FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2018
Contact:
Kraig Troxell, Media Relations and Communications Manager, 703-771-5278
Kraig.Troxell@loudoun.gov
Alex Kowalski, Public Information Officer, 703-777-0625
Aleksandra.Kowalski@loudoun.gov
38 from LCSO among those
Recognized at 2018 Valor Awards Ceremony
Loudoun County, VA- Thirty-eight members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) were among those recognized Friday at the 33rd Annual Valor Awards ceremony held at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia. This year’s awards saw the highest numbers of recipients recognizing the heroic actions of 160 individuals, including 24 citizens.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman and members of the LCSO leadership team and command staff were among the hundreds of community and business leaders in attendance today. “Every day first responders in Loudoun County put their lives on the line to help protect our community. Yesterday, we recognized members of law enforcement, fire-rescue and ordinary citizens who went above and beyond to help save the life of another person,” said Sheriff Chapman.
Among those recognized from the LCSO included Deputy First Class (DFC) Brandon Noland who received the lifesaving award for his actions for helping a juvenile female who was experiencing a behavioral crisis. DFC Noland discovered the juvenile on the roof of her three story house. Without hesitation DFC Noland climbed onto the roof and talked with the visibly distraught girl. Utilizing his crisis intervention skills, DFC Noland managed to deescalate the situation and convince her to come down from the roof. She did so and DFC Noland guided her back into the house and provided beneficial resources to the juvenile’s parents in obtaining assistance. DFC Noland displayed exceptional patience, compassion and empathy during the situation which led the juvenile to listen and trust the deputy. DFC Noland remained calm and kept the situation under control which contributed to saving the juvenile’s life.
Sergeant Brett Phillips received the Lifesaving Award and three citizens, Alex Doohen, Alexandra Khouri and Emily Gardner, received the Meritorious Civilian Award for their efforts in helping save the life of a motorcyclist who was critically injured after a crash. Mrs. Alexandra Khouri was traveling on Waxpool Road near the Route 28 interchange when she witnessed a motorcycle crash in front of her. The operator of the motorcycle was thrown nearly 25 feet into a grassy area. Mrs. Khouri exited her vehicle and observed that the motorcyclist’s right arm was severed and there was a large amount of blood loss. Another passerby, Ms. Alex Doohen, observed the victim’s condition and got out of her vehicle and assisted Mrs. Khouri. Ms. Doohen took her belt off and used it as tourniquet to slow the bleeding of the severed arm. As Ms. Doohen and Mrs. Khouri were applying the pressure, Ms. Gardner (a nurse) stopped and used her training to assist with keeping the victim’s head straight and kept him alert. A short time later Sergeant Brett Philips arrived on scene and he applied an LCSO issued tourniquet. The critical life-saving actions and courage exhibited by Ms. Doohen, Mrs. Khouri, Mrs. Gardner and Sgt. Phillips allowed them to perform life-saving techniques without regard for their own safety and undoubtedly saved the life of the motorcyclist.
Deputy Courtni Green received the Lifesaving Award for her actions in assisting on November 6, 2017. Deputy Green was dispatched to a residence on Winding Branch Terrace for an assist rescue call. As Deputy Green arrived on the scene, a female was screaming and Deputy Green observed a baby on the floor who was not breathing. Deputy Green utilized her training and moved into position for CPR and commenced chest compressions and rescue breaths. She was relieved by arriving EMS personnel. The baby was flown to INOVA Fairfax where it was placed into the ICU for several days. Deputy Green’s actions allowed the family members time with baby before he succumbed to his injuries. For her swift actions and human compassion in a crisis situation, Deputy Green is awarded the Life Saving Award.
Former Detective Patrick Beaver received the Certificate of Valor Detective Patrick Beaver for his actions after a fatal crash on Evergreen Mills Road on September 8, 2017. Detective Beaver was driving south on Evergreen Mills Road near Watson Road when he came upon a serious crash. He immediately stopped to assist, making contact with the occupants in the back of an Audi sedan. He attempted to break the sedan's windows with an extraction tool, however it was not effective. Det. Beaver sought the assistance of another civilian on scene and used a hammer to carefully break the window of the vehicle. Once he made contact with the occupants, Detective Beaver spoke with the victims who were trapped inside the vehicle and provided much needed reassurance and support until personnel with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue took control of the scene. Detective Beaver's quick actions, overall composure, and support ultimately helped the trapped occupants involved in the traumatic incident.
