Tuesday night, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation (VACP) will present twenty Virginia law enforcement officers from eight agencies, and recognize two police K-9’s, with the Association’s highest honor, the Award for Valor. The awards will be presented during the Awards Banquet at the VACP 94th Annual Conference, held this year at the Hilton Norfolk the Main in Norfolk.
The Award for Valor recognizes a law enforcement officer who, in the line of duty, performs an act of extraordinary heroism while engaged with an adversary at imminent personal risk. Several officers in the region will be recognized:
Fredericksburg Police Department
Officer David Cabrera
On July 23, 2018, Fredericksburg Police officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance. Officer David Cabrera was the first to arrive at the residence. Just seconds after knocking on the front door, a male quickly swung open the storm door and stabbed Officer Cabrera with a box cutter-style knife in his face and neck.
Officer Cabrera withdrew from the residence as the offender exclaimed obscenities and flaunted his weapon. In fear for his life, Officer Cabrera fired at the suspect, causing the offender to retreat into the residence.
After relocating to a safe place, Officer Cabrera attempted numerous times to contact the E-911 Communications Center by radio. He was unable to because the offender’s knife had struck the radio cord. Remaining calm, Officer Cabrera activated his emergency alert button and attempted to call the communications center using his cell phone. Meanwhile he was assessing his wounds, assessing his surroundings, and maintaining a close watch on the residence to ensure his safety and the safety of the neighbors.
Additional units were dispatched to the incident when the E-911 communications center was unable to reach Officer Cabrera by radio. A fire marshal was the first to arrive and rendered aid to Officer Cabrera. Officer Cabrera was rushed to Mary Washington Hospital where he was treated and released later that evening.
Several hours after the incident began, the offender was located walking a short distance from the residence and taken into custody without incident. He was treated for minor injuries.
Officer Cabrera showed impressive valor, courage, and commitment during the life-threatening incident. Officer Cabrera speaks about his experience to recruits at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Academy as part of the Officer Survival course. The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police is pleased to present Fredericksburg Police Officer David Cabrera with the 2019 Award for Valor.
Prince William County Police Department
Officer John Yenchak
Officer Rachel Mynier
Officer Evan Jurgensen
Officer Nicholas Kelly
On November 4, 2018, Prince William County dispatch received a call for a shooting in progress with injuries. The officers only had vague details about a man holding a gun and bleeding, walking around the yard of a residence. Within a few minutes, Prince William County Officers John Yenchak, Rachel Mynier and Evan Jurgensen arrived on scene, where they soon heard gunshots and retreated to their cruisers for cover. Officer Nicholas Kelly arrived on scene and immediately took gunfire from the shooter, whose whereabouts were still unknown. Officers Jurgensen, Yenchak and Mynier could hear the bullets pinging off Officer Kelly’s cruiser, and began to scan the area for the shooter. Officer Mynier was able to transmit radio traffic warning units of shots being fired and was the one who noticed movement on the rooftop of a Laurel
Street residence. Officer Mynier also was able to transmit radio traffic warning incoming units not to come down Laurel Street because of shots being fired down the street. Officer Jurgensen was able to spotlight the roof while retrieving his shotgun from his. Officer Yenchak transmitted the location of the shooter over the radio, who was on a roof with a rifle.
Officers Jurgensen, Yenchak, Mynier and Kelly lost sight of the shooter because he had slid down the backside of the roof and onto a deck. As Officer Yenchak crossed the street to change position behind a pickup truck, he was shot at again. One of the rounds struck him in the vest between his upper shoulder blades.
While other officers were running to their positions, the shooter made his way to the side of the house where Officer Yenchak challenged him. The shooter ignored all of Yenchak’s commands and began shooting at him again. Officer Yenchak returned fire and began to circle the truck as the shooter pursued him. The suspect then drew his attention to Officers Mynier and Jurgensen. Seeing this, Officer Kelly took a chance and left his cover position to come to Officer Yenchak’s aid as they circled to the front of the truck. The shooter then turned back to Officers Kelly and Yenchak. Officer Yenchak fired again, while Jurgensen also fired his shotgun from his position. The suspect was struck several times and went down, ending the threat. Officers Jurgenson and Mynier still feared a possible second shooter, but knew that the suspect needed medical attention. They exposed themselves to harm once again by leaving their cover in order to extract the shooter to a warm zone for medical treatment.
While the shooter was receiving his medical treatment, these officers, along with several others, were able to pull an occupant of the shooter’s residence to safety. The officers continued to secure the scene and looked for potential victims in neighboring houses.
The heroism of each officer to run into a gunfight to help his or her fellow officers, while staying calm and updating communications, is nothing short of courageous. The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police is pleased to honor Prince William County Police Officer John Yenchak, Officer Rachel Mynier, Officer Evan Jurgensen and Officer Nicholas Kelly with the 2019 Award for Valor.
Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigations Richmond
Special Agent Martin Kriz
Louisa County Sheriff’s Office
Lt. Robert Hix
Deputy Daniel Clore
A Louisa County woman called 911 on May 8, 2017 to report a domestic disturbance at her home. Louisa County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Clore responded to the call. The woman shot at Deputy Clore with a handgun upon his immediate arrival on scene. Deputy Clore took cover and called for backup, and Louisa County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Robert Hix and Virginia State Trooper Martin Kriz arrived on scene. Deputy Clore continued to surveil the scene and provide information to arriving officers.
Trooper Kriz and Lieutenant Hix took cover and gave verbal orders to the woman to drop her weapon. The female suspect refused to comply with Trooper Kriz’ verbal commands, and began firing at Trooper Kriz and Lieutenant Hix. Both Trooper Kriz and Lieutenant Hix fired their agency‐issued patrol rifles at the suspect, resulting in the suspect being shot and gravely wounded.
Trooper Kriz immediately began rendering first aid to the woman in order to control the bleeding until Louisa County Fire and EMS arrived. While rendering first aid, Lieutenant Hix secured the trooper’s firearm. Due to Trooper Kriz’ quick actions in rendering first aid, the female suspect ultimately recovered from her injury. The woman has entered guilty pleas in Louisa County Circuit Court to two counts of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer. Trooper Kriz has since been promoted to Special Agent.
The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police is proud to award the 2019 Award for Valor to Virginia State Police Special Agent Martin Kriz, Louisa County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Robert Hix and Louisa County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Clore.
The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation (www.vachiefs.org) is a statewide charitable organization of federal, state and local police chiefs and other law enforcement executives dedicated to improving the professionalism of police agencies in Virginia and to providing training and education programs for law enforcement executives. The Association was founded in 1926 and has more than 600 members.
