The Owensboro Fire Department (OFD) handed out awards and letters of commendation for 2024 at the department’s annual awards ceremony on Saturday morning at the department’s Fire Station One, located at 512 West Ninth St.
“This annual ceremony highlights the commitment and sacrifice of Owensboro’s fire personnel, celebrating those who continuously put their community first,” said communications and marketing manager for the City of Owensboro, Shaelie Velez.
OFD’s fire chief James Howard acted as the master of ceremonies for the occasion, introducing the award receipts and thanking those receiving awards for their commitment to the Owensboro community.
“I also want to thank our elected officials who are here today for all of the support that they offer to the fire department,” Howard said.
Howard began the ceremony by summarizing 2024’s highlights for the department, citing technological advances made by the department to help the personnel operate more safely, including methods to reduce the cancer risks associated with diesel fuel fumes and emissions, training and equipment to better handle fires resulting from electric vehicles and continued efforts to provide fire preventing methods by visiting schools, businesses and, according to Howard, “anywhere that we can go to speak about fire prevention techniques that will allow us the time”, just to name a few.
“As a part of the department’s continued efforts to promote fire safety, we named a deputy fire marshal, Brian Roberts, who has made it his mission to provide education to the community,” Howard said. “He’s really taken on that role with open arms to really help the department focus on fire safety efforts.”
Howard also mentioned that the department hired 17 new department members, six of them with previous experience.
“Because of those six experienced members being added to the force, the Owensboro Fire Department added a total of 50 years of experience to our efforts, which is great for us as a team,” Howard said.
Howard recognized two members of the department with letters of commendation which will be placed in their personnel files for the remainder of their service to the OFD. Letters of commendation are awarded to members of the department who go “above and beyond” their job expectations while providing service to the community.
Both firefighter Jake Aull and engineer Bobby Glenn received those letters of commendation for providing life-saving and leadership efforts while off-duty during motor vehicle accidents in Southern Indiana.
“My instinct just kicked in and I just went to help because that’s what I’ve been trained to do,” said Aull. “I just so happened to be in the right place at the right time to help.”
“Helping during an accident is just part of the oath that we all take when we sign up for this job. I didn’t do anything special or anything that any of these guys wouldn’t do if they were in the same position,” Glenn said. “I’m honored to be able to receive this letter of commendation.”
New to this year’s award ceremony were honors for both Health and Safety within the department and a Vanguard award for assisting the department in moving toward the future and to recognize that individual’s contribution to the department.
Battalion chief Bobby Grant recognized firefighter Damon Brandle for his efforts to become more healthy and active during 2024.
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“Damon improved both his physical and mental health by setting goals to lose weight and become more physically active. He did that along with his wife and showed the entire department that he could be a role model, mentor and a member of a support team for his fellow coworkers,” Grant said.
Chief Howard presented the Vanguard award to administrative aid Carla Shelton, who also won last year’s Cap Gardener Award, also known as the City of Owensboro’s employee of the year, by the City of Owensboro.
“Carla is such a vital member of our team. She’s the most reliable and patient and has the ability to fix all of my mistakes,” he laughed. “A common phrase around these parts is to ‘Go ask Carla because she’ll know’ when someone doesn’t know the answer to the question. Our team wouldn’t be as successful if it wasn’t for Carla’s efforts.”
“I want to thank everyone for nominating me for this award, but I don’t think I deserve it. I’m just one person on this team that is filled with superheroes,” she said.
Other department members recognized with awards include a tie for the title of Rookie of the Year between firefighter Nate Cunningham and firefighter Kendall Lashbrook, the EMS Responder of the Year was firefighter and paramedic Colby Smith, who received this honor for the second year in a row, firefighter Victor Schutzius was named the department’s Firefighter of the Year, Bobby Glenn took home the honor of being named Engineer of the Year and Lieutenant Chad Johnson was recognized as the Officer of the Year.
All of the awards were voted on by members of the OFD.
“It’s such a huge honor to be recognized as deserving of this award by my peers,” said Glenn, Engineer of the Year.
“I’m just truly blessed to have this job and to work under some great people,” said Officer of the Year, Johnson. “Thank you to everyone for this honor.”
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