April 25, 2022
Media Contact:
Officer Michael Drogin
Public Information Officer
(703) 771-4538
mdrogin@leesburgva.gov
Leesburg Police Officers Honored at the 2022 Loudoun Chamber Valor Awards
L-R: former Officer Allison Rawlings, former Officer Eric Zuzzi, Officer Heather Maupin, Chief Gregory C. Brown, Officer Jorge Castro, Officer Kyle Wagner (Not Pictured: Officer Austin Kallmayer, former Officer Matthew Connell)
Leesburg, VA – Congratulations to Officer Jorge Castro and Officer Kyle Wagner for receiving Certificates of Valor and to Officer Austin Kallmayer, Officer Heather Maupin, former Officer Eric Zuzzi, former Officer Matthew Connell, and former Officer Allison Rawlings for receiving Unit Citations at the 37th annual Loudoun Chamber Valor Awards this afternoon. Additionally, congratulations to all of those awarded today! The Valor Awards recognize public safety professionals and civilians for their heroic efforts to save lives, despite their own personal risk.
Certificate of Valor:
On December 12, 2021, the Leesburg Police Department’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received an emergency phone call from the Loudoun Behavioral Health Facility (LAMPS) at Inova Cornwall Hospital in reference to an out-of-control patient.
Hospital staff relayed that a man was suffering from a psychotic episode and had armed himself with a weapon. It was additionally learned that the security officers and staff were unsuccessful in controlling the man as he had overturned a computerized diagnostics station and was actively punching holes in the wall, inflicting significant damage to the facility.
After arriving on the scene, Officer Kyle Wagner and Officer Jorge Castro quickly navigated the hallways of the hospital and accessed the behavioral health facility where the subject had trapped himself in a locked hallway corridor. Upon entering the corridor, the team of officers encountered the man that had armed himself with a piece of stainless-steel handrail with protruding screws that he had torn from the wall.
In response, Officer Wagner unholstered his Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) and placed it alongside his leg as he calmly approached the man and requested that he put his weapon down. In response, the man began advancing on Officer Wagner requesting to be shot and stating that he wanted to die.
To further continue his efforts in deescalating the tense situation, Officer Wagner continued speaking calmy with the man to establish a rapport while advancing towards him to close the distance in case the need to deploy his CEW arose.
As Officer Wagner closed the distance, the man eventually stopped and responded to Officer Wagner’s emphatic and reassuring message by suddenly throwing his weapon to the hospital floor. In response, Officer Castro quickly jumped into action and handcuffed the man while Officer Wagner maintained cover with his CEW.
As a result of their quick and calm response, recognition of the signs of a person experiencing an emotional crisis, their dedication to the deployment of crisis intervention de-escalation techniques, a tragic outcome was avoided. The man was able to be safely detained without the use of significant force and provided much needed mental health assistance.
Unit Citation:
On June 17, 2021, Leesburg Police Department Team One responded to the report of a fight in the area of Oakview Drive SE.
Upon arrival, Officer Zuzzi, who was alone, was confronted by an adult male in his underwear running down Rockbridge Drive. The subject was uncooperative and was quickly walking away from Officer Zuzzi towards a busy Sycolin Road.
As additional members of Team One, MPO Heather Maupin, PO III Mathew Connell, PO I Allison Rawlings, and PO II Austin Kallmayer, quickly arrived on the scene to assist this now combative and uncooperative subject.
They were able to successfully work together to contain and then detain the subject, using minimal force, as he continued to lunge towards the roadway and traffic of Sycolin Road. Officers were able to shut down traffic as the subject continued to make his way in that direction. They were able to assess the subject and determine that he was either experiencing a mental health crisis and/or was under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
In lieu of arrest, LCFR was summoned for evaluation, possible treatment, and transport to Inova Loudoun Hospital as units had initiated an Emergency Custody Order. All of Team One members showed outstanding collaboration and communication with the subject, and great personal restraint in attempting to deescalate the situation.
Congratulations Officer Castro, Officer Wagner, Officer Kallmayer, Officer Maupin, former Officer Zuzzi, former Officer Connell, and former Officer Rawlings!
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