Charles County Chamber - First Responders Appreciation Dinner 11-10-21

FIRST RESPONDERS

APPRECIATION DINNER Honoring Charles County's public and private firefigthers, EMTs, law enforcement officers, corporate emergency personnnel and others

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2021

EVENT SPONSORS

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PROGRAM Welcome Mr. Lynn Gilroy, Treasurer, La Plata VFD Past President, Charles County Volunteer Firemen's Association

Opening Remarks John Chappelle 2021 Board Chair, Charles County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Community Bank of the Chesapeake

Color Guard U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, Marine Corps Advisor Company Alpha Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, DC

Pledge of Allegiance National Anthem CCSO PO1 Hayley Holt * * *

BUFFET DINNER Please wait until your table is called * * *

A Message from the Chamber Bonnie Grady President & CEO, Charles County Chamber of Commerce

Guest Speaker Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry “Law Enforcement & the Business Community”

Presentation of Certificates Sheriff Berry, John Chappelle, Bonnie Grady

Closing Remarks John Chappelle

Closing Song CCSO PO1 Hayley Holt “God Bless America” 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Thank You to our Event Sponsors Program Table of Contents

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WITH GRATITUDE

Message from Charles County Commissioner President Message from Charles County Chamber Board Chair

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IN RECOGNITION Certificate of Special Recognition from US Senator Benjamin L Cardin Letter of Congratulations rom US Congressman Steny H. Hoyer Official Citation from MD State Senator Arthur Ellis Official Citation from MD State Senator Michael A. Jackson Proclamation 2021-54 from County Commissioners of Charles County Official Citation from County Commissioners of Charles County Official Citation from Town of La Plata

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HONOREES Bryan’s Road Volunteer Fire Dept. & Rescue Squad Charles County Dept. of Emergency Services Charles County Sheriff’s Office Charles County Volunteer Rescue Squad Dentsville Volunteer EMS, Fire & Auxiliary, Inc. Hughesville Volunteer Fire Dept & Rescue Squad, Inc. Indian Head Volunteer Fire Dept. & Rescue Squad, Inc. La Plata Police Dept.

Maryland Transportation Authority Police Waldorf Volunteer Fire Dept., Station 3 Waldorf Volunteer Fire Dept., Westlake, Station 12

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Pay It Forward Partners What is the Charles County Chamber of Commerce?

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Neither sponsorship nor attendance at a Chamber event by a candidate for elected office should not be construed as an endorsement of the candidate, the candidate’s party nor the candidate’s political views or positions.

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WITH GRATITUDE Message from Charles County Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins, II, Esq. First responders are heroes in the community, serving with bravery, service, and diligence. Each day, they risk their lives in order to protect and save others.

In Charles County, we are fortunate to have so many first responders who selflessly place themselves second, in order to serve their fellow community members. Words cannot truly express the appreciation we have for these individuals and their dedication to others.

Please know that we see the sacrifices and heart you put into each day in the field. You make a difference and help our community continue to be a safe, wonderful place to live, play, and work. You are vital members of our county and we thank you for all you do.

Message from Charles County Chamber of Commerce Board Chair John Chappelle On behalf of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce, our board of directors and our members, I am honored to take part in this event to recognize and celebrate the amazing individuals who willingly sacrifice so much in order to protect and serve all Charles County residents. We are extremely proud to host the first annual “First Responders Appreciation Dinner” as a way of saying thanks for your great work that positively contributes to the betterment of our community.

Our County’s first responders demonstrate daily acts of selflessness, dedication and sacrifice which allows for all Charles County residents to live, work and play in a community that is safe for all. It is our hope that this event will become a mainstay Charles County to continuously demonstrate to all first responders, and their families, that Charles County is truly thankful for the often-thankless work done by first responders on our behalf. To all first responders, thank you again and I hope you enjoy this evening dedicated to your honor.

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IN RECOGNITION

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HONOREES BRYANS ROAD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT & RESCUE SQUAD FIREFIGHTER CHARLES ALLISON, Life Member, Past Chief & President Charlie has over 50 years of service with BRVFD RS. He still is an active operational member. He comes to the station 3-5 days every week, standing by to drive on emergency responses. While standing by, he fulfills the role of a “handyman” for numerous projects around the station. His dedication to our department is unwavering.

