ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today attended the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and Maryland Sheriffs’ Association’s annual public safety conference in Ocean City to honor law enforcement personnel from across the state for outstanding service and partnership. As Maryland continues to see historic drops in crime, the governor expressed the Moore-Miller Administration’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all law enforcement personnel in the state continue to have the resources they need to complete their missions effectively and safely.
“Today’s honorees are the best of our state, the ones who run toward danger when others run from it,”
said Gov. Moore. “Through the extraordinary contributions of our brave men and women in uniform, Maryland has delivered some of the most impressive drops in crime in the entire country. In partnership, we have made Maryland safer. It’s clear we still have more to do. But with this team, I know we will continue to ensure true public safety in every part of the state.”
The conference is the flagship event and training seminar for Maryland’s law enforcement community, bringing together more than 350 leaders in law enforcement and industry partners. The Maryland Chiefs of Police and Maryland Sheriffs’ Associations are recognized as the voices of law enforcement advocacy on behalf of local law enforcement across the state—providing training for the next generation of Maryland’s law enforcement executives.
During the award ceremony, the governor presented the Valor Award to Deputy First Class Mark Shayne and Deputy Earl Buffa of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department for risking their lives to pull a woman from a car engulfed in flames.
Governor Moore also presented the Medal of Honor to Officer First Class Joseph DeBronzo and Officer First Class Christopher Weir of the Howard County Police Department, who ran toward gunfire to save a mother and her child from an armed assailant.
The governor also presented the Exceptional Police Performance award to the officers of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police who saved countless lives with their heroic actions leading up to and following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“We appreciate Governor Moore for joining us as we honored the outstanding service of officers across the state,”
said Maryland Chiefs of Police Association Incoming President Stephen Yates. “We are immensely proud of the dedication and sacrifice of these brave men and women, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the governor as we work to strengthen safety, effectiveness, and public trust in Maryland's finest.”
“The Maryland Sheriffs’ Association is committed to ensuring that our members have everything they need to continue their service to the people of Maryland,”
said Maryland Sheriff's Association President James T. DeWees. “Governor Moore's presence at today's ceremony is a testament to his ongoing commitment to both working with us, and honoring the sacrifices of first responders and their families.”
The Moore-Miller Administration continues to demonstrate commitment to promoting public safety with historic investments in law enforcement, including nearly $122 million in the FY 2026 state budget to support local police statewide. Since taking office, the Administration has also invested more than $58 million for the
Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, which works to improve collaboration, information sharing, and analysis to advance public safety across the state. The efforts have contributed to significant declines in violent crime across Maryland—with preliminary data indicating that statewide homicides and non-fatal shootings have reached their lowest levels in a decade.
On Friday, Governor Moore and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the
reinstatement of State of Maryland law enforcement resources to support Baltimore City law enforcement and public safety coordination efforts. The renewed collaboration will build upon the historic progress made to reduce violent crime in Baltimore City through enhanced collaboration and community resource deployment. Through investment in coordination, the Moore-Miller Administration’s all-of-the-above approach has produced one of the most dramatic crime drops in the city’s history. After eight straight years of more than 300 homicides, Baltimore City is now seeing the lowest number of homicides in 50 years.
Governor Moore has also prioritized building pipelines to public safety careers to ensure that Maryland continues to recruit and retain law enforcement personnel. The
Public Safety Apprenticeship Program—established by the
Growing Apprenticeships and Public Safety Workforce Act in 2024—expands pathways to public safety careers by encouraging public safety agencies to establish apprenticeship programs. The program, administered through the Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, provides two grant opportunities, including a two-year start-up grant capped at $200,000 to support the creation of Public Safety Registered Apprenticeships, and a $5,000 per apprentice stabilization grant to offset hiring and training costs.
Additionally, to protect both law enforcement personnel and Maryland drivers, the governor this year signed the
Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act during the 2025 legislative session to significantly strengthen penalties for reckless drivers. The increased penalties go into effect on October 1, to deter reckless driving and protect police officers like Montgomery County Police Sergeant Patrick Kepp—who tragically lost both of his legs after being struck by a driver traveling more than 100 miles per hour.
To learn more about the Moore-Miller Administration's work to create safer communities across Maryland, visit
priorities.maryland.gov/pages/public-safety.