Program - AlexandriaVA.Gov · 2017. 4. 21. · Gold Medal The highest award for valor and heroism....

ProgramWelcomeJoseph V. HaggertyPresident & CEO, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Presentation of ColorsCombined Honor Guard

National AnthemDeputy Deon BestAlexandria Sheriff’s Office

InvocationFirefighter Nathan KrauseAlexandria Fire Department

LuncheonIntroductionsDak Hardwick2017 Chairman, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Inova RemarksSusan CarrollChief Executive Officer, Inova Alexandria Hospital

Introduction of Aaron GilchristDak Hardwick

Narration and Awards PresentationAaron GilchristNBC4 Washington

Closing RemarksDak Hardwick

Retiring of the ColorsCombined Honor Guard

Aaron GilchristAaron Gilchrist anchors News4 Today, the #1 morning newscast in Washington, along with Eun Yang. Aaron’s day starts in the middle of the night, as he’s on the air at 4:26 every morning.

Gilchrist joined News4 in March 2010 as a weekend morning anchor and general assignment reporter. He moved to weekday mornings in April 2012. Gilchrist continues to provide special reports across News4 broadcasts and hosts special programs for the station.

Before coming to Washington, Gilchrist spent 11 years in his hometown of Richmond at WWBT, NBC’s affiliate there. He began working there as a desk assistant and worked his way up to morning anchor for which he was honored with an EMMY award.

Gilchrist’s reporting and anchoring has covered many of the major events of the last two decades. He’s reported on the Beltway sniper attack in central Virginia, the funeral of Ronald Reagan and the inauguration of Barack Obama. In 2005, he spent several days reporting from the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Two years later, he made several trips to Virginia Tech to cover the mass shooting there and its aftermath.

During his time on the anchor desk in Washington, Gilchrist has guided viewers through wall-to-wall coverage of tropical storms, the retirement trip to northern Virginia of the space shuttle Discovery and the mass shooting at the Navy Yard. Gilchrist also provide live reports from NBC’s Education Nation summit in New York City in 2012 and the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL in 2013. He also contributed as panelist in Virginia senate and gubernatorial debates.

Gilchrist graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond with a degree in mass communications. He also taught journalism courses there. Today, Gilchrist commits much of his time to working with local youth organizations and talking to students about the value of education and a strong work ethic.

Gilchrist lives in Washington, DC.

Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Inner Circle

TM

Dak Hardwick

Event SponsorsPresenting Sponsor

Award SponsorDominion Virginia Power

Table SponsorAlexandria Police FoundationAlexandria Springfield Emergency PhysiciansJohn Marshall BankNational Institute for the BlindCaudron - Megary - Blackburn Wealth Management Group

of Wells Fargo AdvisorsStearns Home Loans/Homes for Heroes

From the Heart Sponsor BBT - Scott & StringfellowGrosvenor AmericasJack Taylor’s Alexandria ToyotaRedmon, Peyton & Braswell LLP

Host SponsorCrowne Plaza Hotel

Media SponsorsAlexandria Gazette PacketAlexandria TimesZebra

The Valor AwardsGold MedalThe highest award for valor and heroism. Awarded in cases in which a public safety official knowingly places themselves at risk of death or extreme serious bodily harm in the performance of an official act.

Silver MedalThe second highest award for valor and heroism. Awarded in situations where a public safety official exposes himself/herself to great personal risk in the performance of an official act.

Bronze MedalAwarded in situations where, during the course of an emergency and at personal risk, a public safety official demonstrates judgment and ingenuity in the performance of his/her duties.

Lifesaving AwardTo be awarded in recognition of official acts taken by public safety officials in a life-threatening situation where an individual’s life is in jeopardy, either medically or physically.

Certificate of ValorFor recognition as a public safety official, for action taken involving personal risk and/or demonstration of judgment in the performance of duty.

