4th annual Public Safety Valor Awards honor Fayetteville area first responders

Fayetteville Observer - 10/20/2021

Oct. 20—The fourth annual Public Safety Valor Awards honored 81 Fayetteville-area first responders and civilians Tuesday morning.

The event, organized by the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and held at Manna Church on Cliffdale Road, was to commend law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and public health officials on extraordinary public safety work and acts of heroism and valor, a statement from the Chamber of Commerce said.

Several types of awards were given out during the event.

According to the statement from the Chamber of Commerce, Awards of Merit were given to those who have "demonstrated initiative, ingenuity and/or diligence" while performing their public safety duties.

Lifesaving Awards were given to those who took action in life-threatening situations, the statement said.

Valor Awards, described as "the highest award for valor and heroism," were given to those who knowingly put themselves at risk in the performance of their duties, the statement said.

Among those given the Lifesaving Award was a group of Spring Lake firefighters and Cumberland County EMS workers who helped a man seriously injured in an industrial accident.

James Smith's right arm was entangled in heavy machinery when Cape Fear Valley Paramedic Supervisor John Schmitt and Paramedic Hunter Fox arrived on the scene, emcee Angela Taylor, with CBS 17, said.

Capt. Steven Barker, Battalion Chief Jonathan Faircloth, Lt. Timothy Patterson and firefighters Connor Buss, David Hoffmaster, Matthew Lasater and Torres Marsh also responded to the incident, Taylor said.

"With great communication and outstanding teamwork, the personnel from the Spring Lake Fire Department and Cumberland County EMS Medic 23 freed Mr. Smith from the machinery," she said. "They responded to an uncommon dire incident to achieve a positive outcome."

Smith lost his right arm, but survived the incident and personally presented Lifesaving Awards to each of the first responders who helped him that day.

Lifesaving Awards were also given to eight members of the Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department for saving the lives of two women and a dog in November 2020.

Fire Chief Gary Brock, Lt. Shane O'Neal, and firefighters Eva Brock, Defferson Graham, Eric Lasich, Jared Mason, Stacy Ritchie and Stewart Tedder responded to a downed tree amid several days of heavy rain and flooding in Cumberland County, Taylor said.

Upon arrival, they found that a car occupied by two women and a dog was being swept toward a creek with floodwaters.

After two failed rescue attempts, Tedder attached a rope to Ritchie who was submerged up to her chest in 4 feet of rushing water, Taylor said.

According to Taylor, Ritchie reached the car and first assisted the car's driver, who had medical issues and could not wade through the rising floodwaters. Ritchie carried the driver from the car to safety as Tedder pulled them in on the rope. Ritchie went back to the car and retrieved the passenger, before returning a third time and rescuing the trapped dog.

Among those presented with Valor Awards were two Fayetteville police officers who saved an autistic 9-year-old from drowning in a retention pond after jumping out of his family's apartment window.

Officer Stephanie Collins found the child struggling to stay above water and immediately jumped in the pond and swam toward him, Taylor said.

Officer Nicolas Guilette arrived on scene and found Collins in the water and the child with his head under the water's surface, Taylor said.

"The child started to become motionless and his eyes were struggling to stay open until he saw Officer Collins coming toward him," Taylor said. "He wrapped his arms and his legs around Collins who held his head above the water. The child's face was blue now and he began coughing up water."

Guilette then pulled both Collins and the child to safety and passed him off to EMS workers who took him to the hospital where he was treated and released, Taylor said.

Three others who were presented with Valor Awards were Cumberland County EMS Lt. Vicki Michaud, Paramedic Danibeth Garrett and EMT Cody Mitchem, who responded to a pregnant EMS worker who had been shot by her husband.

Michaud entered the crime scene to help the victim while the shooter had yet to be apprehended, Taylor said.

"Michaud, Mitchem and Garrett made a concerted effort to resuscitate the woman despite the chaos of the scene and the fact that the assailant was not yet subdued. The EMS crew worked professionally under extreme duress even after realizing the victim was a member of their EMS family," Taylor said. "Michaud, Mitchem and Garrett made the decision to put themselves in harm's way to save the life of a woman and her unborn child and sadly, neither of them survived."

