SENIOR TROOPER JAMES E. HARSH  - SUPERINTENDENT’S  

   COMMENDATION

PILOT SIMON F. AYLING  - SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENDATION

PILOT STEVEN M. LUBBERSTEDT - SUPERINTENDENT’S

   COMMENDATION

FIRE FIGHTER CHRIS KUNKEL, FREDERICK COUNTY FIRE

   RESCUE- CERTIFICATE OF VALOR

Around midnight on April 16, 2011, after a wicked storm, the flight crew of Trooper 3 was dispatched to the swollen Bermudian Creek in Latimore, Pennsylvania, for a swift-water rescue.  The flight crew, Senior Trooper James Harsh, Pilot Symon Ayling, Pilot Steven Lubberstedt and Frederick County Advanced Technical Rescue Team Leader Chris Kunkel, were faced with two simultaneous life-threatening situations, as two occupied vehicles had been swept off the road by rapidly flowing flood waters. 

The motorists, stranded for close to two hours, faced potential hypothermia due to the 57 degree air and 47 degree water temperatures.  The flight crew found the first vehicle about 350 yards from the roadway, wedged in by partially submerged trees.  The driver had climbed out of the car and was clinging to a nearby tree limb.  Senior Trooper Harsh and Fire Fighter Kunkel threaded a rescue basket through the tree limbs to the first victim and hoisted him from the flood waters in less than 15 minutes. 

Less than one mile away, a second driver was located, clinging to the roof of his car, while rescue boats stood by, unable to reach him, due to the heavy current and dense brush.  Senior Trooper Harsh and Fire Fighter Kunkel skillfully lowered another rescue basket, defeating the dangers presented by high winds and racing water currents.  The second victim was also hoisted to safety. 

The actions displayed by the flight crew of Trooper 3 were outstanding despite the adverse weather conditions.  For their exceptional performance and precise maneuvers which led to the saving of two lives, Senior Trooper James E. Harsh, Pilot Simon F. Ayling, and Pilot Steven M. Lubberstedt are recognized with Superintendent’s Commendations.  Representing the Frederick County Fire Rescue, Fire Fighter Chris Kunkel is awarded a Certificate of Valor for his outstanding performance.

At 3:00 a.m. on October 19, 2011, Trooper First Class Gregg Lantz and Pilot Marcus Alberghini launched Trooper 3 in search of a suicidal individual who took a lethal dose of medication and then fell unconscious in a wooded area after calling her boyfriend to say goodbye.  After about an hour of searching dark, mountainous terrain, utilizing night vision goggles and the aircraft’s thermal imaging FLIR camera, TFC Lantz miraculously located what appeared to be footprints, headed directly toward a pond. 

As Pilot Alberghini descended the aircraft into the valley, TFC Lantz then spotted a very weak heat signature by the pond, which was subsequently identified as the missing person.  Having very little space to land the helicopter, Pilot Alberghini skillfully maneuvered Trooper 3 into a very confined landing zone, allowing TFC Lantz to disembark the aircraft and begin administering lifesaving medical treatment. 

The crew of Trooper 3 used every available resource to save the victim’s life.  Through their detection of miniscule footprints and saving critical ground rescue minutes by landing the helicopter nearby, the crew’s skilled determination prevented the loss of life.  For their extraordinary search and life-saving medevac rescue of an unresponsive individual, Trooper First Class Gregg Lantz and Pilot Marcus Alberghini receive Life Saving Awards.

SENIOR TROOPER JON M. SAWA - SUPERINTENDENT’S CITATION

TROOPER CHARLES R. SMITH - SUPERINTENDENT’S CITATION

At 1:30 a.m. on July 20, 2011, Senior Trooper Jon Sawa and Trooper Charles Smith were in pursuit of an Outlaw Motorcycle gang member driving a motorcycle over 100 mph on the wrong side of the road, weaving across all lanes of traffic.  During the 17-mile pursuit, the fleeing gang member even threw metal spikes at the troopers’ patrol vehicles in an effort to flatten their tires. 

Despite the reckless driving, Troopers Sawa and Smith successfully brought the motorcycle to a stop at an intersection, then pursuited the suspect on foot when he fled after pushing his motorcycle into one of the patrol cars. 

Once the troopers caught up with the Outlaw biker, he became extremely combative, trying to disarm Senior Trooper Sawa and then biting his arm.  Despite an incredibly combative gang member who was obviously intent on escaping justice, Troopers Sawa and Smith applied exceptional defensive tactics.  The efforts of both troopers during this pursuit serve as an excellent deterrence for likeminded criminals.  For their outstanding performance of police work, Senior Trooper Jon M. Sawa and Trooper Charles R. Smith are awarded Superintendent’s Citations.

On April 28, 2011, Aviation’s Trooper 3 responded to the report of a lost kayaker in Linganore Creek, in Frederick County, following a severe rain storm that caused heavy flooding.  Within 10 minutes of the initial 9-1-1 call, Pilot Simon Ayling and First Sergeant William George located the victim, stranded in the middle of the swollen creek, clinging to brush and trees, while the cold racing flood waters threatened to sweep him away. 

The victim, overcome with exhaustion and shivering from the frigid water temperatures was stranded, making the rescue even more time sensitive to bring him to safety. 

Due to the extreme flooding and heavy foliage, attempts to lower the helicopter’s rescue basket to the exhausted victim were unsuccessful. The flight crew was forced to attempt an alternative plan by dropping and floating the rescue basket close to the victim by aerial maneuvering of the aircraft.  Without hesitation, the flight crew of Trooper 3 executed this aerial rescue flawlessly.  For their courageous efforts in completing a lifesaving search and rescue of the helpless victim, Pilot Simon F. Ayling and First Sergeant William J. George are awarded Superintendent’s Commendations.

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