Night of Excellence public safety awards honor Eagle County first responders
Courtesy photo
On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Eagle County Public Safety Council and the Eagle County Emergency Responders Fund honored local emergency responders at the 12th Annual Night of Excellence held at the stunning 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott.
“Each year, the Night of Excellence gathers Eagle County’s first responders to celebrate their dedication and selfless service,” said Eagle County Director of Emergency Management Birch Barron. “The awards presented throughout the evening shine a spotlight on the exceptional teamwork between our paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement, whose effortless collaboration is vital to the safety and well-being of our community.”
The evening began with a performance from the Altitude Dance Company from Vail Valley Academy of Dance. The students performed a world premiere of their piece “First Responders.”
Commanding General of the Colorado Army National Guard, Brigadier General Bren Rogers, gave the keynote address.
The Leadership Award recognizes public safety leaders who advocate for and achieve significant advances in policies and programs that enhance the safety of Eagle County’s residents. This year’s honorees included Eagle County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Jeff Waltz for his transformative work with the Major Crimes Unit. Sgt. John Chiodo was honored for his command of the GRANITE task force for an exemplary career spanning 35 years. Sgt. Cory Diss was recognized for his leadership and hands-on mentorship approach. Detective Alan Hernandez and Community Policing Coordinator Brenda Torres from the Avon Police Department were recognized for their work organizing and hosting the Latino Police Academy. Tad Degen, director of safety and security for the Eagle County School District, was recognized for his efforts to modernize and upgrade safety at local schools.
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The Call of the Year is awarded to an organization or employees who respond to an out-of-the-ordinary call or an incident that is unusual or rises to an exceptional level of public interest. Receiving the Call of the Year are the Vail and Avon Police Departments for their work solving a multi-jurisdictional crime spree. The Vail Fire and Emergency Services, along with the Eagle County Paramedics Service, received the Call of the Year for a massive accident on Vail Pass involving two semis. The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado State Patrol received the Call of the Year for a high-risk standoff involving a heavily armed suspect and trapped civilians in Wolcott.
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to public safety professionals in recognition of outstanding and distinguished service to the people of Eagle County. Individual recipients include CAD Administrator Rebecca Pacheco, the Vail Public Safety Communications Center, Vail Police Det. Robert Genno, Avon Police Officer Trevor Roszczewski, and paramedic Bill Johnston. HAATS and Vail Mountain Rescue Group are honored for executing a heroic, high-stakes hoist mission, saving a climber struck by lightning atop the 14,300-foot Torreys Peak. And the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Vail Police Department, and Colorado State Patrol are acknowledged for a domestic disturbance call in Dotsero that rapidly escalated into a volatile situation where the coordinated actions of a multi-agency team saved the lives of two young children and their grandmother.
The Lifesaving Medal, newly introduced this year, recognizes a first responder for a life-saving act performed outside their normal duties. This year’s recipients are Avon Police Officer Michael Carlton, Avon Police Sgt. John Mackey, Gypsum Firefighter Alex Torres, and Vail Code Enforcement Officer Harrison Breen.
The Business Partnership Awards are presented to a business or organization for significant and sustained support for public safety in Eagle County. CDOT’s Peter Lombardi and Karen Berdoulay are recognized for championing the Red Cliff bridge barrier project, and Avon Elementary School Principal Dana Harrison is honored for her community-building efforts.
Unit Citations for Meritorious Service are awarded to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit for modernizing investigative strategies and forging deep community partnerships. Vail Police Department Officers Abigail Castillo, Blake Gould, and Charles LeFleur are honored for their team’s seamless transition from investigation to a physically demanding rescue. And the Vail Public Safety Communications Center is recognized for its masterful command of complex crises, proactive leadership in public safety, and unwavering composure under pressure.
The first Medal of Valor is awarded to Avon Police Department Sgt. Tyler Churches, Officer Cirilo Zarate, Officer Andres Sandoval, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Alex Iacovetto, and Deputy Greg Lovegren for immediate and decisive action in the face of extreme danger that directly saved the life of a domestic violence victim.
The First Responder of the Year is awarded to an officer from each public safety agency who demonstrates outstanding performance throughout the year. Honorees this year include Eagle Police Department School Resource Officer Dominik Scriver, Avon Police Department Officer Andres Sandoval, Vail Police Department Det. Jose Balderas and Sheriff Deputy Rick Sutton.
The final award of the evening is the Medal of Valor, presented to Eagle Police Officer Tyler White, who displayed extraordinary bravery by saving the life of a disabled man trapped in a burning home.
The 2025 Night of Excellence was captured on video by High 5 Media and will be available soon on eaglecounty.us, as well as on Eagle County Television channel 18.
To learn more about the Eagle County Emergency Responders Fund, visit ECERF.org.
