The Howard County Emergency Response Network (CERN) honored Howard County Chief of Police William J. McMahon with The Extraordinary Emergency Leadership Award at its meeting March 19.
McMahon was cited for his leadership during and after the response to the January shooting incident at The Mall in Columbia. His achievements, according to CERN President Mary Lasky, include officer training, emergency preparedness of Mall personnel, effective media communications, and setting a standard for the nation in response to a critical incident in the community.
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Lasky noted McMahon worked closely with the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services to save lives, as well as with local agencies like Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, which was called in to counsel shoppers and Mall employees after the shooting.
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McMahon was also recognized for his key role in advancing the mission and initiatives of CERN, which was established in response to the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The police chief, Lasky said, has been an active member, providing regular briefings on how the community can support first responders.
In addition to the award from CERN, McMahon was presented with a Citation from the Howard County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly and a Proclamation from the Howard County Council.
