The City of Gaithersburg has announced that Gaithersburg Police Officer Nicholas Ozkayan was among the 58 public safety officials honored by the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce as part of its 30th annual Public Safety Awards program that took place on June 27 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds.
This annual awards program recognizes law enforcement and fire-rescue workers who go above and beyond the call of duty to serve and protect the local community. Officer Nicholas Ozkayan was presented with the “Life Saving Award” Citation for Bravery:
“On October 18, 2023, a coordinated operation involving the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) and the Gaithersburg Police Department took place on Rt. 270. The focus of this operation was a notorious suspect infamous for his reckless driving. The suspect struck Sgt. Patrick Kepp causing catastrophic injuries that threatened his life. The response from the law enforcement team to this horrific scene was immediate and heroic. Along with MCPD Officers, Officer Ozkayan, rushed to provide first aid to the critically injured Sgt. Kepp. Their prompt and efficient medical intervention was crucial in stabilizing Sgt. Kepp’s condition and likely saved his life.
The Citation for Bravery is presented to a member of a public safety organization or the civilian community who performed an act of bravery, which was beyond the call of duty, wherein the member’s physical safety was perilously exposed to danger in order to save the life of another or to perform an extraordinary and heroic public safety duty.”
Photo courtesy City of Gaithersburg