They’ve run though flames, thwarted suicide attempts and faced down armed criminals. Today, for their heroic efforts, 30 Prince George’s County officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections officers and 911 dispatchers received their recognition.
The county’s 31st annual public safety Valor Awards event was held in Upper Marlboro. Honorees were selected based on their valiance and excellence from a list of nominations from coworkers and supervisors.
‘‘Every day, the men and women of Prince George’s County public safety put their lives on the line,” Vernon Herron, deputy chief of Public Safety, said of the honorees. ‘‘This is where we take one day to thank some of the special people who are out there.”
Recipients are given awards in three categories – gold, silver and bronze. The rankings are based on the level of danger faced by the worker. Each department also chooses one worker as their officer of the year.
Two of the county departments’ top officers literally ran through fire to earn distinction. Prince George’s County Firefighter Christopher Hammond and volunteer firefighter Eric D. Nellis are sharing the officer of the year distinction this year for rescuing a lost firefighter from a burning building.
On Memorial Day weekend last year, both men were part of a crew that tackled a Forestville apartment complex fire just after midnight. Though crews from Morningside first marched in with a hose to put out the flames, the high heat and smoke forced them to retreat minutes later. But when commanders did a head count outside, they discovered one of the firefighters didn’t make it out.
According to department reports, Hammond and Nellis ran back in the building, where they found Firefighter Tim Ormerod collapsed at the bottom of a crumbling staircase. His helmet and oxygen mask had been lost after he fell down the stairs.
Though Ormerod was in critical condition with burns, he survived and is now back on duty.
The county’s police officer of the year also faced a similar situation. Police Sgt. Robert Harvin was honored at the luncheon for going into a burning building near his Bowie home on May 4, and evacuating seven children and a family dog before the flames engulfed and destroyed the house.
‘‘[His] heroic actions and willingness to place himself in extreme danger during this potentially explosive situation saved the lives of the children and the family pet,” police officials wrote in their commendation.
E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.
Valor Awardrecipients
Officers of the Year
Police: Robert Harvin Jr.
Fire: Christopher J. Hammond, Eric D. Nellis
Corrections: Cedric L. Gamble
Emergency dispatch: James M. Feeney, Farhan Qureshi
Gold Medal of Valor
Police: James F. Williams, Michael W. Daily, Derrick S. Williams
Silver Medal of Valor
Fire: Christopher J. Hammond
Bronze Medal of Valor
Police: Millard Copley Jr., Andrew A. Grill, Fred Walford, Josefina Perdomo, Jason A. Rufino, Brian R. Lott, Anthony L. Mills, Michael A. Smith, Harold J. Simms III, Calvert S. Thomas III, Larry D. Dreher, Arvester Horner Jr., Christopher B. Nalesnik, Fatima I. Johnson, Robert C. Layton, Christopher R. Mooney, Cornelius L. Johnson
Fire: John L. Wiseman, Jason C. Wiseman, Eric D. Nellis
Sheriff: Alex J. Maldonado
Corrections: Jason V. Dixon
