2013 Award for Valor

Officer Mark Woodworth of New York State University

On November 11, 2012, a natural gas explosion at an off-campus apartment complex in the Village of Alfred, NY, left the building badly damaged and some residents trapped in their apartments.

NYS University Police Officer Mark Woodworth was one of the first responders to arrive on scene.

Despite the extensive damage caused to the complex by the explosion and flames still emanating from the area of the gas pipe and the building utilities vault, Officer Woodworth made his way to the upper floor of the building where he found a resident, injured and trapped. Officer Woodworth made contact with the trapped woman, kicked in the door, and was able to remove her from her apartment. He got her out of the building and turned her over to awaiting EMS personnel. Officer Woodworth and Alfred Police Officer Mark Collins, who had arrived on the scene, continued searching the building for more trapped residents. Three other trapped residents were located and removed from their apartments by Woodworth and Collins.

Nominated by: Gregory S. Sammons, Chief of Police, NYS University Police Department