Prince George's County Sheriff's Deputies Honored at 38th Annual Valor Awards #PGSO

Upper Marlboro, MD…Sheriff Melvin C. High and the heads of all of the county’s public safety agencies, joined County Executive Rushern L. Baker at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt MD, to celebrate the 38^th Annual Public Safety Valor Awards. The Valor Awards Luncheon is a program that recognizes members from each agency for exceptional performance and bravery in service.

The Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office had eight deputies awarded the Bronze Medal of Valor for their brave actions in the line of duty in two separate incidents.

Sergeant Lisa Smith, Corporal Dale Dreibelbis, Corporal Kenyatta Porter, Corporal Nadia Lockhart (Not pictured), Deputy First Class Adrian Curtis, and Private Terrence Mordecai, were at a residence in Hyattsville MD, to serve a court ordered Emergency Petition Service. The man’s mother stated that he had not been taking his medication and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The deputies went down into a dark basement where they were faced with a dangerous subject that was holding two large kitchen knives. The man refused to comply with the deputies’ verbal commands and began fighting them. The deputies were able to subdue the combative man after a brief struggle and placed him in custody. The man was transported to the hospital for the psychiatric evaluation that his family had requested.  

Lt. Monica Jackson and Corporal Terena McCreary were attempting to serve a court ordered eviction in Glen Dale MD. The deputies met the resident at the door and when they showed him the court order, the man locked the door and refused to let them in. The man stated “I have weapons in here! I’m not leaving this house alive; I have weapons!”  Shortly after that the deputies heard what sounded like several gunshots. As they ran for cover, they could see flames and smoke coming from the house. Deputies continued to negotiate with the resident who finally agreed to come out of the house; he was then taken into custody and transported to the hospital for an Emergency Psychiatric Evaluation.

Thanks to the heroic actions of these deputies who risked injury to themselves in order to prevent these men from harming themselves or others we proudly recognize our Deputies with the Bronze Medal of Valor.

For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354

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