Area police officers, firefighters receive Valor Awards

RICHMOND, Va.—They are the public-safety equivalents of Olympic champions.

But instead of breaking records, these local heroes risked their lives to rescue people from burning trucks, water-submerged cars, smoke-filled buildings and collapsed trenches. They also apprehended dangerous criminals with guns.

Today, Richmond-area police officers and firefighters were recognized for selfless acts of bravery and awarded gold, silver and bronze awards at the 20th annual Valor Awards breakfast at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Two Hanover County sheriff’s deputies led the way, receiving gold and silver awards. They were followed by two Richmond police officers and one Henrico County police officer, all of whom received bronze awards.

In addition, the area’s four major fire and EMS departments collectively received a first-ever “outstanding regional cooperation” award for collectively responding to an incident in which a plumber was nearly buried alive in a 20-foot-deep hole that collapsed. The man was successfully rescued after a nearly six-hour operation.

First Market Bank and Ukrop’s Super Markets were the presenting sponsors of the event, which featured former Virginia Lt. Gov. John H. Hager as the keynote speaker.

“There is no higher service than to risk one’s own life and limbs to help or save another fellow citizen,” Hager told the breakfast crowd.

“At a time when we are questioning so many things about government at all levels, it is refreshing to see the police chiefs and fire and emergency chiefs .¤.¤. come together this morning and show us what real regional cooperation is all about,” he added.

The Gold Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a local emergency responder, was presented to Hanover deputy sheriff Richard R. Doran, who rescued a 67-year-old woman from her still-running pickup truck after she blacked out inside her garage Aug. 3.

When Doran arrived at the scene, the pickup’s engine was still racing after the vehicle struck an interior wall of the garage. The rear wheels were spinning so fast they destroyed the cement floor, filling the garage with acrid, dense smoke. Doran managed to open one of the doors, put the truck in park and drag the unconscious woman outside to safety.

The other award winners include:

—Hanover sheriff’s Sgt. Edward W. Smith received a silver award for pulling a man from his overturned truck, which caught fire shortly after a crash June 13. The victim suffered several fractures and burns to 40 percent of his body but survived because of Smith’s actions.

—Henrico police officer Travis W. VonCannon was given a bronze award for rescuing a woman from her submerged car after it veered out of control and plunged into a pond Oct. 10, 2008. VonCannon pulled the woman out of the driver’s-side window and carried her to safety.

—Richmond police officer Daniel Awad received a bronze award for chasing after a suspected armed robber who fired a shot at Awad during a foot pursuit Oct. 10, 2008. The officer helped set up a perimeter to trap the suspect, who was quickly arrested.

—Richmond police officer Chad Collins was given a bronze award for arresting an armed robber who was wrestling with a victim over a loaded gun Nov. 21, 2008. After securing the weapon, Collins obtained information about two other robbery suspects who fled the scene and broadcast their descriptions.