31st Annual Valor Awards honor 3 Henrico officers, other first-responders 

Three Henrico police officers were among the recipients of Valor Awards December 2 at a ceremony held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Officer Lawrence D. Pacifico Jr. received a 2021 Silver Award for his successful intervention with a person who was threatening to jump off a bridge, but whom he ultimately pulled to safety.  Sgt. William R. Bodenhamer, Sr., and Officer Brian R. Wolfe received 2020 Bronze Awards for their efforts to safely manage and disperse a crowd after gunfire erupted during a pick-up football game.

Sponsored by the Retail Merchants Association, the 31st Annual Valor Awards recognized a total of 42 honorees from both 2020 and 2021 who were nominated by area fire, EMS and police chiefs for courageous acts going above and beyond the call of duty.  Honorees included first responders from Chesterfield County Fire & EMS, Chesterfield County Police Department, Goochland County Fire & Rescue, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond Ambulance Authority, Richmond Fire and Emergency Services, VCU Health, VCU Police Department and Virginia State Police in addition to Henrico County Police Division.

Following the Valor Awards, a number of first responders, including retired Chief of Police Humberto Cardounel and his wife, Nancy, were presented with commemorative Valor Coins. Valor Coins were also presented to family members of TyVaughn Eldridge, Capt. Don Lambert and Capt. Brian Wilson during the "Honoring and Remembering" portion of the ceremony.  Captains Lambert and Wilson were honored posthumously for their long careers with Henrico County Police Division.  TyVaughn Eldridge was a former teen leader and summer camp counselor with Henrico Police Athletic League who was training to be a Chesterfield County firefighter when he died.