Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Master Deputy Joseph Runquist and Deputy Sean Williams were among the more than 40 honorees to be recognized by the Chamber of Commerce at the annual Public Safety Valor Awards on June 22.

Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, who will be retiring at the end of this year, received a special Lifetime Commitment Award in recognition of his 43 years of law enforcement service and his dedication to the business community. Charlotte Hall, a longtime leader in the business community, presented Sheriff Lawhorne with the award and thanked him for his commitment and his efforts to keep Alexandria safe.

Master Deputy Joseph Runquist was the recipient of a Silver Medal for his response to a shooting last June. After someone in an apartment building along Richmond Highway began shooting, Deputy Runquist joined several Alexandria police officers who entered the building and went to the fourth floor where the shots were still being fired. When residents of nearby apartments ran out, Deputy Runquist and the officers assisted in getting them to safety. As the incident continued, Deputy Runquist and the officers were directed to check other areas of the building. He remained on site for seven hours and the incident was later peacefully resolved. The Chamber recognized the bravery of Deputy Runquist and several police officers who also received Silver Medals for their actions.

Deputy Sean Williams received a Life Saving Award for his rescue of a suicidal inmate last summer. While escorting one inmate, Deputy Williams observed a knotted sheet hanging in another inmate’s cell. Deputy Williams immediately called for other deputies to respond as he quickly placed his inmate into a new cell. Then he promptly entered the cell with the hanging sheet and saw an inmate sitting down and crying. The inmate admitted that he had tried to hang himself. He was moved to a different cell and placed on suicide watch so deputies could closely monitor him. Due to Deputy Williams’ excellent situational awareness and strong observation skills, he was able to prevent an inmate from taking his own life.

Sheriff Lawhorne and the Sheriff’s Office staff appreciate the hard work of the Chamber’s staff and the generous support of the sponsors in making the Valor Awards such a meaningful and memorable event.

Above: (l-r) Master Deputy Joseph Runquist, Sheriff Dana Lawhorne and Deputy Sean Williams