Heroic Acts By 2 Herndon Officers Honored At Valor Awards

HERNDON, VA — Two officers with the Herndon Police Department were recently honored for heroic actions they performed while putting themselves at great personal risk.

They each received medals during the 47th Annual Valor Awards Ceremony, which took place April 7 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Hotel in Chantilly. Hosted by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the annual awards honor public safety personnel who went above and beyond.

Police Officer First Class Neil Simpson received the Gold Medal of Valor, recognizing his heroic actions last December.

“While traveling home from a social event with his wife in his personal vehicle, Officer Simpson pulled over to answer the call of a female who was in distress, who was flagging down passing vehicles for assistance,” said NBC 4's Joseph Olmo, who served as the ceremony's emcee. “Officer Simpson quickly ascertained the woman had been assaulted by her husband, who was intoxicated in the driver's seat of their car.

“The male subject made multiple unsuccessful attempts to run over both officer Simpson and the female victim. This individual then exited his vehicle to continue an assault on his wife.

Related: Heroic Response To Home Explosion By Fairfax Co. Fire & Rescue Honored

“Officer Simpson, unarmed and without any access to law enforcement equipment, immediately intervened to physically restrain his violent aggressor. During the struggle, the male subject produced a knife and continued his attack even after Simpson identified himself as a law enforcement officer, stabbing him multiple times in the arm.

“Despite this, Officer Simpson was able to gain control of the weapon and successfully restrain the subject until additional police officers were able to arrive on scene. The injuries sustained by Officer Simpson were fortunately non-life threatening, and he was treated and released from medical care the next day.”

Nathan Vooys, the chief executive officer of Reston Hospital Center, spoke about the importance of the Gold Medal of Valor and what type of actions it's meant to honor.

“While this is our most prestigious award, it is one which we almost wish we did not have to consider, as it speaks to the severity and grave danger of the emergency situations in which our brave first responders can find themselves,” Vooys said. “Except in the most extenuating circumstances, not more than one gold medal per year is awarded to each service, and as you will soon hear, this year, We gratefully recognize multiple awardees.”

Senior Police Officer James Carroll was the other member of the Herndon Police Department to be honored last week, receiving the Bronze Medal of Valor.

Carroll was one of the team of officers who responded to a residence following a 911 call from a female who said she had been stabbed by her husband.

Arriving on the scene, Carroll set up a perimeter, knocked on the front door, and identified himself to those inside the residence.

“Without warning, a male subject, with blood-soaked clothing and wielding a swordlike weapon, burst through the front door and raised in a striking motion and charged at Officer Carroll,” Olmo said. “With no room on the porch to create distance from the subject, Officer Carroll utilized his firearm to protect himself and prevent the subject from harming anybody else. Four other members of the Herndon Police Department were recognized earlier with life saving awards for their on scene efforts.”

This is a second in a series of articles about Fairfax County public safety personnel recognized during the 47th Annual Valor Awards ceremony on April 7 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Hotel.