Cobb Chamber public safety appreciation

Cobb Public Safety Week observations include Chamber honors

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Submitted information:Cobb public safety appreciation

As part of the 20th annual Public Safety Appreciation Week (Oct. 5-11), the Cobb Chamber will honor Cobb County’s finest during a special recognition program at the Public Safety Appreciation luncheon event held at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre on October 5. The luncheon will kick off a weeklong effort to celebrate public safety personnel in Cobb County.

Preparations for the event began months in advance, with a nomination process for the Public Safety Employee of the Year Award, in addition to other awards, such as the Medal of Valor, Award of Merit, Distinguished Achievement Award and Outstanding Community Contribution Award. Residents, government officials, public safety agencies and business officials are given the opportunity to nominate public safety personnel for these honors. The 2020 Public Safety Appreciation Committee Chairman is Chief Bill Westenberger, with Kennesaw Police Department.

The Cobb Chamber would like to congratulate the following personnel and public safety units on their nomination for a public safety recognition award:

Individuals

  • Paramedic Malcolm Defleice, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
  • Lieutenant Michael Goins, Marietta Police Department
  • Shift Supervisor Christopher Hayes, Cobb County 911
  • Paramedic Michael Jordan, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
  • Engineer Ryan Knechtel, Smyrna Fire Department
  • Detective Brian Moon, Kennesaw Police Department
  • Firefighter Ron Presley, Marietta Fire Department
  • Deputy Sheriff Tyrone Reid, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
  • Police Officer Matthew Smith, Kennesaw Police Department
  • Field Intelligence Officer Greg Stacy, Kennesaw State University Police Department
  • Training Manager Krista Tillman, Puckett EMS
  • Detective Evan Wallace, Acworth Police Department
  • Battalion Chief Stephen Westbrook, Smyrna Fire Department

Public Safety Units

  • Cobb Fire EMS Division, Cobb County Fire Department
  • Officers Quinius Lyles & Andrew Abernathy, Cobb County Police Department
  • CCPD Community Affairs Unit, Cobb County Police Department
  • KSU Office of Victim Services, Kennesaw State University DPS & University
  • Police Department
  • MPD Crime Interdiction Unit, Marietta Police Department
  • Officers Taylor Elliott, Robert Pfeiffer & Jake Prough, Smyrna Police Department

Award winners will be announced and celebrated at the October 5 Public Safety Appreciation luncheon. Sponsors include, Platinum Sponsors, Cobb EMC and Wellstar Health System; Award Sponsor, LoRusso Law Firm; Gold Sponsor, Genuine Parts Company; Silver Sponsors, C.W. Matthews Contracting, GLOCK, Governors Gun Club, Marietta Family Catering, Marietta Wrecker, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Puckett EMS, Six Flags Over Georgia and Vinings Bank; and Patriot Sponsors, All Roof Solutions, E. Smith Heating & Air, Firehouse Subs, Gregory Doyle Calhoun & Rogers, LLC, Georgia Power, LGE Community Credit Union, Northside Hospital, T&T Uniforms, and Walton Communities Apartment Homes.

For more information on Public Safety Appreciation Week, visit cobbchamber.org/publicsafety, or contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org.

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Cobb public safety personnel honored by Chamber of Commerce

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Josh Taylor, Steve Hammond, Cobb public safety personnel
Josh Taylor of Cobb EMS and Steve Hammond of the Cobb Police Department. Photo submitted by Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

Several Cobb public safety personnel were recognized Monday by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce at its annual Public Safety Appreciation breakfast.

Public safety staffers from Cobb EMS, sheriff’s and police, in addition to those from various city public safety agencies, were honored.

Two winners of the chamber’s Award of Merit are Josh Taylor of the Cobb Emergency and Medical Services Department and Steve Hammond of the Cobb Police Department. This award goes to recipients who, through their “acts of courage, demonstrat[e] genuine care and concern for the citizens of the community and go above and beyond the call of duty, often resulting in a life being saved. Taylor and Hammond formed a Tactical First Aid Department in 2012 to improve medical care for wounded individuals at crime and accident scenes. Here’s the Chamber’s description of how this program has evolved:

“The Tactical First Aid Program provided the department with the training and equipment needed to treat extremity wounds, penetrating chest trauma and airway obstructions. In 2013, Capt. Taylor began conducting training sessions to prepare the department for usage. Today, the program is fully operational and all Cobb County Police Officers receive this lifesaving training, are receiving CPR and basic medical training and are using these radical practices to save lives daily.

“Since the program’s inception, there has been a 74 percent survival rate when officers utilize the training and equipment provided by Capt. Taylor and Det. Hammond. Today, 23 citizens are alive because of the foresight, dedication and teamwork of Capt. Taylor and Det. Hammond to develop such a lifesaving, essential program.”

Mark Blesener of Cobb EMS was given the Medal of Valor, which goes to an individual for an act of bravery in a life-threatening situation. Here’s the story behind that:

Mark Blesener, Cobb EMS
Mark Blesener, Cobb EMS. Photo submitted by Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

“For the past 10 years of his life, firefighter Mark Blesener has committed himself to serving the Cobb community and keeping it safe. All 10 of those years have been served with the Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services. Blesener is known for his professionalism and fearlessness. On September 18, 2016 Blesener responded to an emergency response call of a hypothermic woman on the Chattooga River in Rabun County. When Blesener, along with others from the unit, arrived at the scene by helicopter, he was lowered to the rock where the affected woman was, assisted her into the rescue basket and quickly wrapped her in warm layers. Once safely in the helicopter, the woman was given medical attention.

“Blesener is commended for his bravery and bold response to this dangerous and daring rescue. Because of his quick thinking and fearlessness, that woman’s life was saved that day and she has made a full recovery.”

As part of Public Safety Appreciation Month in Cobb County, the East Cobb Business Association is holding a dinner for Cobb Police Precinct 4 staff this month. Fundraising is continuing, and if you’re interested in helping out, here’s a previous East Cobb News post explaining their efforts.