Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the Public Safety Awards Luncheon
Marriott Bethesda North Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road, Rockville
As prepared
Good Afternoon and thank you so much for honoring me with the Public Safety Champion of the Year Award!
We all share the pride when we reflect on what has been accomplished to advance the work of our tremendous County public safety agencies in the past 11 years; and it remains one of my top priorities.
I know you agree that Montgomery County’s public safety professionals are, not just the finest locally, they are the finest in the Country!
I respect and have faith in their leadership: Police Chief Tom Manger, Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, Sheriff Darren Popkin, Director of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation Rob Green, and Acting Chief George Coleman of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police-Montgomery County Division.
I am also humbled to receive this award, because right now we are among so many who’ve devoted their lives to being public-safety champions.
Today we will honor the solving of a cold case, that has had more long-term impact on our County than possibly any other – the tragic disappearance of the Lyon sisters, who went missing from Wheaton Plaza 43 years ago this month.
We salute the six Virginia law enforcement agencies that assisted the Montgomery County Police Department, and the 132 Montgomery County Police investigators, whose combined dedication and tenacity, worked to bring closure in 2017, to the remarkably strong Lyon family, and to our County.
We will also be listening to the incident narratives describing the circumstances that each of our Valor Award recipients had to face and overcome; and we can’t help but be impressed by their heroic acts.
I thank the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, led by President Gigi Godwin; “Awards- Luncheon-Chairman-for-life” Steve Robins; and all of the member businesses, for your continuing strong public safety partnership.
Because of you, today is an opportunity for us to express our appreciation and celebrate great deeds. But it must not end here.
I challenge those who remain, and those who come next, to continue to work together to support our first responders, who never fail to provide support for us.
Thank you!
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Release ID: 18-014
Friday, March 16; 11 a.m.