HAGERSTOWN, Md — The Washington County community, along with chamber members and local elected officials, will hold a breakfast event honoring first responders who serve the county’s residents. The ceremony will recognize the men and women who dedicate their lives to public safety. The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 4 at 7 a.m. at Fairplay Fire Hall.
Gold Medal of Valor
Officer Langley Dean – Hagerstown Police Department
Officer Richard Dean – Hagerstown Police Department
Enduring extreme personal risk during a domestic violence call, resulting in Officer Langley Dean being shot in the arm
Silver Medal of Valor
Sergeant Eric Knode – Hagerstown Police Department
Sergeant Mark Morris – Hagerstown Police Department
Officer Scott Huff – Hagerstown Police Department
Officer Spencer Nigh – Hagerstown Police Department
Officer Christopher Woody – Hagerstown Police Department
Rescued an occupant from a burning building resulting in all 5 officers being transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation
Officer Scott Huff – Hagerstown Police Department
Officer Jacob Mull – Hagerstown Police Department
Apprehension of an armed felony warrant suspect
Chief Jacob Altman – Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company Boat 4
2nd Lieutenant Keith Cooper – Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company Boat 4
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator Scott Adams – Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company Boat 4
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator Ben Hoopengardner – Washington County Division of Emergency Services Boat 20-05
Firefighter II–Tech Clay Shealy – Washington County Division of Emergency Services Boat 20-05
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator Kyle Lewis – Washington County Division of Emergency Services Boat 20-10
Lieutenant – Field Operations Chris Fraley – Washington County Division of Emergency Services Boat 20-10
Coordinator – Volunteer Services Oley Griffith – Washington County Division of Emergency Services
1st Lieutenant Zachary Schmidt – Hancock Volunteer Fire Company
Bravery leading to the successful rescue and evacuation of 22 residents and children during a flash flood
Bronze Medal of Valor
Sergeant Spencer Shank – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Sergeant Mikhael Weaver – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Master Deputy Gerardo Cerda – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Master Deputy Philip Schnurr – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy First Class Brett Colvin – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy First Class Brandon Dillman – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy First Class Nikolas McKoy – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Safe resolution of a dangerous barricade situation involving heavy objects being thrown from an attic at deputies and deployment of CS chemical irritant
Officer Amanda Boyle – Hagerstown Police Department
Officer Joshua Ward – Hagerstown Police Department
Safely took a large male subject who was exhibiting aggressive behavior and had placed an officer in a headlock into custody
Deputy James Hines – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy First Class Sara Sutton – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Apprehension of an armed convicted felon during a traffic stop
Master Deputy Roy Roberts – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Successfully arrested an armed suspect who was pointing a semi-automatic handgun at an occupied apartment, eliminating a significant threat
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator Robert Gordon – Washington County Division of Emergency Services
Removal of a crew member from a live burn training after found in the burn building face down & unresponsive
Hero Award
Officer Thomas Wolfe – Hagerstown Police Department
Swift action to retrieve a critical patient’s life-sustaining medical device from his residence
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator Mike Reid – Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company
Initiated CPR on a two-week old infant that was not breathing
Captain Justin Ruppenthal – Community Rescue Service
Quick life-saving response to traumatic amputation of a motorcycle accident patient’s leg AND life-saving response to clear water out of a 9-year-old drowning victim’s airway
Fire Apparatus Operator Tyler Rotelle – Hagerstown Fire Department
Fire Apparatus Operator Zachary Schmidt – Hagerstown Fire Department
Quick life-saving response to a nearby & unassigned cardiac arrest
Paramedic Chuck Smith – Washington County Division of Emergency Services
Life-saving response to a severe head trauma patient while off duty
Unit Achievement Award
Charlie Shift, Criminal Investigations Unit, Drone Operations Team, and Crisis Negotiators – Hagerstown Police Department
