Baltimore City Environmental Police Sergeant Antoine Smith is the recipient of the Environmental Police Valor Award  for his act of "outstanding personal bravery intelligently performed at imminent personal hazard." In addition he, along with four members of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office,  have been recognized by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce with the Silver Medal of Bravery Award at the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Awards Ceremony. The Sheriff Department honorees are: Master Deputy William Kyle Barget, Master Deputy Michael Prushinski, Deputy First Class Timothy A. Lookingbill, and Deputy Corey L. Moser.

On July 22, 2018 Sergeant Smith responded to a 911 call report of a car in the water at the Liberty Reservoir's south boat ramp. Sergeant Smith and a responding Carroll County Deputy arrived and saw two people swimming about 40 feet from shore. Sergeant Smith and the Deputy swam to the subjects. Upon their arrival, they determined that the people swimming were not from the vehicle, but were in fact bystanders who reported that a car had driven into the water, and that a person was still in the car at the bottom of the reservoir.

Both officers dove multiple times to the vehicle in an attempt to free the passenger. The Deputy managed to get the passenger out of the vehicle and bring him to the surface. At that point the Deputy began to tire and went under the surface.

Sgt. Smith was able to grab both individuals and swim them the 50 yards to shore where he was assisted by additional Carroll County Deputies who had also entered the water.  While the stricken Deputy survived the ordeal, the driver later passed away at a hopital.

Congratulations to all of these outstanding first responders!