Alexandria Police Department Recognizes Four for Devotion to Duty During Most Recent Quarterly Awards Ceremony

ALEXANDRIA, VA-The Alexandria Police Department (APD) has awarded its Employee of the Quarter Awards to four deserving members of the APD. Every quarter, the Department recognizes outstanding service and accomplishments within the agency and our community. Bureau personnel from each division are nominated and selected for recognition of their contributions.

In a ceremony earlier in October, Interim Chief of Police, Raul Pedroso presented their awards and reminded everyone in attendance, “What you all share is a passion for policing, a calling to this noble profession that has remained with you, Always stay true to your heart. It will not fail you.”

The APD Employees of the Third Quarter are:

Officer Kurt Wiegand
Field Operations Bureau
Officer Wiegand is being recognized for going above and beyond the expectations of a patrol officer. In September, Wiegand responded to a residential fire on N. Armistead St. Prior to the arrival of the fire department, Wiegand saw people on the third-floor balcony who were trapped due to smoke and flames, unable to exit the building. Wiegand acted quickly, procuring a ladder from a construction worker and threw it to the second floor. He climbed up and assisted in evacuating several apartment residents who were trapped, leading them to safety. Officer Wiegand put public safety ahead of his own personal safety in order to evacuate residents trapped in a third-floor apartment by an active fire.

Ms. Saray Kryzhanovskiy
Criminal Investigations Bureau
There are many elements that go into a criminal investigation. The latent print examiner plays a vital role by identifying prints from a crime scene. APD Latent Print Examiner Saray Kryzhanovskiy identified multiple suspects based on fingerprint evidence during the third quarter, including a serial burglar.

“The evidence she provides is a critical part of the work of the Investigations Bureau to identify criminals,” said Captain Dennis Andreas of APD’s Special Investigations Division. “She is meticulous in her work and has helped to close countless cases over the years. We thank her for her for commitment to excellence in her work,”

Ms. Jennifer Rivas
Administrative & Technology Bureau
Rivas is a leader within the APD Training and Recruitment Section. She educates and supports new officers with onboarding and orientation and prepares them for the academy. As the squad leader for new recruits, she was recognized for taking great initiative within her role.

Officer Michel Raines
Community Engagement Division
To reduce trespassing and criminal activity within a residential property, Officer Raines worked in collaboration with a property management company to make an apartment building a safer environment for residents. Raines spearheaded a community safety project that led to installing new security cameras on the property, implementing secure entry to laundry rooms, and a system to monitor vacant units. Officer Raines saw a need and worked proactively in partnership with community stakeholders in creative ways to solve a problem. Officer Raines exemplified outstanding community outreach, engagement, and community policing.

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