Firefighter promoted; SPD gets award

0

SIDNEY — The promotion of a firefighter and presentation of a “best practices” award to the Police Department kicked off the Sidney City Council meeting Monday night.

Jason Truesdale was promoted from firefighter to lieutenant. He replaced Lt. Bill Frey, who retired recently.

Truesdale started with the Sidney Department of Fire & Emergency Services on Feb. 17, 1997, Chief Brad Jones said. He is a firefighter/paramedic and a member of the Technical Rescue team, as well as a fire instructor. He was named Firefighter of the Year in 2001.

“In addition to other numerous achievements throughout his career, on Aug. 24, 2015, Jason was awarded the Medal of Valor for his acts of dedication and courage in a high-water river rescue event on June 19,” Jones said. “This was the first such presentation in the history of Sidney Fire and Rescue. Receiving the Medal of Valor is a true testament to the dedication and skill Lt. Truesdale brings to Sidney Fire & Rescue.” Also receiving the Medal of Valor was Jake Coverstone.

Truesdale and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Sidney with their three daughters, Hallie, Cassidy and Gabby.

“I’m here to move the department forward and continue the tradition of Sidney Fire,” Truesdale said, speaking after council and the audience, which included firefighters and family members, applauded him. “It will be my due diligence to protect the citizens of the community.”

“It is important to note that the fire service runs through his blood in the generations of the Truesdales,” Jones said, mentioning that several members of Truesdale’s family have served or are serving on fire departments in Allen County.

In the second honor presented Monday night, Finance Officer Ginger Adams gave the Ascension Award for the Most Improved Law Enforcement Best Practices to the Sidney Police Department. Chief Will Balling accepted the award on behalf of the department. “Actually, it is the officers and staff that should be thanked, because they’re the ones doing the hard work,” he said.

The award comes from the Miami Valley Risk Management Association (MVRMA). Adams said the city of Sidney is one of 20 member cities in the MVRMA, a public-entity risk-management association and property/casualty insurance pool. MVRMA utilizes a Law Enforcement Best Practices Survey program as a tool to determine where MVRMA members are excelling, as well as to give recommendations for improvement in areas of law enforcement safety and loss control. The checklist is based on insurance and loss-control industry “best practices,” she said.

During an annual site visit with MVRMA’s loss-control manager, members provide documentation to demonstrate compliance with the accepted standards. Each year, MVRMA awards one member department the Ascension Award for the Most Improved Law Enforcement Best Practices. For 2015, the Sidney Police Department was chosen for this award.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/01/web1_Truesdale-promotion.jpg

By Michael Seffrin

[email protected]

The writer may be contacted at 937-538-4823.

No posts to display