Arnold, MD – The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) conducted its annual awards ceremony on February 25, 2026, to commend officers and professional staff for their exemplary service throughout 2025, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The event, held at Anne Arundel Community College, highlighted achievements in conservation law enforcement, waterway safety, and heroic rescue efforts.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz praised the honorees during the ceremony, stating that the officers exemplified public service through their commitment to protecting the state’s people and natural resources. He emphasized their courage in crises and their representation of the department with pride and dignity. NRP Colonel Orlando Lilly echoed these sentiments, noting that the officers’ work in 2025 reinforced the agency’s mission of safeguarding communities, lands, waters, and wildlife through safety, trust, and shared stewardship.
Cpl. Timothy Fabian, a veteran officer since 1991 and the most tenured in the Western Region, was named the 2025 Officer of the Year. His recognition stemmed from proactive enforcement leading to numerous wildlife and fisheries violations, as well as his mentorship of newer officers and instruction at the academy. Fabian also engaged actively with communities through outreach events.
The agency’s highest accolade, the Medal of Valor, went to Cpl. Andrew Felsecker and Ofc. Ryan Kalbaugh. Felsecker braved frigid waters, debris, fuel contamination, and biohazards as one of the first rescue divers responding to the January 2025 mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Kalbaugh dove into icy Deep Creek Lake in February 2025, wearing only an exposure suit, to extract and begin resuscitating a trapped occupant of a submerged side-by-side vehicle.
Seven officers received the Award of Merit for extraordinary efforts to save lives. For instance, Ofc. Coby Blum and Ofc. Caleb Demerritt (from the Metropolitan Police Department) de-escalated a situation with a suicidal individual near an overpass in Western Maryland in October 2025 by building rapport through shared interests, ultimately convincing him to seek medical help. Blum earned an additional merit for disarming an armed threat in May 2025. Similarly, Ofc. Brian Chillas and Ofc. David Deems performed CPR on a bicyclist suffering cardiac arrest at Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in August 2025, restoring a pulse before EMS arrival.
Ofc. Christopher Crable and Ofc. Donald Medtart revived an unconscious crabbing victim at Sandy Point State Park in September 2025 through coordinated CPR efforts. Ofc. Joy McClintock conducted over 30 evacuations during severe flooding in the Savage River watershed in May 2025, navigating hazardous conditions without communication support to ensure resident safety and later deliver supplies.
In conservation enforcement, Ofc. Evan Stiles was named Conservation Officer of the Year for his broad efforts across public lands, fisheries, hunting, and more, including investigations into illegal deer harvests and wildlife harassment. Ofc. Allison Higgs, Boating Safety Officer of the Year, logged over 1,100 hours on waterway patrols in Calvert County, leading in enforcement and community relations.
Other honors included promotions, such as Capt. Andrew Wilson’s badge-pinning, and awards for support roles, like Cpl. Andrew Cummins for advancing the Unmanned Aircraft Systems program and Master Marine Technician Jeffrey “Scott” Lord for fleet maintenance. Unit citations recognized collective responses to flooding, fisheries standardization, and high-profile incidents, including the Potomac collision.
The ceremony underscored the NRP’s vital role in enhancing public safety and environmental protection across Maryland. For more information, visit Maryland Department of Natural Resources.