[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 16TH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL FIRE AND RESCUE AND EMS 
                                 AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fire and Rescue 
and EMS personnel who have provided distinguished service to the people 
of Florida's 16th Congressional District.
  As first responders, fire departments and emergency medical service 
teams are summoned on short notice to serve their respective 
communities. Oftentimes, they arrive at scenes of great adversity and 
trauma, to which they reliably bring strength and composure. These 
brave men and women spend hundreds of hours in training so that they 
are prepared when they get ``the call.''
  In 2012, I established the 16th District Congressional Fire and 
Rescue and EMS Awards to honor officers, departments and units for 
outstanding achievement.
  On behalf of the people of Florida's 16th District, it is my 
privilege to congratulate the following winners, who were selected this 
year by an independent committee comprised of a cross section of 
current and retired Fire and Rescue personnel living in the district:

       Division Chief Randy Bach, Quality Assurance Officer Derek 
     Butler, Chief Leslie Karen Davidson, Captain Aaron Gross, 
     Battalion Chief John Perez and Division Chief of Special 
     Operations Robert Collins of the Hillsborough County Fire 
     Rescue received Career Service Awards.
       Deputy Gabriel Bogart, Deputy Chad Richards, Detective 
     Charles Butler, Detective Seamus Dwyer and Detective Scott 
     Durocher of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office received the 
     Associate Service Award.
       Deputy Carmine Luper of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office 
     received the Preservation of Life Award.
       Captain James ``Troy'' Onan of the Hillsborough County Fire 
     Rescue received the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award.
       Battalion Chief Richard T. Losek of the West Manatee Fire & 
     Rescue District received the Career Service Award.
       Captain Brian Kehoe of the Sarasota County Fire EMS 
     Operations received the Career Service Award.
       District Chief Keith Lock of the Manatee County EMS 
     received the Career Service Award.

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