“One hundred forty-six Maryland police officers were recognized on Sunday, October 5, 2008 for their outstanding commitment to the State’s fight against drunk driving. Each honoree was presented with a Law Enforcement Medal and a uniform bar for exceptional service, and each was recognized, joined by friends and family members for their dedication to removing one of the deadliest threats facing Maryland’s citizens, impaired driving.
“”The day’s awardees represent the front lines in the fight against drunk driving in our state,”” stated State Highway Administrator, Neil J. Pedersen. “”We owe so much to these men and women as we stand committed to winning Maryland’s fight against impaired driving.””
The event was kicked off with a presentation of colors by Winters Mill High School Jr. Army ROTC Color Guard and a performance of the National Anthem by the Liberty High School Choir. Mr. Bob Turk from CBS Channel 13 served as the Master of Ceremonies and the officers’ received a captivating and motivational speech from retired Louisiana State Trooper, Colonel James Champagne. The officers were joined by family and friends, this being the largest of the annual events with over 400 attendees at this most honorable event.
Three officers were recognized for having made over 100 individual DUI arrests in 2007. Officer II Jonathan Bennet, Gaithersburg Police Department, Private First Class Mark Heron, Howard County Police Department, and Officer John P. Romack, Montgomery County Police Department were honored with a special plaque known as the “”Ace Award.””
In all, statewide law enforcement made more than 24,000 arrests in 2008 for DUI or DWI-related offenses. The officers honored included:
Anne Arundel County Police Private First Class Robert Burkindine Anne Arundel County Police Officer Lori Eakins Anne Arundel County Police Corporal Gary Kazor Anne Arundel County Police Corporal Eric Trumbauer
Baltimore City Police Officer Rico Calcitrai Baltimore County Police Officer Juan Amador, Jr. Baltimore County Police Officer Michael Barber Baltimore County Police Officer Derek Bowser Baltimore County Police Officer James French Baltimore County Police Officer Philip Winkler Bel Air Police Corporal Robert Pfarr Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mark Fitzgerald Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Deputy John Harms Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Richard Wilson Cambridge Police Private First Class David Jones Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Michael Zepp Cumberland Police Department Private First Class Robert Martin Cumberland Police Department Corporal Corey Rounds Dorchester Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Kevin Messick Dorchester Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Gregory Simpler Easton Police Private First Class Charles Gore Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Daniel Schlosser Frostburg City Police Patrolman Richard Grimm, Jr. Greenbelt Police Department Officer David Marsh Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Gerard Morgan II Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Teresa Lally Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Christopher Sergent Harford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Michael Stambaugh Howard County Police Officer Shawn Germain Howard County Police Officer Erika Heavner Howard County Police Private First Class Joseph Walch Montgomery County Police Officer Richard Burge Montgomery County Police Officer John Romack Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office Corporal James Beatty Prince George’s County Police Corporal Steven Allen Riverdale Park Police Private First Class Jeffrey Prawdzik Rockville City Police Officer Michael Sullivan Talbot County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Parks Taneytown Police Corporal James Brooks Washington County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Aaron Horton Washington County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ryan Socks Washington County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Ricky Whittington Westminster Police Corporal Jesse Claggett Westminster Police Private First Class Richard Lambert Statewide Agencies MSP Bel Air Trooper Anthony Dudek MSP Berlin Trooper First Class Brooks Phillips MSP Centreville Trooper First Class William Heath MSP College Park Trooper First Class Michael Brady MSP Crisfield Trooper First Class Jonathan Pruitt MSP Cumberland Trooper Justin Cook
MSP Easton Trooper First Class William Abey MSP Easton Trooper First Class Lance Lloyd MSP Frederick Trooper First Class Richard Kulina MSP Glen Burnie Trooper First Class Jason Bigham MSP Golden Ring Trooper First Class John Krysiak MSP Hagerstown Trooper First Class Kenneth Cain MSP JFK Trooper Brian Hirsch MSP Laurel Trooper First Class Otis Ashton MSP Leonardtown Trooper First Class Eric Evans MSP North East Trooper First Class Joshua Justice MSP Prince Frederick Trooper Joseph Chirichella MSP Rockville Trooper Justin Mallow MSP Westminster Trooper First Class Michael Winkelspecht MD Transportation Authority Police Officer II William Alexander MD Transportation Authority Police Officer II Anthony Dix MD Transportation Authority Police Officer II Paul Powers MD Transportation Authority Police Officer II Gregory Sampson
In addition to these awards, four officers were recognized for their role in spearheading, and/or maintaining innovative DUI enforcement, education, and training programs within their respective departments, Sergeatn Richard Carter, Bel Air Police Department, Trooper First Class William Abey, Maryland State Police Easton Barrack, Master Police Officer Scott Kaiser, Greenbelt Police Department, Sergeant Rhonda Thomas, Easton Police Department.
A final recognition was given to those officers who are assigned to multiple tasks, including but not limited to traffic enforcement who have shown a commitment through arrest to DUI enforcement and prevention. Officers among this meritorious recognition included:
Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Anthony Moschetto Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Brant Webb Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Juan Bustos Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Richard Wolfe Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class John Lines II Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Michael Soler Charles County Sheriff’s Office Officer Raymond Brooks Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Christopher Tolley Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Wendell Garrison Easton Police Department Private First Class Lisa Phillips Edmonston Police Department Corporal Richard Sease Edmonston Police Department Private Kyle Minnick Elkton Police Department Officer Michael Lewis, Jr. Frostburg City Police Department Corporal Irvin Buskirk Gaithersburg Police Department Officer I Shane Eastman Greenbelt Police Department Officer Michael Apgar Hampstead Police Department Private First Class Russell Halterman Laurel Police Department Private First Class Anthony Miskovish MSP Easton Trooper First Class James Brazill MSP Frederick Trooper Jarod Towers MSP Golden Ring Trooper First Class Todd Mason MSP North East Trooper Matthew Telep MSP Princess Anne Trooper First Class Willard Laird MSP Rockville Trooper First Class Corey Steffy MSP Waterloo Trooper Cameron Gibson MSP Westminster Trooper First Class Frank Fornoff MD National Capital Park Police Officer Bernard Kohan Ocean City Police Department Private First Class Patrick Flynn Rising Sun Police Department Private First Class George Vanaskey, Jr. Rockville City Police Department Officer John Pfaehler Salisbury Police Department Private First Class Ryan Koerner St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy First Class Elizabeth Trossbach Univ. of MD Dept. of Public Safety Master Police Officer Derrick Thompson Univ. of MD Dept. of Public Safety Master Police Officer Melissa Prescott Univ. of MD Dept. of Public Safety Master Police Officer Mark Wittkopp Westminister Police Department Corporal Radcliffe Darby
During 2007, Maryland achieved a reduction in impaired driving crashes and according to preliminary data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, additional reductions were made in associated fatalities. This is encouraging news and we owe a great deal to the continued dedication shown by officers statewide.”