Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Cobb Chamber awards public safety heroes

Among the Cobb Chamber public safety award winners on Oct. 4 are (l-r, holding their Medals of Valor) Cobb County Police Officers David Cavender, John Pearson and Bryan Moore for their actions during a firefight with an armed carjacker in June 2020. Cavender was wounded during the incident and the suspect killed. (Courtesy of Cobb Chamber)
Among the Cobb Chamber public safety award winners on Oct. 4 are (l-r, holding their Medals of Valor) Cobb County Police Officers David Cavender, John Pearson and Bryan Moore for their actions during a firefight with an armed carjacker in June 2020. Cavender was wounded during the incident and the suspect killed. (Courtesy of Cobb Chamber)
By Carolyn Cunningham – For the AJC
Oct 6, 2021

The Cobb Chamber honored Cobb County’s public safety heroes on Oct. 4 during its annual Public Safety Appreciation Breakfast, presented by Cobb EMC and Wellstar, at the Coca-Cola Roxy.

This event launched Public Safety Appreciation Week, a community effort to say “thank you” to the men and women who work to keep Cobb County safe.

Lance LoRusso of the LoRusso Law Firm served as keynote speaker, honoring each of the nominees and presenting the 2021 Public Safety Awards.

  • Medals of Valor to Cobb County Police Officers David Cavender, John Pearson and Bryan Moore.
  • Outstanding Community Contribution awards to Cobb County E-911 Deputy Director Kevin Gardner and School Resource Officer Brian Washington of the Marietta Police Department.
  • Public Safety Employee of the Year to Kennesaw Police Detective Daniel Wood.
  • Awards of Merit to Smyrna Police Department Officers Dustin Trail and Tasia Sveda.
  • Distinguished Achievement Awards to Director Andrew Altizer of the Kennesaw State University Public Safety Department and Major Jake King of the Marietta Police Department.

Nominations for the Public Safety Awards were solicited from public safety agencies throughout Cobb County, including police, fire, sheriff’s office, campus police, emergency communications and EMS.

For more information on the award winners and the nominees, visit cobbchamber.org/publicsafety and bit.ly/3mGplzB.

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Carolyn Cunningham
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