More than 800 people gathered at The Music Center at Strathmore on Friday to recognize Montgomery County rescuers who risked their own lives to save others.

The 51st annual Public Safety Awards, which honor the heroism of police, firefighters and other public safety workers, is the largest event of its kind in the region according to its hosts, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery County government.

“Service is a calling,” Maryland’s Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller told the attendees, commending recipients for choosing “courage over comfort, service over self, action over hesitation.”

Other public officials who attended the event included U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin and April McClain Delaney.

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Here are five stories from the ceremony, in which the Public Safety Awards Committee bestowed gold, silver and bronze Medals of Valor.

An intentional crash

At April’s annual Pike’s Peek 10K in Rockville, which attracts more than 1,500 runners, Police Sgt. Gary Guard learned that a woman, ignoring the warnings of other officers, had driven onto the racecourse. In his cruiser, Guard intentionally crashed into her car. Police later found ammunition inside the car. She was arrested and received mental health treatment. Guard was honored with the Bronze Medal of Valor.

Truck in flames

Montgomery County firefighter Joshua Monzeglio receives a silver medal. (Valerie Roche for The Banner)

Firefighter Joshua Monzeglio was enjoying a night off in May when a resident flagged him down on a quiet rural road in Denton and pointed him toward an overturned truck in flames. Without any protective equipment, Monzeglio used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames to the point where he could approach the vehicle. He then smashed the window, and, with a passerby, pulled the driver to safety. For his effort, he received the Silver Medal of Valor.

Montgomery County Chief of Police Marc Yamada picks up a stack of awards to distribute from the stage of the Music Center at Strathmore. (Valerie Roche for The Banner)

Billowing smoke

Fire and rescue workers responded to a fire at a single-family Gaithersburg home in February. As smoke billowed out of the windows, neighbors reported that someone might be inside. Firefighter Joshua Cooke and Lt. Scott Anderson felt their way through the house and found the unconscious resident. Together, they carried the person outside and administered medical treatment. Both men and two of their colleagues received the Bronze Medal of Valor.

Rising waters

Police officer and silver medal winner Christopher Aversa, second from left, and his daughter Gianna socialize with Robert Green, while officer Megan Wyatt and her wife, Shovhan Wyatt, pose for a photo. (Valerie Roche for The Banner)

Heavy rains led to flooding in Potomac in July that trapped two cars carrying a total of six passengers in rising waters. Police Corporal Megan Wyatt, Officer Christopher Aversa and Sgt. Guard entered the water. Assisted by county firefighters, they extracted all six people. Both the police and fire crews involved were awarded the Silver Medal of Valor.

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High-rise save

Montgomery County Police Officer Eric Mercurio, right, receives a Gold Medal award from Montgomery County Chief of Police Marc Yamada. (Valerie Roche for The Banner)

Police Officer Eric Mercurio responded to a domestic dispute in October 2023, in which a man barricaded himself on the balcony of a 15th-floor Silver Spring apartment and threatened to jump. When he did, Mercurio grabbed him midair and held him until a SWAT team hauled them both back onto the balcony. Mercurio received the Montgomery County Police Department’s Gold Medal of Valor. The SWAT team and other responding officers received a unit citation and the Bronze Medal of Valor.