The ceremony recognizes members of the various public safety departments, as well as every day citizens who have gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of others. Awards for the 2019 Valor Awards are for specific acts that occurred from July 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020.
An officer who had shots fired at him by a bank robber, firefighters who ran into a burning home in an attempt to save lives, and a citizen who saved the life of a priest by administering CPR. These are three examples of heroic actions that were honored at previous Valor Awards ceremonies.
The award categories are as follows:
CITIZENS AWARD - Recognition of citizen(s) for their extraordinary acts of courage in emergency situations or actions which directly result in the saving of a human life.
GOLD CITIZEN OF THE YEAR*- Recognition of a citizen for their extraordinary acts of courage in an emergency situation while performing exceptional tasks to save a life.
UNIT CITATION - Recognition of acts by a unit/division/company demonstrating unusual judgment, ingenuity and/or personal risk and bravery during an emergency situation, when such action is beyond that normally expected in the performance of duty.
MERITORIOUS ACTION AWARD - Recognition of individuals for exemplary action, placing themselves in a situation of personal risk.
LIFESAVING AWARD - Recognition of actions in emergency circumstances which directly results in saving of a human life.
CERTIFICATE OF VALOR - Recognition of actions demonstrating unusual judgment, zeal or ingenuity, not normally involved in the performance of duties.
BRONZE AWARD OF VALOR - Recognition of acts involving personal risk and demonstrating unusual judgment, zeal and/or ingenuity during an emergency situation, when such action is beyond that normally expected in the performance of duty.
SILVER AWARD OF VALOR - Recognition of acts involving significant personal risk and bravery beyond that which is expected during the normal performance of duty.
GOLD AWARD OF VALOR - Recognition of acts involving supreme sacrifice or extreme personal risk and heroism which is clearly above and beyond the call of duty.
*NEW in 2020
​Gold Award of Valor
Sergeant (Retired) Nicholas D. Chambers, Clarke County Sheriffs Office
Silver Award of Valor
Officer Bryan Derryberry and Officer Bryan Derryberry, Winchester Police Department
Deputy Nathan B. Spence, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Bronze Award of Valor
Sergeant Stephen D. Gregory and Deputy Gerald W. Umbel, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Certificate of Valor
Officer Bryan Derryberry, Winchester Police Department
Deputy William M. Comstock and Deputy Eric R. Cutter, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Lifesaving Award
Lieutenant Adam Still, Winchester Fire & Rescue Department
Detective Jesse Thurman, Winchester Police Department
Deputy Matthew Clark, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Travis L. Bridgeforth, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Jason Walther, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Donmanuel O. Garcia, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Sergeant Stephen D. Gregory, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Sergeant Bryan C. Smith, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Joseph Shoremount, Berryville Police Department
Meritorious Action Award
Officer Preston Funk, Berryville Police Department
Unit Citation
Frederick County Fire and Rescue: North Mountain Fire and Rescue
Rescue Sergeant Bejamin Smith
Technician James Lanman
Specialist Bryan Beverage
Technician Ryan Steele
Technician Joe Spacht
Winchester Fire and Rescue: Station 1-B Shift
Firefighter/EMT Quinton Godfrey
Lieutenant Gerald Bohus
Battalion Chief Larry Baker
Master Technician Brian Roth
Volunteer Firefighter Ryan Lonas
Dispatcher Andrea Turner
Winchester Fire and Rescue: WFRD: Engine 1, Medic 1, Ladder 2
Battalion Chief Larry Baker
Lieutenant Gerald Bohus
Firefighter Brian Roth
Firefighter/EMT Jeff Hartman
Master Technician Dustin Amtower
Master Technician Chris Dunn
Firefighter Thomas Whipple
Firefighter Michael Vickers
Gold Citizen of the Year
Bailey Dillow, Winchester Medical Center
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