Officer Nicholas Ozkayan awarded for bravery

The city of Gaithersburg announced that Gaithersburg Police Officer Nicholas Ozkayan was among 58 public safety officers honored by the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce as part of its 30th Annual Public Safety Honors Day.^t annual Public Safety Awards Gala, held June 27 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds.

This annual awards program recognizes law enforcement officers and firefighters who go above and beyond the call of duty to serve and protect their community. Officer Nicholas Ozkayan received 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 target of this operation was a suspect known for his reckless driving. The suspect struck Sergeant Patrick Kepp, causing catastrophic injuries that threatened his life. The response of 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 Sergeant Kepp. Their quick and effective medical intervention was critical in stabilizing Sergeant Kepp and likely saved his life.

The Medal of Valor is awarded to a member of a public safety organization or civilian community who performs an act of bravery above and beyond the call of duty, resulting in the member’s physical safety being endangered, in order to save the life of another person or to perform an extraordinary and heroic public safety duty.

Photo courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg