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Exchange Club honors officers
officers of year
Winners of the 20th Annual Exchange Club Public Safety Officers of the year line up for a photo. They are (from left) Officer of the Year Cpl. Susan Willis, RH Firefighter of the Year Randy Monaco, Exchange Club President Brad Brookshire, 911 Dispatcher of the Year Maria Doyen, County Firefighter of the Year Jeff Dew and Deputy of the Year Cpl. Cleve White. Not pictured is Paramedic of the Year Danny Dixon. - photo by Photo by Ross Blair
The best of the best of the local public safety officers for 2009 were honored by their peers and the Richmond Hill Exchange Club last week. This marks the 20th year the Club has presented the awards.
Each year, the Club looks to each of the local public safety departments, and each officer, medic and firefighter casts a vote for which co-worker is most worthy of the annual award.
The presentation of the 2009 awards was held March 25 at the Richmond Hill Quality Inn.
Awards were given out to the following individuals: Bryan County Firefighter of the Year, Jeff Dew; Bryan County Paramedic of the Year, Danny Dixon; Richmond Hill Police Officer of the Year, Cpl. Susan Willis; Bryan County Sheriff’s Department Deputy of the Year, Cpl. Cleve White; and Richmond Hill Firefighter of the Year, Randy Monaco.
A new award was added this year, Bryan County 911 Dispatcher of the Year. That award went to Maria Doyen.
“Maria has a friendly voice over the line and is thought highly of by her peers,” Sheriff Clyde Smith said.
RHPD Chief Billy Reynolds took the podium to introduce Willis, who has been with the department for 6 years. Reynolds read a list of Willis’ current duties, which includes public relations, National Night Out coordinator and numerous areas of community outreach.
Sheriff Clyde Smith recognized the Deputy of the Year. Cpl. White has been with the Sheriff’s Department for 13 years, mostly on the north end of the county.
“Cleve has both experience and talent and is a fine, upstanding member of this department,” Sheriff Clyde Smith said.
Paramedic of the Year Danny Dixon could not attend because was transporting a patient at the time of the meeting. Bryan Emergency Services Director Jim Anderson said Dixon is a fitting candidate for the annual honor.
“Danny is an outstanding medic and is very conscientious about what he does,” Anderson said. “He is patient oriented with over ten years of experience.”
RHFD Capt. Andy Burriss presented the city and county Firefighter of the Year awards.
Burriss commended Firefighter Monaco for being a volunteer firefighter for 10 years, which is more than most. He said Monaco is “very reliable and willing to work … and asset to our department.”
Burriss said he helped train Firefighter Dew in 2006 and remembers how quickly he arrive in his red BMW whenever the call went out. Dew also works for the Secret Service.
“I’ve crossed paths with Jeff since during emergencies, and I can tell you that he has come a long way,” Burriss. “He is shaping up to be a very good firefighter.”
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