BRIDGEPORT — Kirkwood Presbyterian Church was packed with police officers and their families for the Bridgeport Police Department awards ceremony on Monday.

The department held its first awards ceremony to recognize officers for years of service, lifesaving, going the extra mile and exemplary police work.

Jerry Murphy, Martins Ferry police chief, and Shawn Schwertfeger, Wheeling police chief, attended the ceremony to show their support for their neighboring police department.

Darby Copeland, assistant Bridgeport police chief, served as the emcee and started off the awards by presenting Officers Nicholas Battistone and Alexander Elerick with their awards for one year of service.

Copeland presented Officers Brenton Boston and Sabin Ward with awards for two years of service.

Officer Robert Shreve IV received an award for three years of service, while Officer Anthony Barezinsky received an award for seven years of service. Officer William Timko was presented with an award for 16 years of service.

John Bumba, police chief, presented Copeland with an award for 28 years of service.

Copeland then presented Bumba with an award for 32 years of service.

Bumba and Copeland both received the lifesaving award.

Battistone was presented with an award called the Extra Mile Award for his work on a missing person case. Copeland said Battistone worked countless hours and during his personal time to find a missing individual.

Officers Alexander Elerick and Shreve received an award for outstanding accommodation. Bumba and Copeland said the officers received the award for dealing with a difficult situation. Copeland said the officers responded to a house fire at 2 a.m. Easter morning, when a man threatened the officers with a machete. Bumba and Copeland said they watched the body cam footage, and the officers stayed calm during the situation and waited for backup to arrive.

“To say I am proud of these guys is an understatement. They could have very easily taken a life that day, and they both kept calm instead,” Bumba said.

Norma Teasdale, mayor of Bridgeport, gave the closing remarks for the ceremony. She said that the Bridgeport Police Department was established 120 years ago.

“On behalf of the council, village and citizens, we want to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to help keep Bridgeport safe,” she said.

The police department plans to hold the ceremony every year. For more information about the Bridgeport Police Department, visit its Facebook page or call the department at 740-635-9999.