Two Maryland Law Enforcement Teams Recognized by Attorney General Jeff Sessions for their Service at the 66th Annual Attorney Generals Awards Ceremony

Awards to Maryland Team that Uncovered and Prosecuted Corruption in the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force; and to the Team from the Prince George's County Police Department for their Collaboration with ATF to Train Officers

WASHINGTON – Two Maryland law enforcement teams were among 280 Department of Justice employees and others recognized by Attorney General Jeff Sessions for their distinguished public service at the 66th Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony held on October 24, 2018.  This annual ceremony recognizes employees and other individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievements, leadership, and service to the Department of Justice and the American people.

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; Interim Commissioner Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department commended the members of their own offices, and all the other award recipients for their dedication and hard work that have made our communities safer.

“Service in the Department of Justice is more than a normal job; it is a calling to the highest standards of professionalism,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “That is true for all of the 115,000 Department of Justice employees.  But it is especially true for these award winners. And so I want to thank them and their families for their exemplary service to this Department and to the American people. They have made this Department proud.”

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was presented to the team from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their investigation and prosecution of corrupt police officers who were members of the Baltimore Police Gun Trace Task Force, who planted evidence, robbed citizens, protected drug dealers, sold drugs, and falsified police department records.

The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement was presented to a team from the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) for the collaboration of the Prince George’s Gun Intelligence Unit working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to form a task force that trained PGPD officers on firearms tracing and the use of National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) intelligence, and implemented a screening process for conducting follow-up investigations on every firearm recovered in Prince George’s County, in an effort to reduce violent crime.

This year’s program honors individuals across the Department and our federal, state, local, and tribal partners for their selfless efforts, protecting our national security and our civil rights, addressing rising violent crime in our communities, and pusuing gangs and those trafficking in dangerous narcotics and human beings.  The awards also honor the work of civil and environmental litigation, which enforces the rule of law and upholds our Constitution.  They also recognize employees whose ideas and efforts save taxpayer dollars and help our government operate more effectively and efficiently, among other contributions to public safety and good governance.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was presented to the following recipients for Dedicated Service to Investigate Corrupt Behavior Within the Baltimore Police Department:

            FBI Supervisory Special Agent Gregg C. Domroe;

            FBI Supervisory Special Agent Matthew T. Walsh;

            FBI Special Agent Kevin J. Bodmer;

            FBI Special Agent Heather H. Grow;

            FBI Special Agent Juan Carlos Guerra;

            FBI Special Agent Erika Jensen;

            FBI Intelligence Analyst Laura L. Schreiber;

            FBI Staff Operations Specialist Amanda Kae Sackett;

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo J. Wise;

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek E. Hines;

            Corporal David A. McDougall, Jr. of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office;

            Sergeant John V. Sieracki III of the Baltimore Police Department;

            Detective Matthew T. Smith of the Baltimore Police Department;

            Detective Jared E. Stern of the Baltimore Police Department; and

            Detective Scott D. Kilpatrick of the Baltimore County Police Department.

The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement was presented to the following members of the Prince George’s County Police Department, who are also ATF Task Force Officers:

            Sergeant Shane M. Coudreau;

            Sergeant Jakob E. Wolford;

            Detective Ché L. Atkinson;

            Detective Chase M. Carter;

            Detective Ryan J. Cox;

            Detective Nicole M. McGowen;

            Detective Christopher V. Schultz;

            Detective Andre MJ Thompson;

            Detective Wayne R. Tracey; and

            Detective Gregory M. Travis.