Valor Awards

Deputy First Class
Darryl Abbot

Deputy Sheriff
David Patterson

While traveling in the 7600 block of Woodyard Road Clinton, Maryland, Deputy Sheriff David B. Patterson and Deputy Sheriff First Class Darryl Abbott came upon a vehicle on its side and engulfed in flames with the driver trapped inside. Without regard for their own safety and with the possibility of the vehicle exploding, Deputy Abbott attempted to combat the fire, while Deputy Patterson and a citizen who witnessed the accident, pulled the injured driver to safety. Deputy Sheriff Patterson and Deputy Sheriff First Class Abbott then rendered first aid and calmed the driver until the Prince George’s County Fire Department arrived and transported the victim to the hospital. By taking immediate action, they directly attributed to the saving of the driver’s life. Their actions showed great initiative, efficiency, self-reliance, professionalism and displayed a remarkable devotion to their fellow citizen, the law enforcement community, and the Office of the Sheriff. Deputy Sheriff First Class Darryl Abbott and Deputy Sheriff David Patterson are hereby awarded the Gold Medal of Valor.

Deputy Sheriff
Louis Fortunat

Deputy Sheriff
Kirk Davis

While working secondary employment in Forestville, Deputy Fortunat was asked to escort a disorderly patron off the premises.   As he was being escorted, the suspect met with another man who had been removed from the function earlier; they in turn began to fight with Deputy Fortunat.
During the violent encounter, one of the men stabbed Deputy Fortunat in the upper leg.  Deputy Davis, who was also working at this function, arrived and began to give verbal commands to one of the subjects while Fortunate was still fighting with the first man.  Ignoring all commands, the subject started approaching Davis in a threatening manner, but he was soon subdued and handcuffed.  Davis then turned his attention to the person fighting with Deputy Fortunat who by then was listening to verbal commands, but refused to show his hands and threatened to harm the deputies. The subject then began to follow Deputy Davis’ instructions but then suddenly lunged at the deputy, pulling his hand from his pocket as if he had a weapon, Davis, fearing for his life and the life of Deputy Fortunat, fired his weapon one time striking the suspect one time in the abdomen.
Deputy Sheriffs Fortunat and Davis had been placed in a dangerous, but displayed great courage and restraint while confronting suspects who had shown a total reckless disregard for the lives of the deputies and community at large.   Deputy Sheriff Louis Fortunat and Deputy Sheriff Kirk Davis are herby awarded the Gold Medal of Valor.

Deputy Sheriff
Malcolm Magruder

Deputy Sheriff
Kirk Davis

On August 18, 2006 at approximately 12:12 a.m., Deputy Malcolm Magruder and Deputy Kirk Davis responded to a domestic call in the 4400 block of Arnold Rd. Suitland, MD.  The victim advised them that her husband had assaulted her and had just left the apartment.  Given a detailed description of her assailant by the victim, the Deputies observed a subject matching this description coming back towards the building.  They approached the suspect and asked him his name.  He refused and reached into his waistband as if he had a weapon.  Deputy Magruder then ordered the suspect to put his hands on the trunk of a nearby vehicle and grabbed the suspect’s right hand to pull it away from his belt.  As Deputy Magruder advised him that he matched a suspect they were looking for and they were going to be patting him down for officer safety the suspect pushed Deputy Magruder away and fled Arnold Road, with the deputies in close pursuit.  Deputy Davis observed that the suspect had drawn a compact semi-automatic pistol from the area of his waistband that he had previously reached for and began to turn towards the deputies, Deputy Davis alerted Deputy Magruder to the weapon and they in turn drew theirs.  The suspect was ordered to drop the handgun, which he did after a brief hesitation and began to flee again.  The deputies caught the suspect and subdued him after a brief but violent struggle.  A search of the suspect revealed a gun holster on his belt that had held the fully loaded and chambered Taurus .40 cal. semi-automatic pistol the deputies recovered near-by.  The suspect was also found to be in possession of 23 grams of marijuana.
Placed in a situation where deadly force would have been justified, Deputies Davis and Magruder displayed great courage and restraint while confronting a suspect who had shown a total reckless disregard for the lives of the deputies.   Their dedication and professionalism during this incident bring credit and honor to themselves, the law enforcement community and the Office of the Sheriff.
For their actions, Deputy Sheriff Magruder and Deputy Sheriff Davis are hereby awarded the Silver Medal of Valor.

Lieutenant
Joseph Aiello

While traveling in the Bowie area on March 27, 2006, Lt. Joseph Aiello noticed a large amount of smoke coming from the 12000 block of Maycheck Lane.  Thinking it may be a brush fire; Lt. Aiello turned onto Maycheck and observed a large amount of smoke coming from one of the residences.  After notifying communications of his whereabouts and requesting fireboard, Lt. Aiello approached several people in the yard and inquired about the possibility of anyone being in the home, but didn’t receive a definitive answer causing him to enter the burning building to ascertain if there was anyone inside.  As he checked the first floor he encountered heavy fire conditions in the kitchen and laundry room area.  Then he attempted to check the second floor, but due to heavy smoke could only reach one room.  A subsequent search by the arriving firefighters found no one to be in the building.
Lt. Aiello’s actions showed great initiative, efficiency, self-reliance, professionalism and displayed a remarkable devotion to his fellow citizens, the law enforcement community, and the Office of the Sheriff.  He is hereby awarded the Bronze Medal of Valor.

Deputy Sheriff
Aubrey Bell

Deputy Sheriff
Patrick Crawford

 On October 1, 2006 at approximately 12:45 am,   Deputy Patrick Crawford, Deputy Kevin Deck and Deputy Aubrey Bell were leaving a domestic 911 call for service when lookout information for an adult male homicide suspect was given over the radio in the Landover area.  As Deputy Bell and Deputy Crawford drove past the area of the crime scene, they noticed a man laying down at the bus stop on Barlowe Road, just prior to Landover Road.  They stopped to question him and   Deputy Bell noticed that the man resembled the wanted suspect.  Deputy Deck confirmed the lookout information and proceeded to the area of the other deputies.  As Deputy Bell and Crawford approached the suspect a black handgun was discovered next to him.  Upon Deputy Deck’s arrival, the suspect began to resist any efforts by the deputies to affect an arrest. The male who was later identified as the homicide suspect, was brought under control and apprehended and had to be physically removed from their vehicle by all three deputies when he was transported to regional processing.
Deputies Bell, Crawford and Deck had been placed in a situation where deadly force would have been justified, but instead displayed great courage and restraint while confronting a suspect who had shown a total reckless disregard for the lives of the deputies and community at large. 
For their dedication and professionalism during this incident, Deputy Sheriff Bell, Deputy Sheriff Crawford, and Deputy Sheriff Deck are hereby awarded the Bronze Medal of Valor.

Deputy Sheriff
Kevin Deck