2017 Public Safety Valor Awards 7

Firefighter/Medic Kaandra WilsonOn March 21,2016, after a wonderful trip to Asia with friends Kaandra Wilson was on her Air China flight back to New Jersey. Ten hours into the flight an attendant asked on the intercom for anyone with medical experience; a passenger needed help. Kaandra looked around the plane and no one moved. Kaandra approached the patient, a 70-year-old male who only spoke Mandarin, traveling with his son who spoke English. From the son, Kaandra learned the man was a cancer patient and had just had trouble walking from the bathroom to his seat.

The man’s blood pressure cup indicated his pressure was 90/50 and falling. When his heart stopped, Kaandra and another passenger began doing CPR. Asking for help from other passengers, Kaandra established a relay “team” to keep the CPR going.

When the plane landed paramedics and police boarded and learned the CPR team had been in place for three hours and ten minutes. The paramedic called it. The patient did not survive.

For her heroic efforts, Firefighter/Medic Kaandra Wilson is presented with a lifesaving award.


Deputy Valarie Wright Deputy Charlie Winstead Deputy Fire Marshal Joe ZarkauskasOn Friday, March 25, at the opening night of the carnival at Landmark Mall, a 15-year-old boy was critically injured after being stabbed in the lower chest. Deputies Valarie Wright and Charlie Winstead, who were working the security detail at the carnival, immediately attempted to aid the victim and secure the area, something that was particularly difficult as a large group of teens near the victim had become disorderly. Despite the crowd, Deputy Wright was able to reach the victim and determine that he had a serious injury. She also gave clear commands to those in the crowd to disperse.

Deputy Wright attempted to calm the victim even though he was uncooperative, explaining he needed immediate treatment of the stab wound. Working together, Deputies Wright and Winstead were able to get the victim to a safer environment by putting him into Deputy Winstead’s cruiser. Deputy Wright began treatment of the victim by placing gauze on his wound and applying pressure to minimize bleeding.

Deputy Fire Marshal Joe Zarkauskas arrived on the scene and joined Deputy Wright in her efforts to treat the victim. The crowd continued to be disruptive and until Police patrol officers arrived on the scene, Fire Marshal Zarkauskas had to repeatedly order the crowd to move back so that he and Deputy Wright could attend to the victim.

Although an ambulance quickly arrived, the aggressive crowd prevented medics from immediately reaching the victim. Deputy

10 Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Winstead made the crucial decision to transport the victim in his cruiser to the ambulance where medics were waiting and ready to take over treatment. The victim was transported to the hospital where he underwent successful surgery for a potentially life threatening injury.

Amid the chaotic scene, Deputies Wright and Winstead managed to provide the victim with vital care and protection while also ensuring their own safety, despite the unruly crowd. Because of their immediate response, solid decision-making, and excellent first aid efforts, and the exceptional efforts of Fire Marshal Zarkauskas, the victim in this case received the medical attention he desperately needed.

For their efforts Deputy Valarie Wright, Deputy Charlie Winsted and Deputy Fire Marshal Joe Zarkauskas are awarded bronze medals.


Officer Joel Hughes Officer Hayden Johnson Officer Patrick Kunz Officer Stephen Riley IVOn May 17, 2016 at 4:00 pm, the Department of Emergency Communications, received a call for a suicidal subject in an 11th floor apartment in the 200 block of South Reynolds Street. The victim’s girlfriend reported her boyfriend called family members to say his goodbyes, and threatened to jump to his death.

Sergeant Michael Nugent located the boyfriend on his eleventh-floor balcony. He was staring blankly down to the ground and began to climb over the railing. The Sergeant yelled to him to please climb back onto his balcony and to give the Sergeant a chance to speak with him. He lifted his leg back over and continued to stare down. Officers Joel Hughes, Hayden Johnson, Patrick Kunz, Stephen Riley, Kaitlyn Potts, and John Hancq then arrived on scene. The subject would not leave the balcony to answer the door. Officer Hancq and Officer Kunz requested a breaching kit in case they would have to breach the door and make an emergency entry.

