Heroes Who Serve: 5 First Responders Keeping Virginia Safe

Virginia is home to dedicated first responders who go above and beyond to keep their communities safe. That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight EMTs, firefighters and police officers who are making a difference every day.

Check out five outstanding Virginia first responders who are making an impact. And if you know a hero who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a first responder for a chance to be featured in our Heroes Who Serve series on Patch!

Officer Killian Burden (Williamsburg) — Officer Burden of the James City County Police Department was awarded the 2024 Lifesaving Award by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police (VACP) for saving a woman’s life. On June 30, 2023, Burden was the first to arrive on the scene of a shooting on Tara Court, where he encountered an erratic suspect. Despite the volatile situation, Burden maintained composure, apprehended the suspect and administered immediate first aid to the victim, applying a tourniquet to control her life-threatening bleeding. Along with the VACP’s Lifesaving Award, Officer Burden's actions earned him the Department's Medal of Valor, recognizing his courage and dedication to saving lives in the face of danger. Read more here.

Senior Trooper C. Viera-Cintron (New Castle) — On March 14, 2025, Trooper Viera-Cintron of the Virginia State Police saved a 21-month-old child from potential harm after spotting him walking toward a busy road. While conducting traffic enforcement in New Castle, Viera-Cintron spotted the toddler in the middle of Salem Avenue/Route 311, quickly pulling the toddler from the roadway and ensuring his safety. After searching nearby homes, the trooper located a nearby daycare facility, where it was determined that the child had wandered away through an unlocked gate. The child’s family expressed deep gratitude for Trooper Viera-Cintron’s life-saving actions, emphasizing how differently the situation could have ended. Read more here.

Officers David Hiltz and Liam Reilley (Alexandria) — Alexandria Police Officers Hiltz and Reilly were credited with saving the life of a newborn baby who was found lifeless at an apartment on June 10, 2024. Officer Hiltz immediately began performing CPR, while Officer Reilly provided support to the distressed family. After two rounds of CPR, Hiltz was able to detect a pulse, and the baby began to cry, signaling a successful resuscitation. Baby Luis made a full recovery after a brief stay in the NICU and returned home with his family, thanks to the officers' quick actions. Read more here.

Officer Peter M. Begley (Lynchburg) — In April 2024, Lynchburg Police Officer Peter M. Begley was recognized as Officer of the Month for his bravery in saving a woman's life from the dangerous currents of the James River. After a vehicle pursuit ended on Concord Turnpike, the driver fled on foot and jumped into the frigid river, unable to swim and in shock. Realizing rescue boats wouldn’t arrive in time, Officer Begley volunteered to enter the treacherous water, wading chest-deep to pull the woman safely to shore as she slipped from a log keeping her afloat. Despite extreme river conditions, he acted without hesitation, demonstrating extraordinary courage and dedication to preserving life. Read more here.

Officer First Class Patrick Hogan (Chesterfield) — In March 2024, Chesterfield County Police Officer Hogan responded to a shooting at an apartment, where he encountered three victims. Despite the dangerous and unknown location of the suspect, Hogan immediately began administering first aid. He quickly assessed the critical injuries of one victim, who had been shot multiple times, and applied a HALO seal to the victim’s wounds, which was instrumental in stabilizing the individual. The victim was later found to have a hemothorax, and the timely intervention of Officer Hogan significantly contributed to the positive outcome. For his quick thinking and heroic actions in a high-risk situation, Officer Hogan was awarded the 2024 Lifesaving Award by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. Read more here.

We’re fortunate in Virginia to have first responders like these working tirelessly to keep us safe. If you know a local hero who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured on Patch!