Gov. Tim Kaine is honoring two Virginia State Police troopers with Public Safety Medal of Valor Awards.
Kaine conferred the awards to Justin T. Mahalik and Trooper Kenneth J. Brown on Wednesday during a ceremony at the State Capitol in Richmond.
Mahalik was recognized for rescuing a passenger from his police cruiser after it was engulfed in flames following a rear-end collision during a traffic stop on Interstate 66 in Fairfax. Brown was recognized for his rescuing a driver who suffered a diabetic seizure and crashed his vehicle on I-66.
The Commonwealth Public Safety Medal of Valor Awards have been given annually since 2002. They are the highest honors for heroism conferred upon a public safety officer in the state.
