Trollinger Law LLC has announced the 2026 winners of its annual Hometown Heroes Awards, marking the fifth year the Waldorf-based firm has recognized first responders in Charles County and Southern Maryland for their dedication to the communities they serve.
The three honorees are Sgt. John Edelen of the Maryland State Police, retired La Plata police lieutenant and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jason Posey, and Chief William L. Smith, Jr., a four-decade veteran of fire and emergency medical services.
"First responders show up in the middle of a crisis, providing help and support to people when they need it most," said personal injury lawyer Matt Trollinger, founder of Trollinger Law LLC. "They don't do it for the accolades or the paycheck. They do it because they want to help. To our firm, that's the definition of a Hometown Hero."
Edelen has served with the Maryland State Police for more than 26 years in patrol, K9 and Internal Affairs assignments. He has earned Supervisor of the Year honors five times and Trooper of the Year honors twice. Outside law enforcement, he coaches youth soccer and supports Christmas Shop with a Cop, No Hunger November and toy drives for children in need.
Posey served four years on active duty in the Marines, including two overseas campaign tours, before joining the La Plata Police Department, where he worked for more than 21 years and retired in August 2026. He held leadership roles as Honor Guard Commander and Administrative Commander, and his community work includes Toys for Tots and helping establish the department's Police Explorer and Cadet youth programs. He remains active in volunteer service across Southern Maryland.
Smith has spent more than four decades in fire and EMS. Since 2013 he has served as Fire/EMS Coordinator and Public Information Officer for Charles County's volunteer fire and EMS associations, supporting roughly 1,200 active and retired first responders. He is department fire chief of the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, a past president of the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association, and leads the Charles County High School Fire-Rescue Cadet Program, mentoring young people pursuing emergency-services careers.
The recognition carries weight beyond a plaque. First-responder agencies in Southern Maryland and across the country have reported persistent recruitment and retention pressure, making public acknowledgment of long-serving personnel and youth pipeline programs a practical tool for workforce development. By spotlighting cadet and explorer initiatives, the awards draw attention to the volunteer and career pathways that supply the region's fire, EMS and police departments.
The announcement also illustrates how a regional law firm is tying its brand to public safety. Trollinger Law LLC represents injured people in Southern Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia in workers' compensation and personal injury matters, including car accidents, truck accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, wrongful death and medical malpractice. The firm has Maryland offices in Waldorf, La Plata and Frederick and offers free consultations.
For residents of Charles County and Southern Maryland, the 2026 class offers a snapshot of the people behind local emergency response: a state trooper with more than a quarter-century of service, a Marine veteran who spent two decades with a municipal department, and a fire chief training the next generation. Their combined service spans police patrol, military campaigns, fire suppression and EMS coordination, touching programs that reach children, families and hundreds of volunteer responders.
