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{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p>From the Volusia County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office, Deputies Brandon Goggin and Blaine Lewis and Capt. Richard Fortin will receive Bronze Medals. Deputy Devin Lafoucade will be given a Silver Medal. Deputies Wesley Blum, Tim Maxwell, Joshua Patsch and Brandon Watson, as well as Senior Deputy Kevin Moss and Sgt. Richard Hansard, will be awarded Gold Medals. Life Saving Awards will go to Sgt. Nicholas Shepherd, Senior Deputy Randy Post and Telecommunicator Supervisor Jennifer Clay. Detective Andrew Calkins will be given the agency&rsquo;s Detective of the Year award.</p> <p>From the Orange City Police Department, Detectives Ken Jones and Sherif El-Shami will be awarded Bronze Medals, while Officer Hector Olmeda will be presented with the Orange City Police Officer of the Year Award.</p> <p>Gold Medals will be awarded to Cpl. Tony Tagle of the DeLand Police Department, and to Edgewater Police Department Sgts. Stephen Binz and Myles Lawler and Officers Samuel Epitropoulos and Kevin Nugent.</p> <p>Lake Helen Police Chief Michael Walker will be the recipient of a Certificate of Valor, as will Road Ranger Hector Gonzalez of the Florida Department of Transportation.</p> <p>From the Volusia County Fire Department, Certificates of Valor will be given to firefighters John Lucas and Patrick Preston and Lt. Mark Collier, while Joshua Watkins will be awarded Firefighter of the Year.</p> <p>From Volusia County Emergency Medical Services, Certificates of Valor will go to Paramedic Angela Horne, Sgt. Donald Neyer and Lt. Stephen Matusek, and Silver Medals will be presented to Paramedic David Corrigan and Emergency Medical Technician Matthew Mitchell.</p> <p>From the Deltona Fire Department, Engineer John Fleemin will receive a Life Saving Award, while Erich Baumeister will be given the Deltona Firefighter of the Year Award.</p> <p>From the Orange City Fire Department, Lt. Clinton Scheels will receive the Life Saving Award and Ryan Kazazis will be the Orange City Firefighter of the Year.</p>” id=”544a28c2-cb63-45b6-838a-7e79a9f7df18″ style-type=”info” title=”Here are the honorees for 2019:” type=”relcontent” width=”half”}}
Thirty-six Volusia County first responders will be recognized at the West Volusia Regional Chamber of Commerce’s second annual First Responder Valor Awards Luncheon.
The event will be held Wednesday, May 22, at DeBary Golf & Country Club, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
The program, presented by Halifax Health hospital, will recognize acts of valor and lifesaving actions performed by police, fire personnel, and sheriff’s deputies during incidents over the past 12 months.
“Halifax Health is proud to return as a sponsor of this very special event recognizing this group of brave men and women who represent the best of our community,” said Jeff Feasel, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer. “These honorees, along with their colleagues, are our very own local heroes who exhibit their selflessness through their chosen professions. Our participation in the First Responders Valor Awards is our way of thanking Volusia County’s public-safety professionals who work each day to keep us safe and out of harm’s way.”
Those being honored were involved in some of the most high-profile incidents impacting our community, including the attempt to save the life of DeLand Fire Chief Dan Hanes, a dramatic arrest of an armed suspect who fired shots at deputies and police, a violent domestic-violence incident, and a car fire with a trapped driver that involved multiple departments and personnel.
“The acts of heroism, selflessness and dedication that we see reflected in these Valor Awards are just a few examples of the hard work our men and women of law enforcement are doing every day,” stated Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “From our sworn deputies and detectives to the telecommunicators and civilian staff working behind the scenes, we have an outstanding team of professionals who take great pride in protecting and serving Volusia County. I’m proud to stand alongside them, and I’m grateful to the West Volusia Regional Chamber of Commerce and the entire community for this show of appreciation and support.”
According to Chamber Executive Director Shari Simmans, “Heroism, courage, bravery and commitment to community are what we are honoring through this event. As the regional Chamber for West Volusia, we are thrilled to unite the community to honor these brave men and women who go above and beyond each day protecting us.”
For more information about the event and how to participate with the Chamber, please visit www.westvolusiaregionalchamber.org or call 386-490-4606.
