A Lehigh County homicide detective and a Whitehall Township police chief received prestigious memorial awards recognizing their exemplary service to law enforcement at a ceremony Tuesday night at DeSales University.
Detective Kevin R. Mriss of the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force and Whitehall Police Chief Michael J. Marks were both honored with the Col. John K. Schafer Memorial Award. Marks received the 38th annual award for 2024, while Mriss was named the 39th annual winner for 2025.
The Schafer Award honors the memory of a former Pennsylvania State Police commissioner who served 23 years with the state police, including time with Troop M-Bethlehem. Schafer rose through the ranks to be appointed commissioner by Gov. Robert Casey in 1987, but his tenure was cut short when he died from cancer later that year. The award given in his name recognizes exemplary service to law enforcement.
Mriss, a Lehighton High School graduate, joined Allentown Police in 1997 and worked in the patrol and juvenile divisions before becoming a detective, earning several awards for his service. He joined the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office in 2017, where he has investigated numerous homicides and other high-profile cases as part of the Homicide Task Force.
Marks joined Whitehall Police in 2000 and advanced through the ranks, receiving commendations for meritorious service and lifesaving efforts. He was named Whitehall Police Association Leader of the Year in 2014 and became police chief in 2016.
The ceremony, held by the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police and the Officer David M. Petzold Foundation, also recognized Whitehall Police Sgt. Joseph Remmel as Officer of the Year and Dr. Benjamin Iobst with the Officer David M. Petzold Memorial Foundation Beyond the Badge Award. Iobst is a retired Allentown Police sergeant who currently serves as an officer with Fountain Hill Police.
Officers from Whitehall, Upper Saucon, Upper Macungie, South Whitehall, Salisbury, Fountain Hill, and Emmaus police departments were also recognized, along with Pennsylvania State Police officers.
Generative AI was used to draft this story, based on information provided by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff.
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