FIREFIGHTER MIKE HEDGES, Director—Board of Directors Mike is approaching 50 years of service with BRVFD RS. He is still a very active operational member. Administratively he serves on our Board of Directors. He also sits on a committee to replace one of our engines.

Mike owns a towing business and drops off vehicles at all fire departments in the county, as well as MFRC. This is a huge benefit for training purposes to all that receive these vehicles.

FIREFIGHTER, DENNIS TOMLINSON, Past President Dennis is approaching 50 years of service with our department. He is a past President and Board of Director. He is currently the head of our Building and Grounds Committee. He is tasked with handling all of our station improvements and maintenance. His attention to detail is easily noticeable by his thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing these tasks. Our department is very fortunate to have had Dennis’ service for all his years.

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HONOREES CHARLES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DR. KEVIN SEAMAN Every time a 9-1-1 Specialist (call taker) answers a 9-1-1 call for cardiac arrest is an opportunity to make a difference by providing life-saving telephone CPR instructions. The chance of survival from cardiac arrest decreases by two percent with every minute that passes without CPR. Engaging bystanders and initiating CPR quickly is essential to survival.

As a longtime faculty member for the Resuscitation Academy, Dr. Seaman was intrigued by the potential benefits of a low-dose, high-frequency, blended-learning and quality improvement program designed to measure and improve 9-1-1 Specialist competency and performance in the delivery of CPR by phone.

To complete the “system” approach to improving patient outcomes, Dr. Seaman introduced a similar program designed to improve the performance of our Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians. In August 2019, Charles County implemented these programs and began our journey to improved competency.

Our first responder teams embraced this opportunity to enhance their skills, and because of their commitment and Dr. Seaman’s leadership, Charles County realized a 220-percent increase in the survival out of hospital cardiac arrests in 2020. Dr. Seaman is responsible for bringing these programs to Charles County and our first responder teams are responsible for making them a success.

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HONOREES CHARLES COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE—CORRECTIONS DIVISION LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - CPL. AL DAVIS, Records Officer Cpl. Davis has served as a Records Officer for one year. His calm and easygoing demeanor enable him to maintain fantastic working relationships with coworkers, outside entities and inmates alike. His duties are completed on time and accurately, and he regularly shows initiative to seek out additional responsibility without being prompted. He frequently volunteers to work overtime to prevent his coworkers from being required to work mandatory overtime or providing relief for them when they are held over.

Cpl. Davis has also served as the President of the Charles County Correctional Officers Association.

He regularly works with the BOCC and CCSO leadership to improve benefits and working conditions for his coworkers. He leads efforts to serve the community in other ways and promotes Corrections as a profession. He led a team to participate in Christmas in April, replacing the unusable kitchen floor of a local resident’s home. For several years, he has led the CCCOA’s Toy Drive effort to support the Children’s Aid Society Christmas Connection, providing Christmas gifts for less fortunate families in the community. He solicits donations from CCSO employees and local businesses, leading to thousands of dollars in toys being provided each year.

Cpl. Davis’ spirit of giving also plays into his personal life. Each year, he uses his own leave to volunteer at a summer camp for disabled children, providing a positive experience and role model.

He also serves as an advisor for Explorers Post 1658, introducing the law enforcement profession to interested youth.

CHARLES COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE—COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION POLICE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER - JENNIFER JOHNSON, Dispatcher PCO Jennifer Johnson is knowledgeable as a dispatcher for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Johnson has demonstrated her willingness to learn and improve that knowledge and pass on to junior PCOs what she knows. In addition, she will assist her shift mates with overtime coverage when no one else is available. When at work, Johnson will use her time effective and is an asset to this section and this agency. She is a reliable employee who maintains an excellent level of proficiency, professionalism and efficiency.

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HONOREES POLICE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER - JENNIFER JOHNSON, Dispatcher (cont.)

During Johnson’s off time, she knits and crochets blankets for the families of fallen officers. As a result, she routinely receives letters of appreciation from these families and the Police Departments of the fallen officer.

PCO Johnson utilizes her own time to bring solace to the families of fallen Law Enforcement Officers, Communications Dispatchers, Firefighters and EMS personnel. Doing this comes at significant personal expense to her in raw materials, labor and shipping costs. Additionally, she has used her work as a means of supporting other charitable causes within our county, without any expectation of compensation.

