A Citrus County K-9 deputy is nearly killed when an apparently mentally unbalanced suspect stabs him with a large skinning knife on the street in Crystal River. Another deputy on the scene is then forced to shoot the man when the suspect advances toward other deputies brandishing the same weapon.

On another day, a South Dunnellon-area suspect becomes violent and leads deputies on a two-county chase, firing on deputies with a .38-caliber pistol - and at a Marion County school bus (fortunately empty of students) - along the chase route.

Three Citrus County deputies were among officers trying to stop the man, and one of those deputies is nearly struck in the head by one of the fleeing suspect's bullets as it shattered his patrol car's windshield. Both incidents were examples of exemplary law enforcement work, dedication, devotion and raw nerve.

Because of their actions, all of these deputies were awarded the Medal of Valor by Sheriff Jeff Dawsy on Tuesday at the Citrus Springs Community Center during the 14th Annual CCSO Awards Banquet.

The K-9, now retired, is Deputy Mito who, it was learned Tuesday night, is now fighting cancer. With him at the time was Deputy Todd Cridland, who also recieved a Medal of Valor. Deputies Ryan Glaze, Juan Berrios and Carlos Valdes received valor medals for their dedication, professionalism and bravery during the two-county chase.

Sheriff Dawsy noted that this was the first time a K-9 has been so honored by the Sheriff's Office. He also presented Deputy Barrios with the Plexiglas from behind the headrest in the patrol car, complete with the bullet hole that was testament to a shot fired by the suspect that nearly struck Berrios in the head that fateful day. Also inscribed on the Plexiglas was the date of the event and a poignant poem that pointed out that angels were watching over him on that day. "These incidents were just a snapshot of law enforcement officers in Citrus County," Sheriff Dawsy told banquet-goers. He also said that Florida is the most dangerous state in terms of danger to law enforcement officers, and noted "We're lucky we have men and women who want to do this job."

Medals of valor weren't the only recognition given out at the banquet. Also honored were community leaders and volunteers, employees who made a difference and employees who have reached employment milestones. Also honored was the CCSO team's performance in the SWAT team "Bad to the Bone" competition in Ocala, where the team placed third in a field of 16. The team also performed well during an international SWAT team competition and school, where it placed third in a field of 52 teams in the "Officer Down" competition, and 14th overall at the end of a week of international competition.

Community presentations

• Bill Terry and Fred Conley for success of the Teen Driver Challenge Program
• Sherrill Schuler for helping an elderly man by adminstering CPR until the arrival of a CCSO deputy
• Marcia Smith for helping a 90-year-old man who drove through a stop sign and into a wooded area. She pulled him from the vehicle, which subsequently caught fire and the gas tank exploded.

Certificates of Appreciation

• County commissioner Winn Webb; Sofia Dias-Fonsica; Debbie Muir; John Marmish; Scott Kibler; Gloria Queriux; Ron Dillon; Mary Martin; Chris Evan; Ken Perez; Heather Yates; Gail Tierney; John Plevell; Richard Wesch and Rob Forlini for their efforts in invigorating Crime Stoppers of Citrus County.

Service awards

• FIVE YEARS: Lee Alexander; Laura Anstead; Johnathan Behnen; Ed Blair; Melissa Bowermaster; Jason Boyer; Roderick Bruce; \Andra Canfield; Steven Casada; Chris Cubertson; Chad Doyle; Mark Farmer; Jeffery Hunter; Sandra Hutchinson; bretlee Jordan; Charles Kanehl; Aidan Marshall; Linda Newman; Walter Nolan; Betty Rideout; Johnathan Ritli; Terri Rockett; Scott Roush; Timothy Rowand; Juan Santiago; Barbara Sleep; Dan Slingerland; Jennifer Story; Lynn Tabb; Philip Tompkins and Greg Varn
• 10 YEARS: Todd Cridland; David Fuller; Doug Kahane; Daniel Keszthelyi; Warren "Butch" Slusser; Joe Stanton and Dale Strickland
• 15 YEARS: Raymond Fischer; Timothy Langer; Heidi Lasher; Bill Reach; Jason Shephard; Brian Spiddle and David Warren
• 20 YEARS: Michele Beckwith; Richard Briggs; John Clark; Scott Condon; Mitchell Cook; Jerry Dixon; Al Emrick; Lee Entrekin; David Fields; Bruce Haslett; Stephen Liechty; Donny Miller, Johnathan Seffer, Sr.; Nancy Suto and Ira Williamson
• 25 YEARS: Greg Farrell; Joseph Palminteri and Mike Williams
• 30 YEARS: Julie Sellars

Special recognition awards

• Certificate of Appreciation: To Douglas Kahane for saving taxpayers thousands of dollars in the facelift of the CCSO lobby in Inverness
• Certificate of Appreciation: To communications officer Philip Tompkins for helping find a Citrus County resident reported missing near Lakeland.
• Unit Citations of Excellence: To the CCSO Financial Services division and Purchasing & Property and Inventor Section (Joe Baker, Pat Bergerson, Jennifer Briand, Rob Forlini, Doris Germinaro, Lori Kirkpatrick, Cindy Russo and Betty Ward). For flawless audit reports that were the result of sound accounting procedures and superior property & inventory control standards
• Unit Citation of Excellence: To the Communications bravo II Squad of Cy Jervis; Heather Silver, Linda Tillis; John Laurin; Haidee Olon; Lisa White; Linda Ward; Kara Fowler (Sue Waterman's Squad) for working together as a team during a suspect pursuit and return of gunfire.

Related stories for Medal of Valor winners

• K-9 Deputy Mito
• Deputy Todd Cridland
• Deputies Ryan Glaze, Juan Berrios and Carlos Valdes