Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies Honored at Annual Awards Ceremony

From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office recently recognized deputies and civilians for their outstanding performance, exemplary service, devotion to duty and lifesaving efforts in 2012, during the Sheriff’s Office Annual Awards Ceremony. Sheriff L. Jesse Bane welcomed the group who attended the ceremony held on May 22, 2013 at Level Volunteer Fire Company Banquet Hall. The invocation was provided by Chaplain Ken Rolle and retired Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Edward Hopkins served as the emcee for the evening. Councilman Jim McMahan thanked all of the deputies for their service and offered best wishes to all recipients from Council President Boniface and his colleagues on the County Council. County Government spokesman Robert Thomas attended on behalf of County Executive David Craig and Department of Emergency Services Director, Russell Strickland. Agency members received the following awards:

Dfc Tyler Vass was seriously injured by a suspect attempting to flee the scene of a home invasion and received a Purple Heart commendation. A Purple Heart is awarded to deputies who have received line of duty injuries inflicted by an adversary which have resulted in serious injury to the nominee.

Lifesaving Commendations are awarded to deputies who actively participated in the saving of a human life by physical rescue or through the administration of first aid or CPR. These lifesaving scenarios in 2012 involved deputies who performed CPR, administered shocks from an AED, applied emergency medical care resulting in the saving of a life or extremity, and in one case, deputies pulled an elderly woman to safety who was trapped inside a burning home. Deputies receiving awards included:

DFC David Adams
DFC James Amrein
DFC Adam Blair
DFC Vincent Boblitz
DFC Eugene Cabral
Sgt. Christopher Crespo
DFC Anthony Demarino
DFC Matthew Harrell
DFC Julius Holness
DFC Aaron Huch
Cpl. Scott Johnson
DFC Stavos Kalambihis
DFC Christopher Maddox
Cpl. Brian O’Neil
DFC Mark Pilachowski
DFC Matt Schueler
DFC Mike Wilsynski

Merit Awards are awarded to deputies who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner and displayed initiative, professionalism, or devotion to duty that is beyond the expectations of their normal duty assignment. It may also be awarded to those individuals whose performance increased the efficiency and/or effectiveness of the Sheriff’s Office as a result of a procedural recommendation or other meritorious professional accomplishment. Deputies receiving Merit Commendations were:

Lt. Donald Gividen
DFC Holly Hinkle
DFC Keith Jackson
DFC Carlos Jusino
DFC Christopher Maddox
Captain Jack Meckley
DFC Norman Turner
DFC Hanna Pilachowski
Dep. Christopher Rosette

Unit Citations are awarded to a specific squad, shift or other unit of the agency, recognizing superior performance during a calendar year that is clearly deemed exceptional and worthy of recognition. Deputies in these units performed above and beyond the scope of their duty exceeding expectations and demonstrating exemplary job performance. Units recognized were:

Body Fluid Response Team
Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit
Harford County Task Force
Sheriff’s Office – Office of Professional Standards
Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit
Detention Center Work Release Unit

Letters of Commendations are awarded at the direction of the Sheriff to any employee of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office whose performance deserves recognition, but does not necessarily meet the criteria for any other designated award. Deputies receiving these awards were recognized for handing complex investigations resulting in multiple case clearances, computer software acquisition, policy and procedural implementation, key investigations and arrests, and innovative safety measures. Agency members receiving Letter of Commendations were:

DFC James Amrein
DFC Christopher Aycock
DFC Richard Dean
Cpl. Christopher DeVeau
DFC Ronald Fleming
DFC Thomas French
DFC Nate Gerres
DFC Kevin Kegley
Cpl. Randall Kilgore
DFC Sean Marston
DFC Jody Nickoles
Sgt. Kevin Thomas
DFC Brandon Underhill
DFC David Waldsmith

Sgt. Paul Wilkinson suffered minor injuries while subduing a subject who was threatening suicide with a knife and was awarded a Line of Duty Certificate. This award is given to those individuals whose injuries do not qualify for a Purple Heart.

John T. Brosseau Community Service is awarded to a member, unit or shift that has completed a successful or innovative problem-solving project that is directly related to a community or group of citizens. The recipient(s) have demonstrated significant impact on the community in which they serve. Two recipients were honored that evening. They were:

Major Dale Stonesifer was recognized for his extensive work and fundraising efforts on behalf of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford County helping to raise over $40,000 in his Kuffed for Kids Program, as well as, for his continued work on their Board of Directors, their Resource Development Committee and assisting in Vi Ripken’s Diamonds in the Rough Golf fundraiser to support the Boys and Girls Clubs.

DFC Shawn Forton, who is a gifted and talented artist, was recognized for his extensive involvement in the community, and using his artistic talents to raise awareness and money for many local projects. He was responsible for raising the funds and completing the 40’ x 175’ Havre de Grace mural project which represents the City of Havre de Grace. He participated in the Kennedy Krieger program Festival of Trees where he raised over $12,000 using artwork that included prints, originals and materials signed by NFL players to assist the Kennedy Krieger program. He rose close to $4,000 for the Prayers for Scott Program to help a young child with a critical illness. DFC Forton has also donated his artwork to the Havre de Grace Middle School to raise money for their art program and with the Bel Air High School Fallen Heroes mural. He is long-time active member of the Susquehanna Hose Volunteer Fire Company.

Certificates of Appreciation are awarded to a civilian not employed by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and/or members of external law enforcement agencies and/or correction facilities in recognition for their outstanding service to the Sheriff’s Office. These recipients assisted and/or participated in life saving rescues, criminal investigations, and exceptional citizenship. They included:

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper(s) David Aldridge and Trooper Scott Monroe
Maryland State Police Sgt. Christopher Corea
Havre de Grace Police Department Detective Thomas Delucca
Bel Air Police Department Detective Gordon Hunt
Special Agent Matt Rebuck— Federal Bureau of Investigation
Rick Enfield— Atlantic Tractor
Keith Myers, LPN – Con Med
Adam Siemek, FF/EMT— Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company
Demi Wilkerson – Citizen