[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 169 (Monday, October 16, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING CHIEF JEFF GREGORY'S SERVICE TO THE PATTERSON FIRE 
                     DEPARTMENT UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. DUARTE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 16, 2023

  Mr. DUARTE. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize Fire 
Chief Jeff Gregory for his dedicated service to the Patterson Fire 
Department and, at this moment, celebrate his thoroughly earned 
retirement.
  Chief Gregory was raised in the Modesto area and has lived in 
Patterson since 1979. He is married and has two daughters. His 
involvement in the fire service began as a firefighter with the 
Patterson Volunteer Fire Department in June of 1986. Chief Gregory 
worked his way up through the Volunteer Fire Service ranks and became a 
Volunteer Captain on September 1, 2001. In December, he was promoted 
again to Volunteer Battalion Chief. On May 1, 2003, his full-time fire 
service career began when he was hired by the City of Patterson Fire 
Department, in a partnership with the West Stanislaus Fire Protection 
District, as the Division Chief. In this new role, Chief Gregory's 
duties included training coordination, facilities maintenance, and 
overseeing the purchasing, maintenance, and repair of the fire 
apparatus and emergency equipment.
  Chief Gregory was ultimately appointed as the permanent Fire Chief on 
September 21, 2016. Throughout his tenure as Fire Chief, he has had 
numerous accomplishments and achievements that have improved the 
delivery of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to Western 
Stanislaus County. One of his successes includes improving and 
expanding the Patterson Fire Department's Advanced Life Support Program 
to ensure that both city fire stations and assigned apparatus have 
advanced life support equipment available to on-duty Fire Paramedics. 
Chief Gregory has also been instrumental in modernizing the fire fleet 
and emergency equipment for the City of Patterson and West Stanislaus 
Fire Agencies. Chief Gregory's vision for the fire service has 
significantly improved the force and has also had a positive impact on 
his community.
  During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Chief Gregory would often work or 
remain on-call for over 100 hours per week to ensure that everyone in 
the City of Patterson or the West Stanislaus Fire District would 
receive help when they called 911 for assistance.
  Chief Gregory's commitment to public service, spanning 37 years, is 
truly commendable. Every day, he tirelessly strived to serve the people 
of his community--sometimes at the expense of his own personal time and 
comfort. His service will be greatly missed by his community and 
everyone who worked alongside him.

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