Deputy First Class Jorge Zavala and Deputy First Class Christopher Iversen received the Lifesaving Award for their actions in helping an unconscious female. Deputies Christopher Iversen and Jorge Zavala responded to a residence in South Riding and located an unconscious female. The deputies began chest compressions and rescue breaths until Loudoun County Fire and Rescue personnel arrived. Both deputies assisted rescue until the woman had a pulse and she was transported to a local hospital. The quick actions taken by Deputy Iversen and Deputy Zavala in utilizing their training ultimately helped save the woman’s life.
Master Deputy Charles Rounds, Deputy First Class Eric Cote, Deputy First Class Kevin Weare, Deputy First Class Andrew Mister and Deputy First Class Patrick Brick, received the Lifesaving Award for their efforts in helping a female who was attempting to take her own life. The LCSO received a report from a caller who was out of state and stated a female was attempting to commit suicide by asphyxiation. The caller did not know the address for the female. As units arrived on scene they began a door to door search, while Deputy First Class Andrew Mister initiated an online public records search for the involved individual. His efforts resulted in an address close to where the deputies were located. Deputies Brick, Weare, Rounds and Cote quickly traveled to the address and determined that there was a vehicle with its engine running inside a closed garage. The garage door was secured and could not be opened from the outside. The deputies forced open the locked front door and proceeded downstairs gaining access to the garage through an interior door. Working as a team in an extremely challenging oxygen-deprived environment, the deputies were able to get the garage door open, gain access to the female inside of the car, and physically carry her from the garage to the safety of fresh air outside. The level of carbon monoxide present inside of the garage at the time of rescue was such that symptoms of poisoning were readily apparent in the victim. The quick thinking and valiant actions of the involved deputies are the reasons that the female is alive today.
Deputy First Class Taylor Bauer received the Life Saving Award for his actions after responding to an assist rescue call for a man possibly having a heart attack. On scene, Deputy First Class Taylor Bauer found an unresponsive male on an upstairs bed. DFC Bauer moved the man to the floor and performed CPR until rescue arrived and were able to restore his heartbeat and breathing. The subject was transferred to ICU and subsequently made a full recovery and returned home. Deputy Bauer’s swift actions and effective efforts resulted in saving the man’s life.
Master Deputy Aaron Taylor received the Lifesaving Award for his actions in helping save the life of a person who stabbed themselves in the chest. Master Deputy Aaron Taylor was the first to arrive on scene and after an assessment of the situation he immediately began to provide the patient care. MD Taylor placed a gloved finger into the wound to control the bleeding and asked for a TECC kit via radio. This information was relayed to the responding Sterling Volunteer Fire/Rescue who provided a trauma kit. The patient was then transported to the emergency room for more specialized care. Thanks to MD Taylor’s calm and professional approach to a high stress situation, the patient was able to get mental health treatment he required.
Deputy Katherine Fischer and 2nd Lieutenant John Buckman received the Lifesaving Award for their efforts in assisting an unconscious male suffering a medical emergency. Deputy First Class Katherine Fischer and Lieutenant John Buckman were the first to arrive on scene and found an unconscious male in the kitchen of the home. The two performed CPR on the male until Loudoun County Fire & Rescue arrived on scene. The male was transported to a local hospital and ultimately made a full recovery. For their quick response in recognizing a life-threatening problem and taking decisive action, DFC Fischer and Lt. Buckman were awarded with the Lifesaving Award.
