2006 Medal of Valor & Meritorious Service Medal Recipients

During the dusk hours of August 30, 2004, in the aftermath of the flash flooding created by Tropical Storm Gaston, Lt. David A. Stone and Master Officer Richard A. Holmes separately responded to a 911 call from a citizen, Sandy Lee Rawls. Ms. Rawls reported that she was the sole occupant of a car that had washed over 100 yards off Pinetta Drive in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Water was rapidly filling the passenger compartment preventing her escape.

Accompanied by fellow Officer James B. Anderson and a nearby resident, Daniel J. Robertson, these officers traversed a flooded culvert into woods adjacent to the victim’s car, and approached a point at water’s edge that was approximately 100 yards from the vehicle. From this point, Lt. Stone and Officer Holmes entered the water in an effort to approach the stranded vehicle. However, approximately 30 yards from the vehicle, the undercurrent was so strong that Lt. Stone ordered their return to the bank.

After returning to the bank, Lt. Stone and Officer Holmes discarded most of their clothing and equipment and re-entered the water. Lt. Stone was wearing a life preserver that had been provided by Mr. Robertson. Lt. Stone reached the edge of the rushing current, which was the last point at which he could have contact with treetops or any mode of securing his position. He cast himself out into the current of the water, and allowed the swift current to carry him to the rear of the stranded vehicle. The only portion of the car extending above the water was the taillights and the top of the trunk. The entire passenger compartment was filled with water, with the exception of a very small space just inside the rear window. After seeing Ms. Rawls’ face pressed against the rear window, Lt. Stone instructed her to move back. He broke the glass in the rear window with his ASP baton, and removed the victim from the car. As Lt. Stone fitted Ms. Rawls with his life jacket, the car slid forward and beneath the water into the current. Lt. Stone grabbed Ms. Rawls, pushed away from the car with his feet, and then swam laterally toward the tree line with Ms. Rawls in tow.

During this rescue, Officer Holmes moved closer to the vehicle, taking refuge by grabbing the last treetop closest to the vehicle. As Lt. Stone and the victim swam laterally to where he was located, Officer Holmes retrieved the life rope that Mr. Robertson had obtained and thrown to him. He cast the line to Lt. Stone, and retrieved Lt. Stone and the victim to shore with the assistance of other safety personnel.

During this rescue, Lt. Stone had no recourse to treetops or other stationery objects to which he could retreat had he been unable to reach the car and return to shore with the victim. Lt. Stone and Officer Holmes had no additional recourse had either lost their grip or use of the treetops at the edge of the raging current. According to Ms. Rawls, at the time Lt. Stone reached her car, there was relatively little space remaining for air, and but for Lt. Stone’s heroic actions, and Officer Holmes’ brave assistance, she would have surely drowned.

COMMONWEALTH MEDAL OF VALOR RECIPIENT

On June 11, 2004, Investigator Jemal S. Davis assisted a number of his fellow officers in a drug bust operation in which a purchase of drugs was to be made from a known drug trafficker by an undercover investigator at a hotel complex in the Military Circle Mall shopping area. Investigator Davis and his fellow investigator, Windsor Brabson, were assigned to responsibilities of identifying and conducting surveillance of the suspected trafficker, and then assisting with the eventual interdiction of the suspect’s would-be sale of crack cocaine to the undercover officer.

While in the area of the trafficker’s home, Investigators Davis and Brabson observed a Lincoln Town Car occupied by three males enter the neighborhood of the known trafficker. Shortly thereafter, the Lincoln emerged from the neighborhood occupied by four males. Although unaware of where the fourth male had come from, the officers received a radio alert that the trafficker had telephoned the undercover officer and was en route to the hotel complex for the sale. Concluding that the fourth male was the suspect, the officers immediately proceeded to the hotel complex, and shortly thereafter were in surveillance of the vehicle as it approached the hotel.

Upon arrival at the complex, the Lincoln stopped in front of the hotel, dropped off a passenger, and then drove to a nearby parking place, backing into a space against the curb of the sidewalk. Shortly thereafter, a fellow officer radioed that an arrest in the hotel had been made and that the occupants of the Lincoln should be arrested.

Fellow Officers R. N. Rivera and Gilda Kline were assigned responsibility to move their vehicle into a position in front of the Lincoln, blocking forward movement, as Investigators Davis and Brabson were to drive to a position blocking the rear of the Lincoln. However, a motorist parked next to the Lincoln backed out of the parking space, momentarily delaying Rivera and Kline’s interception of the Lincoln. As a result, Investigators Davis and Brabson had assumed their blocking position to the rear of the Lincoln and exited from their vehicle to place the suspects in the Lincoln under arrest before Officers Rivera and Kline were in position.

As Investigators Davis and Brabson approached the suspect’s vehicle on foot from the rear, gunfire rang from within the suspect’s vehicle. Investigators Davis and Brabson were hit immediately by the suspect’s gunfire. Investigator Brabson called out to Investigator Davis that he had been hit, and from behind cover of his vehicle, Investigator Davis began to return fire. Investigator Davis left his cover to assist Officer Brabson, and returned fire as he advanced on the suspect’s vehicle. The driver of the suspect’s vehicle exited, firing at Investigator Brabson. At this point, Officer Brabson was struck a second time, and incapacitated. Investigator Davis returned fire, struck the driver twice, and the driver went down beside the vehicle. Investigator Davis then advanced to assist in subduing the front seat passenger who had been firing on the other officers. As he moved around the car, the driver rose up, fired another shot, and struck Investigator Davis a second time in the abdomen. Investigator Davis returned two more shots, striking the suspect and rendering him incapacitated. Notwithstanding his wounds, Investigator Davis was able to secure the third suspect, a rear seat passenger, render aid to his partner, and maintain cover on the downed suspect until assistance arrived.