CHARLES COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE— COMMUNITY SERVICES SECTION LIEUTENANT - WILLIAM WELCH, Commander, Community Services Section Lt. Welch is being recognized for his tireless efforts in Community Outreach on behalf of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. He is the chairman of the Community Outreach Committee, and has led our year-round efforts to connect our law enforcement agency with the community we serve. He has been integral in the success of events such as “pop-up” Christmas events for homeless children, our Friday Night Lights and Sirens Community events, and our agency’s Trunk-or-Treat event.

These events and other like them that he has led have served thousands of Charles County residents and produced non-policing interactions which are invaluable to building trust and garnering cooperation from our community.

Lt. Welch brings a positive spirit to his work, and that reflects in the relationships he has developed with the business community, the Charles County Public Schools, spiritual leaders, and other law enforcement and public safety organizations. He is creative in his approach, often willing to try new ideas which are considered “outside the box” approaches. Lt. Welch’s tireless pursuit of positive interactions has made a tremendous impact on the lives of our community and on the trajectory of organization relationships with our citizens.

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HONOREES CHARLES COUNTY VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD EMT - BENJAMIN BATES - EMS Captain Capt. Bates is our top responder at Station 51. His commitment to duty and leadership help keep the station running on a daily basis. In 20202021, Capt. Bates responded to 494 calls for service. Capt. Bates helps out on a daily basis instructing new members, and is an essential part of our leadership team.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE VOLUNTEER - KEVIN CRAYTON Deputy Engineer Kevin is one of our top drivers at Station 51, responding to over 299 calls in 2020-2021. Keven was recently appointed to the position of Deputy Engineer, where he ensures daily that all units are ready for service and in working order. Kevin’s devotion to duty and dedication make him stand out as an exemplary member of Station 51.

EMT - SHANETTA HARLEY - EMS Sergeant Sgt. Harley is a top responder at Station 51, responding to 362 calls in 20202021. She was recently promoted to Sergeant and is tasked with managing our new member program and coordinating mentors for all new members. She is a dedicated volunteer and always goes the extra step to make sure everyone is taken care of.

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HONOREES DENTSVILLE VOLUNTEER EMS, FIRE AND AUXILIARY, INC. FIREFIGHTER & EMT - JOSEPH HOFFMASTER, Assistant Fire Chief 250 words are not enough to list all that this member has accomplished.

One of the original founding charter members of Dentsville Volunteer EMS, Fire and Auxiliary, Inc., Joe has proven his dedication to selflessly serve others throughout the last 22 years. Not only was he instrumental in getting our company started, he has remained a steadfast and dependable member, to not only our company, but also to our community and our county. He is often the first to reach out to others at our station and in our community, offering help in their time of need.

During the past two years, he has worked diligently, helping to get our Fire Division developed, and most recently stepped up to the position of Assistant Fire Chief. He is a consistent top responder for both Fire and EMS calls, but you can often find him painting, cleaning and repairing our station, year in and year out. If there is a need, I know it takes just a phone call and it is taken care of. During the pandemic, he worked 380+ volunteer hours in March and April of 2020, alongside the Department of Emergency Services, our volunteer County Fire and EMS Chiefs, as planning section Chief, developing the IAP and planning projects for COVID-19 guidance and support. It’s my honor to call him friend, and to recommend him for this recognition. Joe exemplifies the meaning of volunteer - “to give of oneself, expecting nothing in return”.

EMT - MARK KAUFMANN, SR. - EMS CHIEF A member of Dentsville Volunteer EMS, Fire and Auxiliary, Inc., since April of 1999, Mark has proven to be a dedicated volunteer, mentor and friend who has continued each year serving the station, the community and this county. He has served in several positions, to include Engineer, Vice President and President. Ins 2014 he became the EMS Chief and still holds this position today. Chief Kaufmann also serves as the volunteer EMS Association’s Standards Committee Chair, making sure every piece of EMS apparatus in our county is safe and appropriately stocked to meet county and state standards.

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HONOREES EMT - MARK KAUFMANN, SR. - EMS CHIEF (cont.)

