Printer
TextChamber of Commerce to Recognize Heroic Sheriff's Deputies
On June 6, 2011, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 33rd Annual Valor Awards at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. The Valor Awards recognize Fairfax County’s finest public safety and law enforcement personnel. Five Fairfax sheriff's deputies were among the heroes honored.
On May 8, 2010, PFC Mario
Torres and his wife were on a Carnival cruise headed back to the Port
of Baltimore from the Bahamas. On the way to the main dining area, PFC
Torres observed a man with one leg over an interior deck railing and a
knife pointed at his chest. The drop from the railing was nine stories
down to the marble floor of the ship's main entrance.
Assessing the situation, PFC Torres identified himself to a crew member as an off-duty deputy sheriff from Fairfax County, Virginia, currently assigned to the Crisis Negotiation Team. Subsequently, the captain of the ship accepted PFC Torres offer of assistance to negotiate with the suicidal passenger. After three hours of negotiations with PFC Torres, the passenger finally moved away from the railing and shortly thereafter put down the knife.
During dinner that evening, the captain requested PFC Torres’ assistance again because the passenger, fearing his food might be poisoned, would not eat unless the food tray came from PFC Torres. PFC Torres immediately responded, and the passenger thanked him for saving his life. For his willingness to intervene in a sensitive situation, using top-notch negotiating skills to save a fellow cruise passenger's life, the Chamber of Commerce will present to PFC Mario Torres a Certificate of Valor.
On February 26, 2010, PFC
Andrew Mollison and PFC Kevin Reilly drove away from the Fairfax
County Criminal Justice Academy for a class lunch break and came upon an
accident at the intersection of Stonecroft Boulevard and Westfield
Boulevard in Chantilly. A small SUV and a sedan had collided, and the SUV
had rolled over onto the driver’s side. The driver had been ejected from
her side window and was pinned under the vehicle. She had a head injury
and appeared unable to breathe with the vehicle on top of her.
The two deputies, with help from two passersby, lifted the vehicle off the driver and the secured it with a jack. The deputies stayed with the injured driver and waited for fire and rescue units to arrive and transport her to the hospital.
Because of their deliberate, unselfish lifesaving actions, the Chamber of Commerce will present to each of them a Certificate of Valor.
On June 14, 2010, a man was
arrested and brought to the ADC on two charges of second degree murder.
He was housed in a single cell and put on a suicide watch. During a cell
check, the deputy in charge discovered that the inmate apparently had
slammed his head against the cell wall several times, causing himself
serious head wounds. He was laying on his back with blood covering his
face, head, upper body and a large portion of the cell.
PFC Teena Putman, who is certified as a paramedic, arrived with the ADC nursing staff and took control of the situation, remaining calm and providing direction. She also assisted the nursing staff with obtaining vitals, applied an oxygen mask, and suggested and implemented actions to prevent shock. Although the inmate's condition appeared to be worsening, PFC Putman and the nursing staff were able to control the bleeding and place a cervical collar on him. Soon a rescue unit arrived and transported the inmate to a hospital. Without hesitation, PFC Putman took thoughtful and deliberate action, playing a vital role in saving the inmate's life.
For the leadership and clearheadedness she demonstrated in a matter of life and death, the Chamber of Commerce will present to PFC Teena Putman a Lifesaving Award.
On July 26, 2010, PFC Nadeem
Mian was working in the Adult Detention Center in a direct
supervision housing unit. During dinner, PFC Mian noticed an inmate take
a sip of water and quickly go to his cell, looking distressed. The deputy
followed the inmate and observed the inmate attempting, unsuccessfully,
to force himself to vomit. The inmate was shaking and appeared to be
having difficulty breathing.
PFC Mian radioed for help and quickly initiated the first aid techniques required for a choking victim. First, he stood behind the inmate and performed the Heimlich maneuver in an attempt to dislodge the object that had impaired his breathing. The Heimlich maneuver was not working; the inmate’s face and ears were turning purple. Then PFC Mian delivered several blows to the inmate's back, between the shoulder blades. Subsequently, the inmate started to cough, and the food blocking his airway became dislodged.
For his attentiveness and quick actions that prevented a serious complication or the loss of human life, the Chamber of Commerce will present to PFC Nadeem Mian a Lifesaving Award.
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