Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 20, 2005

Metro Transit Police Department Honor Officers’ Achievements

From catching pickpockets and fare evaders to investigating suspicious items and recovering stolen property to conducting antiterrorism security sweeps and coordinating security for major special events in the National Capital Region, members of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) play a major role in Metro’s commitment to providing clean, safe and reliable transportation.

Today the department recognized individual officers for their contributions over the past year and presented the following awards during a ceremony at Metro headquarters: Medals of Valor, Meritorious Service Awards, Distinguished Service Awards, Special Police Officer of the Year, and Police Communications Specialists of the Year Award.

A Medal of Valor Award was presented to Officer Raymond Bond. The Medal of Valor recognizes a member of the police department for his or her extraordinary act of courage or bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

Officer Bond followed up on a report of a gunshot victim. After hearing from several people about the victim, Officer Bond quickly spotted the suspect and pursued him, first by car and then on foot. After a brief struggle, Officer Bond detained the subject until Prince George’s County Police arrived to assist in the arrest. Police found an automatic machine gun and semi-automatic handgun during a search of the subject.

"Officer Bond’s courage and dedication to the duty to protect the public, while putting himself at great personal risk, resulted in the arrest of a dangerous suspect and contributed to the enhanced safety of and security for residents of Prince George’s County," said MTPD Chief Polly Hanson.

Four members of the Philadelphia Police Department also received Medal of Valor awards. Officers Jeremy Gruninger, Michael Harvey, Lisa Heil and Neal Wilson were honored for arresting Walter O. Johnson in June 2001. A few days before his arrest in Philadelphia, Johnson shot and killed MTPD Officer Marlon Morales at the U Street Metrorail station, and stole his service gun. Johnson is serving a life in prison sentence.

Officer Anthony Jones received one of 13 Meritorious Service Awards, which recognize an officer’s outstanding conduct or achievement that reflects dedication to duty beyond normal standards.

While on patrol at the West Hyattsville Metrorail Station, Officer Jones observed a subject running through the station with a laptop computer. He asked two individuals what was going on and learned that one of them was robbed at gunpoint. Jones pursued the subject on foot for a quarter of a mile. Jones stopped the subject at gunpoint and arrested him. Additional police units arrived and the officers recovered a semi-automatic pistol near the arrest scene and the laptop from the subject.

"Officer Jones’ dedication and professional competence, quick thinking and remaining calm under pressure, reflect great credit upon himself, the Metro Transit Police and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority," said Chief Hanson.

MTPD also presented the 18 members of its Special Response Team (SRT) with Meritorious Service Award citations. The SRT began security sweeps on Metro properties in 2003. By conducting these sweeps, the teams of highly visible, highly armed officers take a proactive stance to deter any terrorist activities that may have been targeting the Metro system. The SRT also is trained in crowd control and civil disturbances, riot control tactics, high risk warrant service, entry tactics and the use of special weaponry. The team is called upon the provide security during major events, such as the Fourth of July, and the presidential election and inauguration.

"Members of the Special Response Team have distinguished themselves with dedication to duty, initiative, integrity and good, old-fashioned hard work," said Chief Hanson.

Police Communications Specialists Dahn Inman and Pamela Briscoe were involved in a series of events that resulted in the arrest of a person who claimed to have placed explosive devices on multiple Metrorail trains. The person called Transit Police on two separate occasions, and reached Specialist Inman last February and Specialist Briscoe last April. Both specialists were able to keep the subject on the telephone by asking detailed questions about the caller’s claims. By keeping the subject engaged on the phone, the police specialists were able to dispatch and coordinate MTPD units to conduct sweeps of Metrorail trains and stations to ensure the safety of Metro customers and employees. No explosives were found. The professional work Specialists Inman and Briscoe helped Transit Police, along with federal law enforcement agency partners, find and arrest the suspect.

A complete list of MTPD award recipients follows:

MEDAL OF VALOR Officer Raymond Bond, III Officer Jeremy Gruninger (Philadelphia Police) Officer Michael Harvey (Philadelphia Police) Officer Lisa Heil (Philadelphia Police) Officer Neal Wilson (Philadelphia Police)

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Deputy Chief Timothy Gronau, Lieutenant Robert C. Melan, Lieutenant Donna R. Tisdale, Sergeant Mitchell W. Dowdy, Sergeant Douglas S. Durham, Sergeant Howard J. Holloway, Sergeant Robert S. Kirkpatrick, Sergeant Derrick A. Wigglesworth, Officer Kenneth L. Bauer, Officer Linda J. Foxwell, Officer Michael G. Minchak, Officer Richard C. Ray

MERITORIOUS SERVICE Captain Jeff P. Delinksi, Captain Erhart M. Olson, Sergeant Tommy J. Call, Sergeant Warren J. Donald, III, Sergeant Mitchell W. Dowdy, Sergeant Sean M. Flinn, Sergeant Gregory S. Hanna, Sergeant Peter Sepulveda, Detective Vernon L. Clayton, Detective Gary A. Padgett, Officer Benston J. Andrew, Officer Raymond Bond, III, Officer Ricardo N. Brockenborough, Officer Henry W. Fearnow, Jr., Officer James J. Fistner, Officer Arthur W. Flasher, Officer Gregory H. Fox, Officer Darnell A. Hall, Sr., Officer Stanton M. Hamlin, Officer Anthony J. Jones, Officer Alonda F. Lewis, Officer Paul F. Ludwig, IV, Officer Russell L. McClung, Officer Anthony Mendoza, Officer Anthony M. Montgomery, Officer Steven Morrison, Officer Michael J. Pecoraro, Officer William R. Potts, Officer Terita G. Russell, Officer Micah Y. Sam, Officer Nicholas J. Smith, Officer Steven L. Smith, Officer Timothy Tubbs

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR Specialist Dahn Inman Specialist Pamela Briscoe

SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR Special Police Officer Ned C. Wise

News release issued on May 20, 2005.