On occasion, paramedics get to meet the people whose lives they have saved, but it isn't often they become as close of friends as Lanham resident Gary Reeley has with firefighter/medic Christopher Harrison and paramedic Stephen Chagnon.
The two were instrumental in saving the life of Reeley, who suffered a severe life-threatening allergic reaction and stopped breathing, falling into cardiac arrest. For their life saving efforts, they were awarded bronze medals of valor at the 32nd Prince George's County Valor Awards April 30 as Reeley and his family watched from the audience.
"They were banging on me for 25 minutes," Reeley said of their resuscitation efforts, which included electric shocks and CPR. "They could have given up after 10 or 15 minutes and quit and said ‘He's not coming back'… These guys are my heroes."
Held at the Camelot in Upper Marlboro, the awards luncheon honored 62 public safety officials from five agencies who put their lives at risk or were able to save the lives of others through quick action. A supervisor or co-worker usually nominates a recipient of the valor awards. Each of the police, sheriff, fire/EMS, corrections and homeland security departments selects an employee as official of the year and also awards gold, silver and bronze awards for valor, depending on the danger the official faced.
The July 8, 2008 incident with Reeley will forever stick with Harrison. He had only been working as a medic for two weeks and it was his first time working alone in the back of the ambulance.
"I had just become a paramedic and this was the first call of the day so I was extremely nervous," Harrison said.
But Chagnon assisted Harrison as they made their way to the nearest hospital and stayed with Reeley until he was upright and talking again. Reeley now stops by the Glenn Dale Fire/EMS Station when the two are on duty to visit and even invites them to family events.
"We were just doing our job," said Harrison, glad to see a positive end.
Many others agreed; the harrowing incidents they were honored for were part of the job description.
When involved in a 7-hour manhunt for a prisoner who had escaped from the Laurel Regional Hospital on Jan. 2, 2008, Prince George's County police Cpl. Christopher Smith said officers were aware the danger they faced while trying to apprehend the man. The man had taken guns from correctional officers and shot a woman to steal her car, but quick reaction by officers when the prisoner was spotted in a stolen car allowed them to subdue him before anyone else was injured.
Smith and Cpls. James Simms, David Cheatham and Adam Wyatt were awarded silver medals of valor for their actions and Cpl. Xavian Watson was awarded a bronze medal of valor.
Others were honored for their quick reaction in bad situations that could have had dire consequences.
Department of Corrections officer Cpl. Steven Hagan was transporting three detainees to the correctional center July 6, 2008 and was on Landover Road when a vehicle crossed the median and crashed head on with the transport van. Hagan was able to turn the van slightly at the last minute so the impact was on the side of the van rather than head on, preventing the possible fatal injury of his fellow officer or the inmates in transport. After the crash, Hagan was able to radio dispatch and alert them to the accident. He had to be cut from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries including a fractured femur. By Dec. 30, 2008 Hagan was recovered and able to return to full duty.
"I never doubted going back to work," said Hagan, who was named the Officer of the Year and received the Medal of Honor award. "I'm not a person who likes to sit around. I like to get out and work."
The awards luncheon provides an annual opportunity for public safety officials to be thanked for the work they do, said County Council Chairwoman Marilynn Bland (Dist. 9) of Clinton.
"Even if you don't hear us say it, we just want to let you know we appreciate each of you," Bland said.
E-mail Andrea Noble at anoble@gazette.net.
Medal of Valor awards were given to the following people at the 32nd Prince George's County Valor Awards luncheon:
Bronze Medal of Valor awards:
Firefighter Lt. Michael R. Marshall, Firefighter Gerry L. Chambers, Jr., Police Officer First Class Steven W. Jackson, Volunteer Firefighter Kenneth D. Wilson, Master Cpl. Tara R. Gray, Cpl. Charles F. Richardson, Jr., Cpl. Rodney D. Lewis, Firefighter Capt. Greylind L. James, Firefighter/Medic Technician James E. Mcclelland, Jr., Firefighter/Medic Michael B. Bridgett, Firefighter/Medic Nataka A. Jennings, Acting Firefighter Technician James M. Stewart, Jr., Deputy Sheriff Davien Locke, Sgt. Diron L. Sine, Sgt. Edward S. Finn, Cpl. Kirk E. Mullings, Cpl. Marissa S. Davis, Cpl. Angela M. Lane, Police Officer Michael A. Genung, Police Officer Michael P. Myerly, Police Officer Renaldo D. Mason, Police Officer Stephen M. Saraullo, Jr., Firefighter/Medic Lt. James L. Jiron, Firefighter Derian C. Whitted, Firefighter Charles M. Sines, Volunteer Sergeant Gregory J. Zalenski, Cpl. Tanya J. Brooks, Cpl. Kenyatte Q. Jackson, Police Officer First Class James G. McCreary, Firefighter/Medic Christopher J. Hammond, Firefighter/Medic Edward Haaxma, Sergeant Jeffrey R. Schreiber, Police Officer First Class James W. Beasock, Jr., Police Officer First Class Tracy L. Scott, Police Officer Dwight E. Jones, Jr., Police Officer Brian J. Kane, Police Officer Jeremy D. Allen, Firefighter/Medic Christopher Harrison, Paramedic Stephen Chagnon, Cpl. Xavian L. Watson.
Silver Medal of Valor awards:
Cpl. Beau B. Jarvis, Cpl. Christopher M. Smith, Cpl. James W. Simms, Cpl. David Cheatham, Jr., Cpl. Adam K. Wyatt, Firefighter/Medic Lt. Brooks M. Howard, Firefighter/Medic Christopher B. Blackistone, Cpl. Edward Sagin, Cpl. Aaron Hall, Cpl. Donovan Gholston
Gold Medal of Valor awards:
Cpl. Cal Bowers, Deputy First Class Gerald Henderson, Deputy First Class Wilbert Yarbrough, Deputy First Class Michael Su, Deputy Sheriff Alvin Lide.
Public Safety Communications Emergency Dispatcher Of The Year:
Monique Cook and Carolyn Henegar
Public Safety Communications Emergency Dispatch Aide Of The Year:
Latica Reeves
Department Of Corrections Medal Of Honor and Officer Of The Year:
Cpl. Stephen Hagan
Office Of The Sheriff Gold Medal Of Valor and Deputy Sheriff Of The Year:
Deputy Sheriff Thomas Doughty
Fire/EMS Department Gold Medal Of Valor and Firefighter Of The Year:
Fire Lt. Douglas P. Sudik
Gold Medal Of Valor and Police Officer Of The Year:
Sgt. Richard S. Findley