A special People's Choice Lifesaving Award was presented to Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Detective Jamie McLeod, who was nominated for the award by Majesty Smith.

"In 2019, Smith attempted suicide. She may have been successful had it not been for McLeod patrolling her neighborhood," Taylor said. "Time and time again, McLeod was there to support Smith as she endured hardships and struggles."

According to Taylor, McLeod has helped Smith for about eight years to accomplish her dreams, during which Smith experienced a number of difficulties, including abuse and a serious car accident.

Now, Smith is set to attend William Peace University in Raleigh, where she will study criminal justice and computer science, Taylor said.

Smith herself was also honored on Tuesday morning when she was presented with the Future Valor Award.

"She is already an inspiration to others and will one day make the world a better place for others as a law enforcement officer," Taylor said.

Fifty-seven other people were also presented with awards during the ceremony, honoring service in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical treatment and public service.

Taylor concluded the awards ceremony by extending her appreciation to all first responders.

"I know you put your lives on the line daily to make sure that my family can go home and lay their head in bed every single night," she said. "We thank you for what you do, you are appreciated, you are supported and we're here if you ever need us."

The remaining individuals who received awards are:

—Cape Fear Valley Health Vice President of Facilities and Emergency Management Brian Pearce

—Cumberland County Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Green

—Cotton Fire and Rescue Engineer Robert O'Briant

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Sgt. David Dowless

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Lt. Shawna Leake

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Senior Sgt. Duvan Sanchez

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Hector Vargas

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Detective Keith Bates

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Lt. Adam Bean

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Senior Sgt. David Borresen

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Quinton Coleman

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Lt. James Jones

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Richard Murphy

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Robert Stallings

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Detective Chaice Zwan

—Stoney Point Fire District Engineer Wendell E. Cammuse

—Stoney Point Fire District Capt. John D. Kline

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Detective Robin Brinkley

—Fayetteville Police Department Detective Janett Olsen

—Fayetteville Police Department Detective Sasha C. Graham

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jacob Darling-Wenger

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Christian Lowery

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Deputy Ross Green

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Timothy Sifford

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Detective Robin Brinkley

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Daniel Frankart

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Lt. Matthew Hurley

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Nicole Mincey

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office K9 Deputy Christopher Cox

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Deputy Zachary Fraser

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Detective Jamie McLeod

—Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Deputy Darrius Wirt

—Fayetteville Police Department Detective Brian Gerber

—Fayetteville Police Department Officer Kenneth R. Richard

—Fayetteville Fire Department firefighter Dustin Powell

—Fayetteville Fire Department Lt. Geoffrey Kieser

—Fayetteville Fire Department Capt. Johnny Deal

—Cumberland Road Fire Department Lt. Justin Bitler

—Cumberland Road Fire Department firefighter Taylour Johnson

—Cumberland Road Fire Department firefighter Zully Yanes

—Fort Bragg Fire & Emergency Services firefighter Tanner N. Doub

—Fort Bragg Fire & Emergency Services Capt. Kevin Durham

—Fort Bragg Fire & Emergency Services firefighter James S. Mize

—Fort Bragg Fire & Emergency Services firefighter Kevin R. Smith

—Fayetteville Fire Department Capt. Zahra McBee

—Fayetteville Fire Department firefighter Norman Flores Ocampo

—Fayetteville Fire Department Capt. Logan B. Herndon

—Fayetteville Police Department Officer Claudius Hosenbackez

—Cotton Fire and Rescue Engineer Waymon Hudson

—Fayetteville Fire Department Capt. William C. Autry

—Fayetteville Fire Department Lt. Thomas J. Farrell

—Fayetteville Fire Department firefighter Logan E. Boyce

—Fayetteville Fire Department firefighter Andrew Bumgarner

—Fayetteville Fire Department firefighter Albert Lockamy

—Fayetteville Fire Department firefighter Leonel R. Munoz

—Fayetteville Fire Department firefighter Ray S. Revels Jr.

—Vander Fire District Chief Roddy Bullard, who retired in 2020 after serving the Vander Volunteer Fire District for 52 years, 47 as appointed district fire chief.

Crime Reporter Jack Boden can be reached at jboden@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jackboden5.

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