First Responders’ Heroic Actions Honored in Inaugural Recognition Ceremony

At Motorola Solutions’ Summit 2026, public safety leaders recognized their peers whose expertise and strategic use of technology helped save lives in crises

CHICAGO – May 14, 2026 – Innovation met action today as Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) announced its inaugural Summit 2026 public safety agency recognitions. A committee of 15 public safety officials selected the most noteworthy of their peers for their technical prowess, courage, calm and ingenuity on the front lines of community safety.

“The most heroic acts in public safety often go underrecognized because the mission is always the focus, never the spotlight,” said Lashinda Stair, retired first assistant chief of the Detroit Police Department and Motorola Solutions industry team director. “Motorola Solutions is proud to provide a platform for public safety professionals to recognize their peers for innovation and actions that help protect cities and save lives.”

The following agencies and first responders were recognized last month in Orlando: 

• Real-Time Incident of the Year: Louisville MetroSafe 911 in Kentucky
  When UPS Flight 2976 crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Louisville MetroSafe received nearly 60 emergency calls in 60 seconds. Supervisors immediately assigned a team to concentrate on the needs of the crash site, while another team continued to field emergency calls for the rest of the city. The agency’s call handlers and dispatchers transformed the chaotic incident into a coordinated recovery effort involving hundreds of responders.

• Flight of the Year: Chula Vista Police Department in California
  When a vehicle caught fire on a crowded highway, the Chula Vista Police Department immediately activated its Drone as First Responder program to get eyes on the scene before ground units could arrive. This aerial intelligence helped officers approach the driver with a tactical plan and rescue the driver just minutes before the vehicle was engulfed by flames.

• Investigation of the Year: St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in Florida
  During the week of a major golf tournament, a double-homicide suspect fled into dense woods near the venue. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office utilized technology to create a tight perimeter, understanding where their deputies were in real time to plug gaps and successfully control and resolve the manhunt as the suspect crossed jurisdictional lines.

• Call of the Year: Martyna Wohner, Louisville MetroSafe 911 in Kentucky
  When a semi-truck dangled dangerously over the side of a major interstate bridge, telecommunicator Martyna Wohner spent 18 minutes on the phone with the driver, keeping him calm and still at a time when any sudden movement could cause the truck to plummet. Her steady voice and dedicated professionalism helped keep the driver safe until crews could pull off a high-stakes rescue.

• Dispatcher of the Year: Angia Hannibal, Grant County Emergency Communications Agency in Oregon
  During a wildland fire that burned over 300,000 acres, dispatch supervisor Angia Hannibal organized multi-agency resources and operations to manage evacuations. Leading with grace under pressure, she went above and beyond to deliver homemade meals to the front line and equip deputies with life-saving shelters.  

• Innovation of the Year: Smith County Sheriff’s Office in Texas
  To help protect students and the community, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office  integrated more than 160 floor plans and 500 live cameras into a single operational view, allowing dispatchers to immediately guide responders to a threat should a crisis hit one of its 10 school districts, local churches or county offices.

• Field Response of the Year: Patrol Corporal Brandon Feldman, Nampa Police Department in Idaho
  Patrol Corporal Feldman combined his intuition with real-time technology to solve a drive-by homicide investigation involving a vehicle with no license plate. Without a lead to follow, Feldman mapped the SUV in question back to a gas station, where the suspect originally started stalking the victim, and was able to identify the vehicle, leading to an identification within less than 24 hours.

Visit Motorola Solutions’ website for more inspiring stories of public safety agencies creatively and courageously using technology to help protect people, property and places.  

About Motorola Solutions | Solving for safer
Safety and security are at the heart of everything we do at Motorola Solutions. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Learn more about our commitment to innovating for a safer future for us all at www.motorolasolutions.com.