Officers Potts and Hancq were able to gain entry into a neighboring apartment and attempted to speak with the boyfriend from the adjacent balcony. Officer Hancq spoke with him. When the subject again began to climb over the balcony, Officer Potts quickly relayed the information over the radio, the officers needed to gain entry immediately to attempt a rescue. Officer Hughes quickly and successfully breached the subject’s door, gained entry to the apartment and rushed


to the balcony. Officer Hughes grabbed the subject, holding onto him and keeping him from falling. He was followed by Officer Johnson who also grabbed onto him. The subject fought the Officers as they tried pulling him back onto the balcony. With the help of Officers Kunz and Riley, the four Officers were able to successfully pull him to safety and take him into custody. The subject was in possession of pills and an open “butterfly” knife at the time he was taken into custody and transported to Inova Alexandria Hospital, where he was treated and received the necessary help he needed.

For their efforts, Officers Joel Hughes and Hayden Johnson are presented with Certificates of Valor and Officers Patrick Kunz and Stephen Riley are presented with Lifesaving Awards.


Officer Daniel WattsOn May 26, 2016, at 7:45 pm Officer Daniel Watts responded to an apartment in the 3300 block of Wyndham Circle for the report of a man suffering from a possible drug overdose. The victim, a 37-year-old male, was not breathing, was unresponsive and had a blue pallor to his skin. Upon his arrival, Officer Watts performed CPR on the victim and was able to re-establish a pulse. Due to Officer Watt’s training and rapid response, the victim was revived and transported by medics to a local hospital for further assessment.

For his efforts to save the victim, Officer Daniel Watts is presented with a Lifesaving Award.


Officer Steven Matthews Officer Matthew WilsonOn July 19, 2016, at 7:30 pm, Officers Steven Matthews and Matthew Wilson were working a special crime suppression detail in the Canal Center Plaza when officer Wilson observed a subject assaulting another subject. The subjects were fighting at the edge of the Potomac River. The officers excited their vehicle and ran approximately 200 yards to intervene.

When the officers reached the fight, both subjects were in the river and one had been rendered unconscious. The second subject continued to assault the unconscious man. The officers witnessed the assault and proceeded into the water. Officer Wilson took the assailant into custody and Officer Matthews rescued the unconscious victim from the water. The victim was transferred to medics for assistance.

Had the officers not responded when they did, run to the water instead of walk, the victim could have suffered more serious injuries and even death.

For the quick, selfless and brave acts of Officers Matthews and Wilson, are presented with Certificates of Valor.


Officer Yuriy Mikhin Officer Johnny Larios Officer Daniel ReeveOn August 29, 2016, at 7:37 pm, Officer Johnny Larios was on patrol in the 4600 block of Duke Street when he observed a 22-year-old female, standing on the overpass above Holmes Run Creek. She was standing outside the railing and leaning forward.

Officer Larios approached the woman and tried to engage her in conversation. She did not want to speak to him and edged closer to the edge of the overpass. While Officer Larios was speaking to the woman, he realized that Officer Yuri Mikhin was approaching her from behind. The woman did not notice and Officer Larios continued to distract her. The tactic worked and Officer Mikhin was able to grab the woman under her arms, around her chest, and begin to pull her to safety. She started screaming and kicking in an effort to get away and jump. Officer Mikhin held onto her and Officer Larios and Officer Reeve assisted with pulling her back over the railing to safety.

The woman was transported to a local hospital and held under an Emergency Custody Order so that she could receive assistance and counseling.

For their quick-thinking and team effort, Officers Yuriy Mikhin, Johhn Larios and Daniel Reeve are presented with Lifesaving Awards.


Sergeant Jesse Meekins Officer Matthew Parker Fire Marshall Andrea BuchananOn July 31, 2016 at 12:45 am, a citizen called to report that she got into an argument with her girlfriend and then the girlfriend left while making suicidal statements. Officers arrived and were shown text messages from the victim that indicated that she was contemplating hurting herself. They also learned that the victim had an extensive history of mental health treatment and a family history of suicide.

They initiated a ping of the victim’s cell phone and it indicated that she was in Old Town near the waterfront. The victim made a threat to jump off a bridge, so officers began to search around the Old Town waterfront and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

Officer Mark Blackwell was looking for the victim and began to search Waterfront Park. As he arrived at the park, he observed the victim sitting on the edge of the concrete barrier adjacent to the Potomac River. As Officer Blackwell approached, the victim stood up and leapt into the water. Officer Blackwell ran to the ledge and notified communications of the situation. As units arrived, the victim swam out away from Officer Blackwell. The victim tried to submerge herself under the water several times and additional units arrived on scene.

