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Port Orchard Police honor officers for lifesaving responses, community work
Summary
Chief Matt Brown presented 2024 awards recognizing multiple officers for Narcan administrations and life-saving efforts, plus departmental commendations for community outreach and records work.
Chief Matt Brown presented the Port Orchard Police Department’s 2024 awards and recognition to several officers and staff at the April 8 council meeting, highlighting overdose reversals, life-saving interventions and community outreach.
"They truly care about each other and in this community," Chief Matt Brown told the council as he called forward award recipients. He said Narcan administrations by department members increased significantly in 2024 and singled out officers for multiple overdose reversals.
Awards included a Narcan administration recognition for multiple officers (Sergeant Donna Main, Officer DJ Hubricks, Sergeant Josh Horsley, Officer Noah Sanchez, Officer Nick Smith, Sergeant John Irelandson, Sergeant Andy Walton, Officer Amy Allen, Officer Austin Colbert, Officer Austin Hodnet, Officer Robert Luke, and Officer Mike Muley). The life‑saving medal was presented for three incidents described by the chief, including an unconscious adult and an infant in distress; the infant case was led by Officer Josiah Gaps. Chief Brown also described a bridge intervention in which Officer Austin Hodnet helped a person in crisis, and he quoted the subject as saying, "you just saved my life."
The department’s Community Law Enforcement Aligning in Response to Substance Use Project (CLEARS) also received mention; Sergeant Maine led regional work distributing outreach bags with Narcan, health items and resource information and engaged in follow-ups that the chief said led at least one person to enter treatment and remain sober six months.
Chief Brown also presented professional staff and officer of the year awards: Caroline Everhardy was recognized for digitizing protection orders into the records system, and Officer Amy Allen was named officer of the year for investigative work and community outreach. Council members and attendees praised the department and thanked staff for the presentations and for the officers’ service.
No formal council action was required for the awards segment; the presentation occupied a substantial part of the evening’s agenda.
