FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Loudoun County, VA (April 25, 2022)- Forty-one members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) were among those recognized Monday at the 2022 Annual Valor Awards ceremony held at the Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne, Virginia. This year’s awards recognized the heroic actions of 93 first responders and eleven civilians.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman and members of the LCSO leadership team and command staff were among community and business leaders in attendance. “I am proud of the men and women of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, and all of the first responders and civilians honored at the valor awards for their heroic actions and the lives they saved,” said Sheriff Chapman.
Receiving the Lifesaving Award from the LCSO were Sgt. Marc Rodriguez, Deputy First Class Tristan Rossetti, Deputy First Class Tavis Henry, Deputy First Class Scott Kennedy, Deputy First Class Tyler Sinclair, Sgt. Michael Hall, Deputy First Class Sam Shenouda, Deputy First Class Christopher Freck, Deputy First Class Nelson Gonzalez, and Deputy Stephen Mieszala.
Receiving the Certificate of Valor from the LCSO were Deputy First Class James Gutshall, Sgt. Justin Maas, Deputy First Class Joseph Hacay, Deputy First Class Kenneth Foster, Deputy First Class Sean Luik, Deputy First Class Brandon Noland, Deputy First Class Andrew Golden, Deputy First Class Michael Matias, Deputy First Class John McGlynn, Deputy First Class Elvir Hozanovic, Deputy First Class Kelsey Long, Deputy First Class Joseph Rosado, and Deputy First Class Evelin Valladares.
Receiving the Unit Citation from the LCSO were Dispatchers Jon Boese, Mike Crowe, Ron Kauffman (posthumously), Jeff Kish, Tammy Marcum, Krissy Meredith, Brandon Panitz, Daniel Price, Heather Turner, Claudia Torres, Deputy Matthew Connell, and Deputy Allison Rawlings.
Receiving the Silver Medal of Valor from the LCSO was Deputy First Class Charles Ewing.
Receiving the Bronze Medal of Valor from the LCSO were Deputy First Class Brandon McGhee, Deputy First Class Abdulah Rasooli, Deputy First Class Jorge Zavala, and Deputy First Class Camron Gentry.
LCSO Investigator Natalie Martz received the Stu Plitman First Responder Community Service Award which recognizes those emergency first responders who demonstrate the highest commitment to fostering positive relationships with the Loudoun County community in ways that positively enhance the safety and security of our citizens. Investigator Martz’s commitment to Loudoun County began over two decades ago when was just 16 years old after she joined Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue. For the past 24-years, despite her many roles in the LCSO, she has continued to dedicate countless hours as a volunteer with the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue and now with the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad. In addition, she answered the call during the pandemic and volunteered at the county’s vaccination site where she administered hundreds of vaccines to the public. She is also a previous recipient of a Lifesaving Award at the 2019 Loudoun Valor Awards.
The Loudoun County Valor Awards program awards were established by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the local public safety agencies, to recognize and acknowledge members of the various public safety departments, as well as everyday citizens, who have placed themselves in harm's way over the past year to ensure the safety of others.
Also recognized at the today’s ceremony were members of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System, the Town of Leesburg Police Department, the Town of Purcellville Police Department, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department, Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Loudoun County Public Schools, and a total of eleven civilians.