Two U.S. Deputy Marshals, Jason Richter and Philip Efaw, received the Robert Forsyth Valor Award, the U.S. Marshals Service's highest award, for their actions while apprehending a fugitive in Huntington, West Virginia in 2008. Deputy Richter shot and killed the fugitive when he pointed a weapon at the officers after refusing commands. Deputy Efaw ensured the safety of the vehicle's driver and attempted first aid for the fugitive, risking his own safety. They were honored among 53 other Marshals Service members and law enforcement partners receiving awards for their service.

1. NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 13, 2010
Contact: ACDUSM Brad Sellers,
Southern District of West Virginia
(304)347-5136
MARSHAL SERVICE PERSONNEL HONORED
Charleston, WV – Deputies Jason Richter and Philip Efaw received the Marshals Service’s Robert
Forsyth Valor Award, which is the agency’s highest award, today in Arlington, VA. The criteria for this
award was that nominees have demonstrated unusual courage, good judgment, and competence in
hostile circumstances, or shall have performed an act or service which saved the life of another
person while endangering his/her own life. This award is named after the first U.S. Marshal killed in the
line of duty, which occurred on January 11, 1794. Robert Forsyth was the first appointed Marshal for
the District of Georgia prior to his death.
Both deputies received this prestigious award based on their performance while stationed in the
Southern District of West Virginia. In February 2008, each of these deputies was working with other law
enforcement officers to apprehend an individual in the Huntington, WV area for outstanding federal and
state warrants. In one alleged robbery, this fugitive allegedly attempted to shoot a store manager that
had followed him out of a local pharmacy. As officers approached a vehicle the fugitive was located in,
the fugitive produced a weapon and disregarded the officers’ verbal commands by pointed the weapon
in the direction of the officers. DUSM Richter, reacting to the fugitive’s threat, fired a fatal shot that
struck the fugitive. During this event, DUSM Efaw risked his safety to ensure that the vehicle’s driver
was removed unharmed from the vehicle, as well as attempting to provide immediate medical care to
the fugitive.
Both deputies have recently left that district to explore employment opportunities in other districts within
the Marshals Service. They were among the 53 recipients of various awards honoring Marshals
Service personnel and our law enforcement partners during the annual Director’s Awards Banquet.
The Marshals Service and the Southern District of West Virginia applauds these deputies for the
service they gave to the communities within the Southern District of West Virginia.
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