Natural Resources officers earn recognition for sting, heroism

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Two county officers and the response to one horrific Calvert County incident were lauded at the annual Maryland Natural Resources Police's awards ceremony in Annapolis recently. The Award of Valor for saving a distraught man as he jumped over the side of the Patuxent River Bridge last summer was presented to Officer First Class Timothy Pheabus of Hampstead.

According to the press release, when a man was being pursued on July 14, 2009, on Route 231 onto the Patuxent River Bridge, he stopped just over the main span of the bridge and stated that he was going to kill himself and proceeded to jump over the side of the bridge. Pheabus was able to grab the man, who was suspended over the side of the bridge, until an off-duty state trooper stopped to assist him to pull the man back onto the bridge. The Award of Valor is given to an officer who performs a courageous act beyond the call of duty, and, during this course of action, the officer knowingly and voluntarily exposes himself to danger. The off-duty trooper, Tfc. Michael Newman, received a Certificate of Appreciation for the incident.

"The Natural Resources Police officers and the citizens who assist in its mission are crucial to ensuring the safety of Maryland families as well as our treasured land and aquatic resources. I congratulate all of the award recipients. Their contributions to our state are immeasurable," Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) stated in the press release.

Dunkirk resident Cpl. Brain Rathgeb received a Superintendent's Commendation for "outstanding performance and dedication above and beyond the call of duty in a specific situation or incident," the press release stated.

Rathgeb is a member of the Interstate Watershed Task Force (IWTF), which conducted a joint federal and state investigation for illegal striped bass harvest in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. The investigation resulted in numerous federal charges and sentences including significant fines and incarceration.

"To date the task force efforts which have been publically documented have revealed the illegal harvest, sale and purchase of more than 900,000 pounds of striped bass with an estimated value of more than $4.5 million dollars," stated the nomination from Capt. David C. Larsen.

Rathgeb was one of four who received the award for the fishery investigation that indicted a few St. Mary's County watermen, along with people from Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Sgt. Shawn Garren of Lusby was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for his "selfless actions or contributions made to assist NRP in meeting its overall mission, goals and objectives," the press release stated. Garren said he volunteered 16 years on the dive team and was about to retire from the team. One of Garren's main duties was to recover people who have drowned, he said.

"It's one of the things that's good, but sad," said Garren, noting families appreciate the recovery, but are saddened by the tragedy.

charvat@somdnews.com