[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 RECOGNIZING FLORIDA'S 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FIRE AND RESCUE EMS 
                            AWARD RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2024

  Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize fire, rescue and 
EMS personnel who have provided distinguished service to the people of 
Florida's 16th Congressional District. First responders, fIre 
departments and emergency medical service teams are summoned on short 
notice to serve their respective communities. Often, 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.'' 
Twelve years ago, 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 honorees, 
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: Associate Service Award: Private Citizen Jake O'Brien 
of Hillsborough County Dedication and Professionalism Award: Senior 
Telecommunicator Lisa Kalmbach of the Manatee County Emergency 
Communications Center, Deputy Chief Jose Prado, Captain David Raasch, 
Company Fire Captain Andrew Capeletti, Fire Captain Nico DiNova, Fire 
Inspector Ryan Gould, Battalion Chief Jeffrey Landis and Captain Scott 
VanDeBoe of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Unit Citation Award: 
Captain Rondalfo Rodriguez and Driver/Engineer Jose Obradovich of 
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Battalion 6-C, Charge Paramedic James 
Bryant, EMT Monica Ramos, and District Chief Robin Thayer of Manatee 
County EMS, Fire Chief Tim Geer, Lieutenant Lionel Harrison, Engineer 
Louis Chiocchio, Engineer Jacob Barwick, EMT Thomas Ferrett, EMT Jared 
Gould; and Firefighter Bo Gurskis of the Bradenton Fire Department, 
Fire Chief Joe Sicking, Assistant Chief Joel Baker, Battalion Chief 
Blair Pontious, Captain Donald Bunch, Captain Ben Miller, Engineer 
Justin White, Engineer Michael Davila, Firefighter John Mueller, and 
Robert Barber (Logistics) of the North River Fire District, Division 
Chief Michael Williamson, Lieutenant Payton Edwards, Firefighter James 
Howard, Firefighter Aaron White, and Firefighter Liz Alvarez of the 
Parrish Fire District, Deputy Chief Paul Wren, Lieutenant Adam 
McDaniel, Firefighter Isaac Libby, and Firefighter Connor Reilly of 
East Manatee Fire Rescue, Chief Angel Herrera, Chief Jeffrey Landis, 
Captain Jeffrey Hartner, Captain Pete Dzuibinski, Driver/Engineer 
Freddy Miller, Driver/Engineer Stan Hyatt, Driver/Engineer Jerome 
Mancillas, Lieutenant Eric Kotala, Fire Medic John Maltby, Fire Medic 
Lucas Haislop, Fire Medic Vinny Mortellero, Fire Medic Matthew Holubik, 
Fire Medic Adam Hayward, Fire Medic Scott Shedd, Firefighter Angel 
Rengifo, Firefighter Jared Ladd of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, 
Pilot Alex Myers, Flight Nurse Caitlyn Buell, and Flight Paramedic Kyle 
Miller of Aeromed Career Service Award: Assistant Chief Jane Herdn of 
the Longboat Key Fire Department, Chief (retired) Edward Cleveland and 
Fire Commissioner Derrick Warner of the West Manatee Fire and Rescue 
District, and Jimmie Hamrick, Jr. of Manatee County EMS.

                          ____________________