Supervisors Jeff McKay (D-Lee), Lieutenant Gregory Fried, Assistant Commander, Franconia District Station, Officer Isa Martin and Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) at the ceremony. Photo contributed
Wrestling down a 100-pound Rottweiler to thwart an attack was just one of the heroic efforts that was recognized at the Valor Award ceremony on Friday, May 4 at the Springfield Country Club.
Earlier this year, Captain Gerald Morrison, Technician Rachel Wicker, EMS Technician William Harrington, Technician Patrick Ralph, Firefighter Scott Halisky and Firefighter Rosemary Dawley, representing Springfield’s Engine Company 422 and Pohick’s Medic 435 of the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, were called in when a large dog was on the loose, threatening a man and his mother. All the officers involved were honored for bravery and ingenuity to thwart potential injuries to a man and his mother.
Other acts of heroism included an early morning incident at the Franconia District Station, where a man jumped the gate at the station, began yelling, and then reached for one of the officers’ gun before they subdued him. County Police Officers Isa Martin and Officer First Class Lindsey Memenza averted this potentially violent situation.
In another incident, Second Lieutenant Georgi Hovhannisyan, Sergeant Brandon Pitts, Private First-Class Andrew Foxwell and nurse Debbie Kurylo of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, saved an inmate who had slashed his neck in a suicide attempt.
Fairfax County Supervisors Jeff McKay (D-Lee) and Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) were at the ceremony with about 60 community members to honor the officers,
““The men and women who make up our world-class public safety agencies put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” said McKay. “Events like these help show that our community appreciates law enforcement,” he added.
Nancy-jo Manney at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce noted the importance of recognizing members of the police and fire department in certain situations. “It’s important that our business community recognizes and honors local first responders, we need to show our appreciation for all they do to protect our businesses, employees and customers,” she said. “When people feel safe in a community they’re more likely to want to spend time in a community, we want and need that,” she added.
The Greater Springfield Chamber has recognized first responders at least once or twice a year for more than 20 years.