WESTERN DISTRICT POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL RECOGNIZES “OFFICERS OF MERIT”
On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the Western District Police Community Relations Council presented their annual “Officer of Merit” awards to three Western District officers for their excellent performance of duty during 2012:
Police Officer First Class Ryan Saunders:
Police Officer First Class Saunders consistently leads his platoon in both criminal and traffic enforcement activities. During 2012, he made a total of 151 arrests, including 83 adult arrests, 17 juvenile arrests, 28 traffic-related arrests and 24 others. Enforcing traffic laws, Corporal Saunders issued 161 citations and 201 warnings.
Corporal Saunders represents the utmost in professionalism and dedication to preserving the lives and well-being of the citizens he is sworn to protect. During October 2012, he was the first officer to arrive at the scene of a hanging by a 15-year-old Severn resident. He immediately began assisting a neighbor who had begun CPR and continued until paramedics arrived. He then assisted other officers in preserving the scene and gathering information for subsequent investigation. Unfortunately, the victim eventually succumbed to her injuries.
Corporal Saunders exemplifies excellence and professionalism in law enforcement and provides a model for others to aspire to in work performance and ethics.
Corporal Mark Gass:
Corporal Gass was extremely instrumental during 2012 in resolving numerous cases involving robberies, burglaries, commercial shoplifting and the theft of valuable metals.
In shoplifting cases, where the suspect often asks to be released on criminal citations, Corporal Gass has used his investigative skills to establish that a majority of suspects used false names in other jurisdictions, under which they had previously been released on citations. With this information, he was able to place the proper charges and notify other departments. In the month of October alone, this involved between $10,000 and $15,000 in shoplifted property.
In one burglary investigation, Corporal Gass went the extra mile, conducting an extensive investigation, obtaining warrants for two suspects, arresting them, obtaining confessions through his interrogation skills, then placing holds on the bank accounts where they had deposited the proceeds of their burglaries, so that the business could recoup some of its losses, which exceeded $30,000.
In a home invasion, where the victim was badly beaten, Corporal Gass was able to identify and arrest several suspects. Using his rapport with stopped drivers, he has obtained consent to search vehicles, leading to several drug arrests.
Police Officer First Class Nathaniel Hollis:
Police Officer First Class Hollis, who has been assigned to Platoon Four (Midnights) since January 2012, has always been a leader in productivity. During 2012, he made 48 criminal arrests, 26 DWI arrests and 70 traffic arrests. Additionally, he issued 602 traffic citations and 289 traffic warnings.
His diligence in responding to calls for service is illustrated by an incident on July 18, 2012, when he responded to a citizen 911 call that the door at a 7-Eleven store in Odenton was locked and there were three masked individuals inside the store. Officer Hollis canvassed the immediate area and questioned one individual, then released him because his clothing did not match the description given by witnesses. He then located and stopped three individuals whose clothing and shoes did match the description given. All three were arrested and taken to Western District. All the stolen property and a shotgun used to threaten and strike the store’s clerk were located in the area where the suspects were stopped. Investigation determined that the first individual Officer Hollis stopped was also involved and he was subsequently arrested.
