Cromwell Fire Department 2002 Awards Banquet
 

The Holiday Inn put on a delicious buffet for the assembled members and guests. Bartolotta's Florist provided complimentary corsages for the ladies, and DJ Bill Duncan once again provided the evening's music. Banquet Coordinators Dick Loza and Doug Logan and their committee planned an enjoyable and memorable celebration.

Past Chief and current Fire District Commissioner Don Swanson offered a moving prayer of thanks for firefighters and EMS providers in Cromwell and around the world, and all present observed a period of silence to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on September 11th.

This year's awards were presented as follows:

Member of the Year Capt. Steve Pendl
Lifetime Achievement Award Oren "Rebel" Cleland
30 Years of Service Richard E. Loza
25 Years of Service David Colligan
Ron Platt
20 Years of Service Jim Bellamo
David Jahn
15 Years of Service Jodi Angus
10 Years of Service Steve Colligan
Steve Czajka
Frank Darius Sr.
Todd Gagnon
Bill McKnight
5 Years of Service Ken Allen
Sean Angus
Rashaad Baaquie
Scott Mildren
Gabrielle Rollf

Top EMS Responders for 2001

913 hours Jason Landry, EMT
699 hours Steve Amaro, EMT
589 hours Robert K. Johnson, MRT
588 hours Robert Barone, EMT
582 hours Gabrielle Rollf, EMT
578 hours Chip Darius, EMT
572 hours Kim Smith, EMT
527 hours Sarah Chaffee, EMT
524 hours Ed Clapp, Driver
516 hours Donna Cote, EMT
507 hours Sarah Monday, EMT
504 hours Rachel Weiselberg, EMT

 

These members make up the 2001 "500 Club," each having volunteered more than 500 hours in service to our department and the residents of Cromwell.

Call of the Year

The Call of the Year represents the best example of teamwork among members of the response team which leads to great benefit for the patient. When fire/rescue, EMS, advanced life support, and the trauma system work well together, lives are saved.

The 2001 Call of the Year came in at 0200 hours, April 2nd, initially reported as a person yelling from down in a ravine. On arrival we found a young woman bleeding from severe leg injuries at the bottom of a steep embankment next to Worcester Street pizza on Route 372. The Rescue provided scene lighting, and Rescue Squad members prepared ropes to help EMS technicians safely descend the embankment. The patient was treated for shock and blood loss, and strapped into a Stokes basket. Fire, Rescue and EMS personnel struggled together to bring the patient up to the roadway, where Middlesex Hospital paramedics began advanced life support. The patient was transported to the Level 1 Trauma Center at Hartford Hospital, where she underwent a number of surgeries to correct massive soft tissue damage.

The smooth teamwork among all members of the rescue team saved this person's life, reduced her suffering, and sped her recovery. Members involved with this rescue were honored with certificates of recognition for "Exceptional Teamwork."

Steve Amaro
Elaine Bates-Jones
David Boyce
Chip Darius
Ed Deming
Joe Goodrich
 
Brett Hallden
Mike Jacobs
Kevin Janicke
Jason Landry
Mark Langton
Craig Murphy
 
Steve Pendl
Gabrielle Rollf
Frank Seidl
Jeff Soucy
David Spock
Rachel Weiselberg
 
Our community thanks you for your dedication!