Washington County Special Response Team, WCSO Hostage Negotiation Team – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Crisis Negotiator Master Trooper William Talbert – Maryland State Police
Response to shooting of HPD Officer Langley Dean
Auxiliary Captain Mike Pannill and Team – Hagerstown Police Department Auxiliary Police Unit
Response to 1,089 calls and contribution of 4,152 volunteer hours in 2025
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Squad 2
Lieutenant Mark Price
Master Deputy Charles Keyser
Master Deputy Nicholas Shirey
Master Deputy Cole Smith
Master Deputy Scott Smith
Deputy First Class Colton Sivic
Deputy William Bourne
Deputy Emma Hamilton
Deputy Collin Nigh
Detective Andrew Koontz
Teamwork to locate, identify, and stop a suspect that had fired shots at another vehicle from a commercial tractor trailer out of road rage
Hagerstown Fire Department Engine 1
Fire Apparatus Operator Joseph Sellers
Fire Apparatus Operator Michael Mills
Hagerstown Fire Department Engine 4 & Truck 4
Fire Apparatus Operator Scott Ricker
Fire Apparatus Operator Tyler Rotelle
Fire Apparatus Operator Michael Haupt
Fire Apparatus Operator Matthew O’Connell
Hagerstown Fire Department Battalion 3
Battalion Chief Brian Henry
Fire Apparatus Operator Liam Harbert
Teamwork to preserve life and property during a high-rise apartment fire
Washington County Emergency Communications 9-1-1 BAKER Shift
Supervisor Alan Crawford
Supervisor Dwayne Flook
Joe Arch
Emily Buffenmeyer
Beth Dattilio
Belle Galvin
Ethan Grim
Bill Haines
Brandi Hambleton
Maggie Keller
Shirely Liu
James Miller
Bethani Mummert
Logan Murphy
Aaron Myers
Todd Nesbitt
Isabella Nicewarner
Amanda Wagner
Courtney Weaver
Derek Bish
Answered 995 calls in one hour during a storm system whilst ensuring all responders were taking the quickest routes and arriving at their intended destinations
Community Volunteer Fire Company of District 12
Chief Robert Gordon
Fire Apparatus Operator Charles Burleson
Firefighter Chad Clipp
Firefighter Emily Kopp
Fire Apparatus Operator Ben Nalborcyzk
Washington County Department of Emergency Services
Captain Michael Hayter
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator James Picking
Firefighter John Sharpe
Seamless work in freeing a victim who was trapped beneath a fallen tree
Williamsport Volunteer Fire Company & EMS
Chief Donnie Bingaman
Assistant Chief Wes Shipley
Deputy Chief Michael Nokes
Lieutenant Chris Amos III
Fire Apparatus Operator Jason Strite
Firefighter Adam Metz
Firefighter Jaren Peterman
Washington County Department of Emergency Services
Deputy Director Dave Chisholm
Coordinator – Volunteer Services Oley Griffith
Captain Casey McKnight
Paramedic Jeremy Mackrell
Paramedic Haley Theilgaard
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator Emily Kopp
Firefighter/Fire Apparatus Operator Ian Ludwig
Teamwork to rescue a trapped victim from the roof of a burning building and extinguish the fire
Telecommunications Award
Emergency Dispatcher III Diane Rosenthal – Maryland State Police Emergency Dispatch
Exceptional job training new emergency dispatch trainees, making quick decisions despite a busy work environment, participation in annual MSP events, and providing METERS certifications to troopers and civilians
Distinguished Service Award
Master Deputy Joseph McCoy – Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Sustained excellence in performance, proactive policing, leadership roles, and significant drug interdiction impacting regional crime in 2025
Trooper First Class Travis Capezuto – Maryland State Police
Proven excellence through traffic enforcement, DUI arrests, teamwork, and consistent dedication to community safety
Community Service Award
Hagerstown Police Department School Resource Officers (SRO) Unit
Sergeant Eric Knode
Officer Michael Alderton
Officer Heather Aleshire
Officer Thomas Neibauer
Officer Doug Oates
Dedicated youth engagement through Junior Police Academy fostering trust, leadership, and positive community relationships
Corporal Scott Ciccarelli – Maryland State Police
Dedication to leading community outreach through Shop with a Cop, Trunk or Treat, mentoring Troopers, and fostering trust and positive youth engagement
Volunteer Achievement Award
Assistant Chief James R. McConnell Jr. – Washington County Emergency Support Services
Commitment to mentoring personnel, maintaining essential equipment, and providing reliable emergency response throughout years of volunteer service
Vice President Darryl Benner – Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Company
50 years of volunteer service advancing regional public safety, mentoring generations, ensuring firefighter safety, and strengthening community through unwavering service and leadership
Lifetime Achievement Award
Officer James Robison – Hagerstown Police Department
30+ years of service marked by leadership, continued contribution post-retirement, mentorship, and enduring impact on community and department success
