Local Optimist clubs recognize first responders of the year at annual awards ceremony
By Dan Marries - email
MARANA, AZ (KOLD-TV) - A night dedicated to local first responders takes on special meaning in the wake of Tucson's deadliest shooting in history.
For the third straight year, local Optimist Clubs, including the Casas Adobes Optimist Club, hosted the annual First Responders Recognition Dinner at the Star Dance Event Center in Marana.
As the president of the Casas Adobes Optimist Club, I had the privilege of emceeing the night with my fellow club member Bob Funk.
Supervisors from a dozen agencies including the Pima County Sheriff's Office, several fire districts, the Marana and Oro Valley Police Departments, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, nominate an employee for exemplary service.
This year took on special meaning following the mass shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and 13 others wounded, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who continues to recover from a gunshot wound to her head.
Giffords attended the first year's dinner in 2009 as the keynote speaker and last year Gabe Zimmerman from her office attended in her place. Zimmerman was one of the six people killed on January 8.
There were literally hundreds of first responders who rushed to the scene from dozens of different agencies including law enforcement, fire departments, ambulance services, and the dispatchers taking calls and relaying information to those in the field.
The evening started with 47 of those first responders being recognized following a short tribute video played in their honor. Emotions ran high as the crowd watched and listened to radio transmissions from the chaotic scene. Many could be seen wiping away tears including some of the first responders.
Roxanna Green, the mother 9 year old Christina Taylor-Green who was the youngest victim killed, attended the dinner. She personally thanked each of those first responders who were called to the scene as did Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall.
Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th U.S. Surgeon General of the United States, gave the keynote speech for the second year in a row. He knows many of those in attendance from his years of law enforcement service on the Pima County SWAT team.
Dr. Carmona gave a heartfelt thanks to the "unsung" heroes that residents depend in on times of emergencies saying while many people run away from danger, first responders run towards it to help those in need.
Optimist's First Responders of the Year Recipients for 2010
* Officer Brian Shaw-Arizona Department of Public Safety
* Linda Blake-Arizona Department of Public Safety Dispatcher
* Victoria Jonda-Avra Valley Fire District Dispatcher
* Will Miller-Avra Valley Fire District Firefighter/Paramedic
* Jody Duncan-Drexel Heights Fire Dispatcher
* Capt. Randy Trowbridge-Drexel Heights Fire
* Ryan Miller-Golder Ranch Fire District Firefighter
* Kelly Goering-Marana Police Department Dispatcher
* Officer Lori Sheppard-Marana Police Department
* Tony Compagno-Northwest Fire/Rescue District Firefighter/Paramedic
* Billie Moon-Picture Rocks Fire District Firefighter/EMT
* Deren Jackson-Oro Valley Police Department Lead Police Officer
* Cecilia Ochoa-Pima County Sheriff's Department 911 Dispatcher
* Deputy William Becker-Pima County Sheriff's Department
* Capt. Jay Karlik-Rural/Metro Fire District
* Capt. Robert Leyvas-South Tucson Fire Department
* Det. Bryce Gardner-South Tucson Police Department
* Mike Balta-Southwest Ambulance EMT
* Trevor Carlson-Southwest Ambulance Dispatcher
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