County police honor officers who saved Sgt. Kepp’s life

Department presents annual awards at Gaithersburg ceremony

April 11, 2024 9:13 p.m.

Montgomery County police Officer Julian Martinez recalled Thursday how he and other officers worked to save the life of their fellow officer, Sgt. Patrick Kepp, after he was struck by a speeding car on I-270 in October.

“We started life-saving measures,” Martinez told MoCo360. “It was really something that you never expected to see, especially to see a fellow officer down. I’m just glad that we were able to do what we could to provide that first aid to Sgt. Kepp.”

Martinez along with the other officers who helped save Kepp’s life in the early morning of Oct. 18 were honored at the police department’s annual award ceremony Thursday at the county’s Public Safety Headquarters in Gaithersburg.

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Many people were honored with awards like Sworn Supervisor of the Year and Professional Staff Supervisor of the Year, and dozens of officers received life-saving awards, including those who helped Kepp.

“[They] really did save my life, putting those tourniquets on my legs, being there with me to fly out to Shock Trauma and all that,” Kepp, whose lower legs were amputated and now wears prosthetics, said after the ceremony. “I’m so grateful to be standing and walking and be able to be up there on stage with them. For all that they did for me, it’s the least that I can do.”

Raphael Mayorga, 19, of Frederick faces 18 charges for allegedly striking Kepp, including attempted murder, assault, causing life-threatening injuries and eluding a police officer, digital court records indicate. He is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds, and his trial is slated to begin in October, according to digital court records.

During the ceremony, Police Chief Marcus Jones commended all the officers on the scene that day, including officers Martinez, Matthew Duerr, Nicole Seymour, Diane Burkes and Andre Smith. He specifically discussed the heroic efforts of Smith after Kepp was struck by the suspect.

“Officer Andre Smith continued to risk his life to deploy stop sticks to disable the suspect’s vehicle as the suspect continued driving north on Interstate 270,” Jones said. “Officer Smith pursued a suspect vehicle when the vehicle eventually became disabled. The suspect and another passenger fled on foot. Without a second of hesitation, Officer Smith continued to pursue the suspect on foot alone and apprehended the suspect.”

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According to police, Mayorga was driving a green Dodge Charger at a speed of at least 110 mph as Kepp attempted to pull him over about 3:48 a.m. Oct. 18. Police said Mayorga, who was known to officers, was trying to goad them into a chase.

Kepp exited his patrol car to deploy stop sticks, which are used to deflate tires. While he was placing the stop sticks, Mayorga allegedly drove the Charger into him, according to police. The crash occurred on the highway between Watkins Mill Road and north of Middlebrook Road near exit 13.

“The vehicle [was] observed intentionally moving from the middle lanes to the far-left lanes and coming directly at Sgt. Kepp as he was deploying the stop sticks,” Jones said after the incident occurred.

Kepp said during an interview with MoCo360 that he reached down to touch his right leg, and he immediately saw the bloody aftermath of the car striking him.

Officers performed life-saving measures on Kepp until Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service crews and medical transport arrived.

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Kepp was then ferried via helicopter to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University Medical Center in Baltimore, where both of his legs were amputated. He said he has undergone a total of 10 surgeries.

Martinez told MoCo360 that he was one of the first officers on the scene after Kepp was struck and seeing his injuries was difficult. He said it was a “great honor” to receive the award during the ceremony but emphasized that helping Kepp was a team effort. He commended the other officers who were honored.

Kepp joined the officers on stage, noting that members of the police department are truly family to him.

“They’re all incredible friends of mine,” Kepp said after the ceremony. “It’s a great, close-knit group of people that is with me on all the good days, all the bad days and the days in between.”

Kepp said that officers have visited him at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda where he has been undergoing rehabilitation since December. He said that Smith and Seymour are always with him during his physical and occupational therapy.

“There’s no reason that I won’t be back at work full-time doing exactly what I was doing. I’ll be back on the road, locking up impaired drivers, teaching in the classroom and just trying to keep our roadway safe,” Kepp said. “It’s not in the immediate future. I’m still living at Walter Reed, still doing PT and OT five days a week for many hours, but I think the time will come sooner rather than later.”

Martinez said that “he has no doubts” that Kepp will get back on duty because “he’s probably one of the hardest-working guys I know.”

Council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1), who spoke at the ceremony, said that seeing Kepp was uplifting for him and so many people.

“I’m really excited to see Sgt. Kepp here. That lifts up my spirit, and I know it lifts up everybody’s spirit to see him here, walking and in uniform as he should be,” Friedson said. “That is only true because of the heroism of those of you here being awarded today.”

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