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Marylou Berg, Communication Manager, 240-314-8105
Rockville City Police Officers, Employees Honored for Distinguished, Meritorious Service
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 7, 2010 -Twelve members of the Rockville City Police Department are among the 30 professionals and volunteers who will be honored during the 21st annual Rockville Public Safety Awards taking place Wednesday, June 9.
Eleven of Rockville's law enforcement officers will receive the program's Distinguished Service Citation. Officer Javier Baquero earned two Distinguished Service Citations. The first for his efforts to save a stabbing victim before EMS personnel arrived and his diligence in working to arrest the suspect in the incident.
Baquero earned the second citation for his role, along with Cpl. Philip Parnell and Officer John Pfaehler, in the arrest of two men responsible for several robberies of vehicles during a January snowstorm. Baquero, Parnell and Pfaehler are being honored for their "physical endurance" during "extreme weather conditions" to protect the "safety of residents."
Cpl. Kyle Dickerson and his K9 partner Rocko earned the honor for their "perseverance in the capture of an armed and dangerous suspect." Dickerson and Rocko were called on Oct. 12, 2009, to assist in a shooting and robbery in Aspen Hill. Dickerson and Rocko were able to track the suspect, who ultimately surrendered, following an exhaustive foot pursuit.
Seven officers earned the Distinguished Service Citation for their roles in helping to solve a series of 30 burglaries that took place throughout Montgomery County during December 2008. Sgts. J.P. Cowell and Michael Kearney, Cpls. Michael Varron, Jeff Cramer, Kelly Reidy and Ali Zeighani, and Officer Ryan Street will be recognized for the "outstanding diligent and cooperative effort" that led to the arrest of the suspect, who was sentenced to five years in jail, and closed the burglary cases.
Two Rockville City employees will also receive the Distinguished Service Citation for their "awareness, prudent judgment and timely actions [that] resulted in saving [a] woman's life." On Sept. 16, 2009, Brenda Bean noticed a woman slumped over in the passenger seat of a vehicle near City Hall. She flagged Eric Ferrell down who was driving by and the two tried to get into the woman's vehicle to help her. They called for help and the woman was taken to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and treated.
Rockville City Police Public Safety Communications Dispatcher Karl Nadler earned the Meritorious Service Citation for his efforts on May 30, 2009, that led to the arrest of a fleeing burglary suspect. Nadler received an audible burglary alarm at the Rockville Swim Center and accessed the cameras where he was able to see a female employee enter a room, make contact with someone, and then flee the room. Sensing something was suspicious, Nadler requested officer response. His "quick and appropriate response" resulted in an arrest.
The award's highest honor, the Citation for Bravery, will be given to a woman who "without regard for her own safety, her actions not only prevented [an] assault from being worse, but also led to the arrest of six dangerous suspects." She is not being named for her own safety.
Others receiving awards are as follows:
Distinguished Service Citation
Deputy Sheriff III Randy Dolliver, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department
Deputy Sheriff III Zach Buttrey, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department
EMT Paloma Eiras-Saunders, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
Firefighter I Alex Phillips, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
EMS Lt. Adam Goldstein, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
Chief Russell Dawson, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
Meritorious Service Citation
Master Firefighter Steven Fay, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
Casey King, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
Daniela Bigott, Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
Lt. Martin Westby, Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
Cpl. Janai Davis, Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
Cpl. Dada Akinlawon, Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
Cpl. Rose Idehen, Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
Pfc. Pier Moore, Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
Community Service Award
Grace Huff, Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
The annual Rockville Public Safety Awards Program is sponsored by Crime Solvers of Montgomery count, Md., Inc.; Montgomery Masonic Lodge #195; Optimist Club of Rockville, Inc.; Rockville American legion Post #86; Rockville Kiwanis Club; Rockville Lions Club; Rockville Rotary Club; Twinbrook Citizens Association; and Washington Rockville Elks Lodge #15. Cooperating organizations include the City of Rockville, Rockville Chamber of Commerce and The Rockville Gazette.
