31st Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast Ceremony Recognizes 46 Local Heroes in the Upcounty
The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) hosted its 31st Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast this morning at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. The event honored 46 men and women who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect the public safety in the Upcounty. Public safety personnel from several jurisdictions were recognized. Each received an official Certificate of Congratulations from County Executive Marc Elrich, a Certificate of Congratulations from the Montgomery County Council, a Senate of Maryland Citation from State Senator Cheryl Kagan (D17), a Citation from the General Assembly House delegation from D17, a Maryland General Assembly Citation from Senator Brian Feldman and the D15 team, and a Distinguished Citizen Award from the Marine Corps League detachment #1428 from Maryland. Each honoree also received a special commemorative Awardee challenge coin made possible by our Title Sponsor, Paul Davis Restoration.
Highlights of the program included awarding the Citation for Bravery to five MCPD 6th District officers: Four officers involved in a Gaithersburg shooting incident in November 2024 (Sergeant Alexander Dos Santos, Officer William McIntyre, Officer Alex Fusco, Officer Niko Carafano), and Officer Mikael Mason, who heroically risked his own safety by rescuing a trapped and injured fellow Officer from a burning patrol car following a serious collision, extinguishing the fire, and providing critical aid at the scene at an incident in December 2024.
At the Awards ceremony, the GGCC Community Foundation also presented a gift of $6170.00 to the Gaithersburg Police Foundation and Montgomery County Police Foundation to be used for their holiday Shop with a Cop programs, building bridges between our public safety officials and local youth.
An official media advisory with a complete list of awardees is found here.
A facebook photo album from the event, with professional photos credited to Hilary Schwab Photography, is here.
A link to the event’s digital program is here.
Event Information Flyer:
Select Photos:
Captain Kathy Estrada, MCPD (right) and officers of the Crisis Intervention Team
Citation for Bravery Awardees, MCPD 6th District, accompanied by 6D leadership including Captain Brian Dillman (3rd from right).
Citation for Bravery Awardee Mikael Mason (center), MCPD 6th District, accompanied by 6D leadership including Captain Brian Dillman (2nd from right).
GGCC Community Foundation presents a gift of $6170.00 to the Gaithersburg Police Foundation and Montgomery County Police Foundation to be used for Shop with a Cop programs this holiday season. pictured from left: Heather Madison (Peterson Companies, Chair of the GGCC Community Foundation Board), Chris O’Brien (Chair of the Gaithersburg Police Foundation Board), Dan Dellon (GGCC Foundation Board), Mark Sroka (Chief, Gaithersburg Police Department), Dave McBain (Asst Chief, MCPD), Bob Linn (Chair, MCPD Foundation Board), Steve Barber (Supporting Strategies, GGCC Chair of the Board), Barbara Crews (QIAGEN, GGCC Foundation Board), Mick Collins (Pay it Forward Processing, Vice Chair GGCC Board), Rachelle Rohner (Rohner Wellness Consulting, GGCC Foundation Board)
Some of the present elected leaders, awardees, and public safety department leaders gather at the conclusion of the GGCC’s 31st Annual Public Safety Awards.