Over the past 21 months, he has held strong and guided our EMS division through the unprece dented times of this pandemic. Chief Kaufmann has continued to make our providers have all required PPE and works hard to keep us safe. He shared every county and state update with our members, and kept us all well informed of requirements and safety measures. He provided online training when members could not gather at the station. Every weekend you can find Chief Kaufmann at the station, working with and training new members and responding to calls. Many times you will hear him answer dispatch from home, leaving his family, to respond and meet his crew on the scene. As President of Co. 15, I have relied heavily on Chief Kaufmann, and I know that I can always depend on him to get the job done. It’s an honor to recommend EMS Chief Kaufmann, Sr., for this recognition.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE VOLUNTEER - KENNETH WATSON Volunteer EMS First Responder/Driver/Assistant Engineer A member of Dentsville Volunteer EMS, Fire and Auxiliary, Incl, since 2015, Tom (as he is known by all) has proven to be a man of dedication and one of the harest working members I have had the honor to volunteer with. He quickly stepped up to train and become a driver on Ambulance 158, and there has rarely been a call since 2015 that Tom has not responded to. He has consistently topped the charts for top responder to the station over the past six years. When he is not drivng our EMS crews on a call, he is usually found mowing and maintaining our property, washing apparatus, making house repairs and keeping our station in order.

When the pandemic hit, several members were unable to help staff our ambulance due to work regulations, deployment or illness. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom has rarely missed a 24-hour period where he has not responded to calls being dispatched to Company 15 for an EMS response. Many times, I have called him for help when issues arise, and many of those times he has already taken care of the need. This volunteer member often is found reaching out to help other members in our company with home repairs, lawn maintenance, transportation, and many other needs. It’s an honor to know Tom and to submit this letter on his behalf. He was an easy choice for this well-deserved recognition.

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HONOREES HUGHESVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. & RESCUE SQUAD, INC. FIREFIGHTER - RANDY GREEN - Fire Prevention Officer Randy Green has been an essential part of the newer generation of members coming into the Fire Department. He brings a fast excitment into Fire Prevention and community relations with first responders.

VOLUNTEER—PATTY THERRES - Fire Treasurer / Ladies Auxiliary Patty has been a great assest in this department for not only being a member of our ladies auxiliary, but she is an essential part of the everyday day-to-day operations dealing with the financial aspects of running a Fire Department. Her family’s devotion to the Fire Department is second to none.

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HONOREES INDIAN HEAD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. & RESCUE SQUAD, INC. FIREFIGHTER - RICHARD BOWIE - President Richard Bowie joined the Indian Head VFD&RS in 1979 and has served for the past 42 years. During his tenure, he has served in numerous Fire Line Officer positions from Sergeant all the way to Deputy Fire Chief. In 2005, Richard was elected to the position of departmental President, a position he has held and continues to serve in for the past 16 years.

Richard has not only served in various officer positions within our department, but he has also held the position of Vice President of the Charles County Volunteer Fireman’s Association for 3 years and is currently serving as the President of this Association, a position he has held for the past 4 years. He was voted into the Southern Maryland Maryland’s Hall of Fame in 2004 and has served as a delegate for that association and the Maryland State Fireman’s Association for well over 30 years. In addition, Richard is a current member of the Standards Committee for the Charles County Volunteer Fireman’s Association, ensuring that the County’s apparatus is properly equipped to do the job required on the emergency scene.

Unfortunately these few words do not fully describe his efforts and sacrifice, however, Rick’s commitment to the volunteer service started with a strong desire to serve and continues today with that same passion and desire. His dedication and contributions to not only our department, but to the volunteer service is a true demonstration of a role model for all to follow and has proven true leadership qualities.

EMT - TAYLOR NAMM - EMS Captain Taylor Namm joined the Indian Head VFD&RS Inc. in 2008 as cadet member at the age of 14 and continues to serve currently. As a cadet, she was named Cadet of the Year in 2008 and 2009 due to her eagerness and desire to serve the department and community. During her 13-year tenure with our department, Taylor has served various years as the EMS Lieutenant and EMS Captain, a position she currently holds with our department. In addition, she continued to demonstrate her willingness to help others not only during emergency responses, but also within the department by participating in and leading several fundraising events, assisting the Fire Prevention events both at the station and throughout the community and helping new members with studying for class and understanding the policies and procedures of the department.