Officers requested both D.C. Police Harbor Patrol and Fairfax County Fire Departments Water Rescue Units to respond to the scene. Fire Marshal Andrea Buchanan arrived and recognized that neither of those resources


would arrive in time to save the victim. She immediately began to shed her tactical vest, firearm, and boots. Sergeant Jesse Meekins and Officer Matthew Parker followed suit and shed all of their equipment. All three jumped into the river and swam to the victim who was 30 feet away from the ledge. The victim began again to submerge herself in the water and was not visible.

Officer Parker felt underwater and found the victim’s foot and was able to pull her back to the surface. He grabbed the victim by the torso as Sergeant Meekins and Fire Marshal Buchanan both grabbed an arm. All three swam back to the ledge where several officers recovered her from the water and back onto the concrete edge.

For their quick, selfless, and brave acts Sergeant Jesse Meekins, Officer Matthew Parker and Fire Marshal Andrea Buchanan are presented with Certificates of Valor.


Sergeant Patrick Taylor Officer Osama Sharif Officer Alex ShinOn August 14, 2016, at 5:40 am, Officers Osama Sharif, Alex Shin, John Blake, Ray Golden Recruit Officer Hossam Hamed, and Sergeant Patrick Taylor were dispatched to the 2900 block of Landover Street for a domestic assault and battering involving an intoxicated suspect with a knife. Officer Sharif arrived and found a female victim in front of the home, bleeding from her mouth. The suspect, her boyfriend, had retreated into the townhouse prior to the officers arriving.

A perimeter was established along with an entry/arrest team. The suspect was in the backyard with a knife stating he wanted to kill himself. The officers observed the suspect using the knife to slit his own throat before retreating back into the townhouse. They entered the residence in a stacked formation behind shields clearing the rooms. Efficiently moving through the dark, they found the suspect groaning upstairs, collapsed behind a closed bedroom door.

Sergeant Taylor used his body to force the door open-pushing the injured suspect from the doorway.

The victim was conscious on the floor with a large gash across his neck, blood on the floor and a knife to his side, Sergeant Taylor immediately recognized the seriousness of the suspect’s injury and without concern for his own safety, entered the room and kicking the knife away. Officer Sharif entered behind Sergeant Taylor and attempted to secure the 6’3”, 350-pound suspect who was drunk and unmanageable. Officer Shin assisted Officer


Sharif searched and handcuffed the suspect finding and removing a second knife.

The suspect began to push himself up off the floor. Recognizing the suspect’s strength and concerned for the safety of the medic who had arrived, officers and the suspect, Officer Shin conducted a single drive stun with his Taser on the suspect’s back. The suspect required two Taser doses to sedate him before the medic could evaluate him. Once the suspect was sedated, Officers Sharif and Shin assisted medics with carrying the subject to the ambulance.

For the leadership, quick thinking and immediate actions of Sergeant Patrick Taylor and the teamwork of Officers Osama Sharif and Alex Shin all are receiving Certificates of Valor.


Sergeant Michael RodriguezOn September 22, 2016 1:50 am, Sergeant Michael Rodriguez, Officer Johnny Larios and Officer Benjamin Saks were dispatched to the 4600 block of Duke Street for the report of a male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sergeant Rodriguez was first to arrive on scene and located the victim, a 47-year-old-male, sitting in the driver’s seat of a taxi, with multiple wounds to the upper chest.

Sergeant Rodriguez immediately requested medics and additional officers while applying

pressure to the victim’s wounds in an effort to stop the bleeding. The victim was transported by medics and despite the severity of his wounds, he survived.

For his quick actions, Sergeant Michael Rodriguez is awarded a Life Saving Certtificate.

Program - AlexandriaVA.Gov · 2017. 4. 21. · Gold Medal The highest award for valor and heroism....

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