2026 Public Safety Awards Recipients

The 2026 The Public Safety Awards were held on Thursday, April 2 at the Frederick Events Center. The Public Safety Awards offer the community a chance to shine a spotlight on the dedicated professionals who make our communities safer every day. These public safety professionals wear many uniforms. They are the courageous police officers who patrol our streets, the fearless firefighters who rush into danger, the dedicated EMTs who save lives in emergencies, the vigilant security personnel who protect our institutions, the integral communicators who answer the 911 calls, and many more. Missed the ceremony? Click below to watch the televised recording!

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Frederick County Sheriff’s Office 
Civilian Employee of the Year: Program Coordinator for Records Section Keesha King
Distinguished Service: Detective Luke Lawson
Leadership Award: Sergeant Harry Sier
Officer of the Year: Corporal Christian Lucente
Unit Achievement Award: Civil Process Unit
Life Saving Award: SWAT

Maryland State Police 
Officer of the Year: Senior Tropper Kevin Carter
Distinguished Service: Trooper First Class Mark Koontz

Mount Airy Police Department 
Officer of the Year: Officer Brandon Wright

Brunswick Police Department 
Officer of the Year: Detective Tommy Jesson

Frederick Police Department 
Officer of the Year: Master Police Officer Andrew Coady
Life Saving Award: Master Police Officer Coty Campbell
Leadership Award: Sergeant Rebecca Carrado
Outstanding Telecommunicator of the Year: Emergency Communications Specialist I Anthony Szczeny
Distinguished Service: Detective Anthony McPeak
Civilian Employee of the Year: Public Information Office Samantha Long
Meritorious Award: Tactical Investigations Unit
Unit Achievement Award: Technology and Services Division

Frederick County Animal Control 
Officers of the Year: Sergeant Maggie Hill, Officer Christy Thomas, Officer Christieana Eckfield, Officer Taylor Tostenson, Former officer Gerrie Gooch, Former Officer Daniel McCorkel

Frederick County Division of Fire & Rescue Services
Gold Medal of Valor: Middletown Fire Station - Assistant Fire Chief W. Patrick Stevens, Captain Matthew R. Wilby, Lieutenant Luke A. Stevens, Firefighter Technician James W. Hartner
Bronze Medal of Outstanding Performance: Lieutenant Larry E. Kessler
Career Firefighter of the Year: Firefighter III Tyler E. Burke
Probationary Firefighter of the Year: Firefighter III Gunther T. Gillespie
Distinguished Achievement Award: Captain Christopher G. Dimopoulos
Life Saving Award: Middletown Fire Station - Lieutenant Medic Jacob D. Harne, Fire Medic III Courtney E. Yee, Firefighter III Robert White, Firefighter III Kalab B. Edwards, Firefighter I Colin W. Jacobs, Firefighter I Miles D. Leister, Firefighter Technician Daniel Yaider, Lexi Hartner, Megan Wyatt
Life Saving Award: Urbana Fire Station - Lieutenant Medic Adam M. Miller, Lieutenant Medic Michael P. Hussle, Fire Medic III Cesar R. Lopez, Firefighter III Corey W. Rice, Firefighter I Cameron O. Bradley
Outstanding Citizen Award: Robert Mongelluzzo
Outstanding Citizen Award: TJ Burns
Outstanding Citizen Award: Jack Bradley
Outstanding Citizen Award: Kirsten Likins
Outstanding Citizen Award: Tommy O'Keefe
Silver Medal of Bravery: Brunswick Fire Station, Washington County Dept. of Emergency Service, Maryland State Police Aviation Command-Trooper 3

Frederick County Emergency Communications 
Outstanding Telecommunicator of the Year: Emergency Communications Specialist III Ryan Browning
Leadership Award: Emergency Communications Manager Terri Wallace
Meritorious Award: Emergency Communications Manager Phillip Petry

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