Some of Montgomery County’s finest were honored Monday for running into blazing buildings, rescuing people attempting suicide, helping an 11-year-old stop a car as his mother went in and out of consciousness and blockading a woman from using a knife.
Personnel from the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, 911 Call Center, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Mobile Crisis Team, Montgomery County Public Schools and Emergency Management were honored during the 50th annual Public Safety Awards breakfast at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
County Executive Marc Elrich praised first responders and their unions for keeping county residents safe.
“I know of the sacrifice all of you make,” declared Council President Kate Stewart. Stewart told the audience her grandfather was a detective in New York City, her brother is a police officer in Florida and her nephew is a fire fighter.
“Thank you for your service because everything you do, every day, matters,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
His administration is building pipelines for employment in the field of community service, he said, adding, “We are going to do everything in our power to make those pipelines strong.”
He also said Maryland officials were “getting illegal guns off the streets.”
Moore looked out at a room filled with men and women clad in various uniforms and said, “We are a safer, a more prosperous place, because you all raised your hand to serve. Heroes. That is a title that is not given. That is a title that is earned.”
Here is a list of the awardees with a brief summary of their deeds:
Gold Valor Award – Police Sgt. Patrick Kepp was struck by a driver while on duty and was seriously injured, losing both legs.
Silver Valor Award – Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Lt. Michael Males saved a trapped resident and two dogs inside a home engulfed in flames. He ran to the fire at his neighbor’s home in Pasadena and wasn’t wearing any protective gear.
Silver Valor Award – Police Officers Jennifer Dougherty and Samantha Hunt entered an apartment complex in Clarksburg filled with thick, black smoke and evacuated the residents.
Silver Valor Award – Police Officers Michael Chindblom and Christopher Aversa rescued a male about to commit suicide on a narrow ledge on an overpass on I270 by Georgetown Road.
Silver Valor Award – Police Sgts. Christopher Vandenengel and Lambert Tedjio helped evacuate inmates from the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation during a fire in a unit filled with smoke.
Bronze Valor Award – Lts. Kenji Konishi and Warren Wallingford assisted in the same Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation fire.
Bronze Valor Award – Police Sgt. Eddie Alesich intervened in an incident with a woman holding a large knife, using his police vehicle to block the woman from stabbing a man.
Bronze Valor Award – Correctional Officers Tony Whitehurst, Paksing Tham and Zachary Chidlow stopped a suicide attempt by a person who had a tie wrapped around his neck.
Bronze Valor Award – Sgts. Anthony Harris and Jesse Rouzee, Corporals Harry Dunton and Richard Ndoh and First-Class Correction Officer Kangoswald Palle stabilized an inmate at the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation who was experiencing a medical crisis.
It was an honor to celebrate our public safety heroes at the 2025 Montgomery County Public Safety Awards. Thank you to @MCCCMD for hosting and to all who serve and protect our community with courage and compassion every day. We are so grateful for you. pic.twitter.com/MRohlvcoax
— Councilmember Dawn Luedtke (@dawn_luedtke) April 28, 2025
This morning at the 50th Annual Public Safety Awards, we celebrated the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of our public safety professionals. Their actions save lives and strengthen our community every day. We are grateful for their service—and for their families' support. pic.twitter.com/On9bvLzOGg
— Montgomery County, MD – County Exec Marc Elrich (@MontCoExec) April 28, 2025