Deputy First Class Dennis Smith, Deputy First Class Eric Proskey, Deputy First Class Anne Ottosen received the Unit Citation and Deputy First Class Travis Wesgate received the Certificate of Valor for their actions in a reported shooting. Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Armstrong Terrace in Chantilly in reference to someone firing a shot into a vehicle. Deputy First Class Dennis Smith arrived first on the scene and observed a subject with a gun who was covered in blood. Deputy First Class Travis Westgate, who was off-duty at the time but lived in the neighborhood, responded to assist DFC Smith in handling this volatile situation detaining the subject. Deputy First Class Anne Ottosen assisted with searching the residence while Sergeant John Davis coordinated arriving units and spoke to the subject to find out where his wife and children were. Deputy First Class Eric Proskey located the vehicle involved in the shooting at a nearby gas station. The occupant of the vehicle was determined to have been unharmed. If not for the quick and decisive actions of the deputies this situation could have quickly spiraled out of control. The teamwork and coordination exhibited by the deputies demonstrated a high level of professionalism, ingenuity and bravery. For their teamwork and willingness to protect the community, Deputies Smith, Davis, Proskey and Ottosen are awarded the Unit Citation. For his bravery and willingness to help while off-duty, DFC Westgate is awarded the Certificate of Valor.
Deputy Hao Lu, Deputy Courtni Green, Deputy Juan Vargas, Deputy Benjamin Fornwalt and Deputy Tavis Henry received the Unit Citation for their efforts in handling a subject who was armed with a knife and was threatening citizens. Deputy Tavis Henry located the subject who was holding a knife to his neck and was bleeding from his leg. Deputy Henry started speaking with the male and determined that the male was experiencing a behavioral crisis. Deputies Hao Lu and Benjamin Fornwalt subsequently arrived and set up a perimeter around the male to contain the scene. DFC Lu applied his crisis intervention skills to convince the male to put down the knife and seek help with the deputies. Throughout the situation the deputies remained calm and through their compassionate understanding were able to maintain the situation under control which led to the saving of the male’s life.
Four members of the LCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC), Christopher McDonald, Lachersha Bennett, Miranda Freeman, Jennifer Cyr, and Janice Heilman, received the Meritorious Civilian Award for their efforts in helping locate a suicidal subject. On May 21, 2017, the ECC received a call from a person in Ohio who stated that a friend of theirs was threatening suicide via Facebook. The caller was unable to provide details to help locate the friend. ECC staff were able to monitor the posting/video via social media and observed the subject driving around with a knife. Working as a team they were able to identify the distressed woman through their computer systems and located a cell phone number. The ECC group worked with the cellphone provider and located the subject, and dispatched deputies to her location. Deputies located the subject who had cut herself with the knife and were able to provide her the necessary medical and mental health treatment. The rational and prompt response of the ECC team demonstrated a high level of professionalism, resourcefulness and teamwork which undoubtedly helped save the life of the suicidal subject.
Deputy First Class Jorge Zavala, Deputy First Class Matthew Vess, Deputy First Class Garrett Osborn, Deputy First Class Garry Epple, Sergeant Milton Castelle, Deputy First Class Ashley Martynowicz, Deputy Joseph Garone, Deputy First Class Linda Parker, DFC William Sullivan, Sergeant Brett Phillips and 2nd Lieutenant John Buckman received the Unit Citation for their efforts in assisting a man suffering an emotional crisis who was armed with a knife. The male in crisis was upset with family members and was chasing them throughout the house with a knife. The family left the residence and the male in crisis inside would not initially speak with deputies. Deputy First Class Matthew Vess used his crisis intervention skills to convince the man to release the knife and come outside of the home. Deputies Osborn, Epple, Castelle, Martynowicz, Garone, Parker, Sullivan, Phillips and Buckman established a perimeter to keep the surrounding residents safe. After some time, the male agreed to come outside and the deputies took him for treatment at local hospital for a mental health evaluation. For their quick actions, use of crisis intervention skills, and in safe guarding the community, this team is awarded the Unit Citation.
The Loudoun County Valor Awards program awards were established by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the local public safety agencies, to recognize and acknowledge members of the various public safety departments, as well as everyday citizens, who have placed themselves in harm's way over the past year to ensure the safety of others.
Also recognized at the event were members of the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue, Loudoun County Volunteer Fire-Rescue, the Town of Leesburg Police Department and a total of 24 citizens.
The featured Master of Ceremonies at this year’s awards ceremony were ABC 7/WJLA-TV News anchors Autria Godfrey and Larry Smith.
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