Gas Station on Sharpsburg Pike in Hagerstown in January 2022. Master Deputy Jacob Demers of Washington County Sheriff's Office also is receiving the Hero Award to recognize his heroic act of performing life-saving First Aid to a gunshot victim in September 2022.

Capt. Melanie Higgins and Capt. Joshua Eisenhower of Washington County Division of Emergency Services; Fire Apparatus Operator Brandon Higgins of Hagerstown Fire Department; EMT Warren "Bo" Miller; Deputy Chief Robert Scott and Paramedic Angie Wolff of Clear Spring Ambulance Club; Sgt. Dylan Altman; Probationary Firefighter Adam Cornell; Firefighter Jeremy Eyler; Sgt. Richard Hebb; Firefighter Jeff Jenkins, Capt. Michael Reid and Sgt. Cody Royce of Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Co. are each receiving a Hero Award to honor their life-saving CPR response in Clear Spring in May 2022.

Master Deputy John Frick, Judicial Division Linsay Gladhill, Master Deputy Deidre Pepple and Master Deputy James Sword of Washington County Sheriff's Office are each receiving the Hero Award in honor of their life-saving CPR response at the Circuit Court of Washington County in July, according to the release.

The Unit Achievement Award is awarded to any bureau, division, section, unit or squad exhibiting extraordinary performance, attention to duty and for an outstanding contribution to the department or to the welfare of the county's citizens, according to the release.

Detective Jason Ackerman, Detective Jason Dietz, Detective Anthony Fleegal, Detective Sgt. Benjamin Lyncha, Detective Dustin Vogel and Detective Shawn Weaver of the Hagerstown Police Department Criminal Investigation Unit are receiving the award to honor their excellent investigative work in 2022.

Sgt. Brian Glines, Detective Kevin Klappert, Detective Andrew Koontz, Detective Clayton Stottlemyer, Detective Casey Swope, Sgt. Howard Ward and Sgt. Christopher Weaver of the Washington County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Unit & Digital Investigation and Forensics Unit are also receiving the Unit Achievement Award in honor of their group investigation of the active shooter event on Bikle Road in Smithsburg in June.

Multiple departments deserve recognition for their service during a water rescue at the Potomac River in June, according to the release. The following individuals are receiving the Unit Achievement Award for their response to this incident: Swift Water Technician Grant Lescalleet, Swift Water Technician Adam McMillen, and Chief Roger Otzelberger of Potomac Valley Volunteer Fire Co.; Chief Tommy Arnold of Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Co.; Swift Water Technician Dan Breeding, Capt. Josh Eisenhower, Swift Water Technician Ryan Glessner, Volunteer Coordinator Oley Griffith, Capt. Shawn Hartsock and Capt. Keli Smith of Washington County Division of Emergency Services, and Safety 101 Troy Lloyd of Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association.

The event is being sponsored by Meritus Health, Antietam Broadband, GDC IT Solutions, Hagerstown Magazine, Atlantic Emergency Solutions, Keystone Public Safety Inc., Volvo Group Trucks, AC&T Co. Inc., Blue Ridge Risk Partners LLC and Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Public Safety Awards to be given to local heros on June 8