Taylor has also received the department’s EMS Person of the Year on several occasions for her efforts and commitment to the community and the department. During the COVID pandemic, Taylor worked diligently to ensure the departmental personnel have the proper PPE to respond to emergency calls for care ensuring not only their safety, but patient’s safety and protection as well. She continues to inventory and search for vendors to ensure the vital equipment was readily available for all first responders, not only the EMS providers, but the Firefighters as well. Thanks to Taylor’s efforts, our department to date has not experienced a single exposure while providing patient care.

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HONOREES LA PLATA POLICE DEPARTMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - DAVID ROYS - Detective On April 22, 2020, at approximately 6:42 PM, La Plata Police Officer First Class David Roys and Charles County Sheriff’s Officer Gregory Champaign, along with other members of the LPPD and the CCSO, responded to the 5900 block of Crain Highway were a Maryland State trooper had located a possible opioid overdose victim. While checking on the overdose victim’s wellbeing, PFC Roys and Officer Champaign observed an individual, unrelated to the overdose call, pouring gasoline over himself at one of the convenience store’s fuel pumps. Responding quickly, Officer Champaign pulled the man away from the fuel pump, while Officer Roys forcefully knocked the lighter the man was attempting to strike from his grasp.

The individual was later decontaminated and transported to the University of MD Charles Regional Medical Center for an emergency psychological evaluation. The actions of the two officers undoubtedly saved the man’s life, the lives of those at adjacent gas pumps, and prevented significant property damage. As a result of PFC Roys’ and CCSO Officer Gregory Champaign’s efforts, Sheriff Troy Berry presented both officers with the CCSO Bronze Star.

[This is one of several incidents shared in PFC Roys’ Honoree information, illustrating the outstanding quality of his work.]

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HONOREES MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER - PATRICK HART - Officer II Officer Patrick Hart, started his career with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police in February 2018. In November of that year, Officer Hart became a police recruit in MDTA Class 52. In June 2019, he graduated and was assigned to the Nice/Middleton Bridge Detachment.

Officer Hart has excelled in many different areas in his time as an officer.

He is proactive in traffic enforcement, criminal and DUI arrests. He led the detachment in enforcement in 2020 as well as participating in joint Initiatives with our allied agencies and other MDTA detachments. He has worked at other detachments to help their manpower needs. He has participated in multiple events in the community to include Toys for Tots and National Night Out. Officer Hart is a hardworking, professional team player. He is a valuable member of the detachment and our community.

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HONOREES WALDORF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. , STATION 3 FIREFIGHTER - JOHN DURRER - Firefighter / Driver Operator / Past Fire Chief Throughout his many years of service, John has shown his level of dedication to WVFD Fire 3 by progressing through the ranks of the department all the way to the Fire Chief. Throughout those years, John’s service to the community has not gone unnoticed by his peers at the WVFD. John will at a moment’s notice pick the phone and provide staffing whenever staffing is needed, along with helping organize many events and fund raisers to help the organization.

FIREFIGHTER - JACOB EMBREY - Firefighter Jacob is a dedicated member to our organization. Jacob provides countless hours of his time at WVFD Fire 3 to ensure day-to-day operations are running smoothly and effectively.

FIREFIGHTER - EDDIE MCPHERSON—Firefighter / Driver Operator Eddie is a dedicated member of our organization. Through his years of membership, Eddie has proven his dedication to WVFD by making himself available when the station is in desperate need of an apparatus driver. Eddie has proven countless times over the year his dedication to WVFD Fire 3.

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HONOREES WALDORF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, WESTLAKE, STATION 12 EMT - WILLIAM KITZMILLER - Operations Captain Goes above and beyone to make sure the station is running smoothly operationally. Assists all personnel with any issues and truly makes sure all personnel are taken care of.

EMT - JAMES PAYNE - EMT Goes above and beyond staffing the apparatus and assisting all drivers and EMTs with training.

EMT - HANNAH VANCE - Sergeant Goes above and beyond making sure t he apparatus is staffed and assisting all personnel with training. Also creates new ideas that benefit the station.

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PAY IT FORWARD

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THE CHAMBER

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Sincere appreciation is extended to our members and guests, volunteers, program participants, sponsors and most of all - the members of our first responders community.

With you, we are

Thank you for attending.

Please drive safely.

Contact Us

Charles County Chamber of Commerce info@charlescountychamber.org www.charlescountychamber.org 301-932-6500 28