9th Annual Public Safety Awards

Description

Keep reading for a list of this year's award recipients, who will be recognized at our award ceremony on August 7, 2025.

Gold Medal of Valor

Trooper First Class Zachary O'Neal - Maryland State Police

Prevented a suicide attempt over oncoming traffic 

Sergeant Vance Almy - Washington County Sheriff's Office

Master Deputy Jason Litten - Washington County Sheriff's Office

Master Deputy Jasen Logsdon - Washington County Sheriff's Office

Master Deputy Joseph McCoy - Washington County Sheriff's Office

Master Deputy Philip Schnurr - Washington County Sheriff's Office

Deputy Ashley Wilbraham - Washington County Sheriff's Office

Prevented a suicide attempt over oncoming traffic

Deputy Aaron Garvin - Washington County Sheriff's Office

Saved another Deputy from suspect armed with a Knife 

Silver Medal of Valor

Officer Tim Cramer - Hagerstown Police Department

Response to Stabbing in Progress

Officer Andrew Kelbaugh - Hagerstown Police Department

Officer Jacob Mull - Hagerstown Police Department

Combat and capture of armed adversary with active arrest warrant

Bronze Medal of Valor

Officer Scott Huff - Hagerstown Police Department

Arrest of armed male in possession of 57 containers of suspected narcotics

Fire Apparatus Operator Brian Snyder - Hagerstown Fire Department

Rescued a woman from a 2-story residential structure fire

Hero Award

Officer Bethani Basta - Hagerstown Police Department

Life-saving response to victim with multiple stab wounds

Officer Langley Dean - Hagerstown Police Department

Life-saving response to pediatric assault victim

Fire Apparatus Operator Jacob Altman - Hagerstown Fire Department

Firefighter Adam Semler - Hagerstown Fire Department

Lieutenant Scott Adams - Longmeadow Volunteer Fire Company

Life-saving response to house fire entrapment

Assistant Chief Sara Gismondi - Potomac Valley Volunteer Fire Company

Fire Apparatus Operator Jackie Moser - Washington County Division of Emergency Services

High-risk water rescue with stranded victim 

Firefighter Matthew Munson - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company

Firefighter Bradley Taylor - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company

Firefighter Daniel Taylor - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company

Life-saving response to a trailer fire entrapment

Paramedic Travis Routzahn - Community Rescue Service

Paramedic Baileigh Phelps - Community Rescue Service

Life-saving response to a pediatric cardiac arrest

Unit Achievement Award

Sergeant William Mills - Washington County Sheriff's Office, Detention Division - Transport Unit

Master Deputy Michael Carbaugh - Washington County Sheriff's Office, Detention Division - Transport Unit

Master Deputy Robert Harris - Washington County Sheriff's Office, Detention Division - Transport Unit

Master Deputy James Lewis - Washington County Sheriff's Office, Detention Division - Transport Unit

Master Deputy Danny Taylor - Washington County Sheriff's Office, Detention Division - Transport Unit

Transported 1,550 incarcerated individuals without incident in the 2024 calendar year

The Volunteers of ESS-25 Air Unit-Rehab Unit - Washington County Emergency Support Services

Teamwork and dedication of volunteers that provided high-quality breathing air, hydration, and nutritional support at over 275 incidents in 2024

Lieutenant Bradley Taylor - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company Rescue Squad 13

Firefighter Tommy Palmer - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company Rescue Squad 13

Firefighter Hunter Clark - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Firefighter Robbie Resh - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Chaplain Genny Resh - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Chief Mark Miller - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Firefighter Robert Neat - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Firefighter Exequais Lemus - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Firefighter Brandon Frazier - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Firefighter Jack Blair - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company 

Firefighter Jeff Early - Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company Utility-13

Captain Justin Ruppenthal - Community Rescue Service

Paramedic Abraham Jefferson - Community Rescue Service

EMT Zachariah Graybill - Community Rescue Service

Teamwork responding to a serious vehicle incident with a young child

Fire Apparatus Operator Richard Bolinsky - Hagerstown Fire Department Engine 4

Captain John Murray - Hagerstown Fire Department Engine 4

Fire Apparatus Operator Joel Oyler - Hagerstown Fire Department Truck 4

Fire Apparatus Operator Terry Martin - Longmeadow Volunteer Fire Company Rescue Engine 27-2

Firefighter Abdellah Rasalane - Longmeadow Volunteer Fire Company Rescue Engine 27-2

Firefighter Connor Bratburd - Longmeadow Volunteer Fire Company Rescue Engine 27-2

Teamwork responding to house fire entrapment

Paramedic Kamarya Chojnacki - Community Rescue Service

Paramedic Kevin Demmons - Community Rescue Service

Lieutenant Robert Follin - Community Rescue Service

Fire Apparatus Operator Travis Barkdoll - Hagerstown Fire Department

Fire Apparatus Operator Shawn Wieczorek - Hagerstown Fire Department

Seamless coordination and commitment to pediatric patient's survival

Telecommunications Award

Emergency Communications Specialist Shirley Weaver - Washington County Division of Emergency Communications 9-1-1

Balanced the chaos of a fluid and dangerous call including a stab victim and gunshots with focused, decisive action

Emergency Dispatcher II Lashonda Wilson - Maryland State Police Emergency Dispatch

Commitment to recruiting efforts and initiatives within the Hagerstown barrack, superb CAD documentation, and ability to handle high volumes of radio traffic 

Distinguished Service Award

Sergeant Adam Matthai - Maryland State Police

Demonstrates exceptional supervisory and leadership qualities, leads the Barrack Boys and Girls program, volunteers regularly, and played a crucial role in the location and recovery of 3 bodies in response to the Key Bridge Collapse

1st Vice President G. Dale Fishack Jr. - Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association

Demonstrates dedication and passion to fire/EMS in the community, always holds numerous positions, active advocate for volunteer stations and EMS departments

Community Service Award

Dennis Rudden - Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Service, Inc.

Mel Rowland - Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Service, Inc.

Steve Mohl - Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Service, Inc.

Josh Mohl - Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Service, Inc.

Melinda Headley, NP - Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Service, Inc.

Bradley Kauffman - Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Service, Inc.

Going above and beyond as volunteers to teach STOP THE BLEED, CPR, and the MDDH Overdose Response Program (ORP) to the community

Volunteer Achievement Award

Chief Priscilla Morgan - Sharpsburg EMS

Running the full scope of operations entirely on a volunteer basis, eliminating department staffing issues, and being an exemplary leader

Chaplain Deborah Cohill - Hancock Volunteer Fire Company

Obtained an estimated $1,000,000 in grant money for Hancock VFC, Martha's House, and Allegheny Fire Company as a volunteer

Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary S. David, Apparatus Operator/Technician - Washington County Emergency Support Services

50+ years of public service, continues to rank among the top responders for ESS-25 at 87 years of age, serves as the ESS-25 Historian

Chief Richard Miller - Hancock Police Department

40+ years of service, has made outstanding contributions in all aspects of public safety including Fire/EMS, emergency dispatch, and law enforcement