Evans, Smith Honored For Service To Vienna

Vienna Police Officer J.B. Evans and Emergency Medical Technician Zach Smith were selected by Vienna's American Legion Post 180 as the 2012 Police Officer and Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.

The legion honors one police officer and one firefighter or EMT each year for their service to the community.

Evans, an 11-year veteran of the department, has "taken on many additional responsibilities aside from his routine patrol duties," the department says. He's a field training officer for newly trained police officers, a member of the Vienna Police Bicycle Unit and an Intoxilyzer instructor and operator for the the state of Virginia. He also maintains the department's preliminary breath field testing equipment. When his squad Sergeant is absent, Evans also serves as temporary supervisor.

Lieutenant David Pelto, who nominated Evans, said Evans was a leader in both number of citations issued and number of arrests. 

Smith only recently joined the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in December 2010, but  "quickly became a central part of both our operations and administrative side," Chief John Morrison said.

After Smith received his EMT training, he was signed off as an ambulance officer in charge within a few months, "something that usually takes a year or longer," Morrison said.

"[Smith] now manages our recruitment process, ensuring that qualified, motivated applicants are put forward for membership, and that applicants understand the expectations and responsibilities of joining," Morrison said.