Recently, the Westerville community has taken the time to honor its finest and bravest members. Officer and Firefighter of the Year awards were given to two people in a ceremony organized by American Legion Young-Budd Post 171. Firefighter Mike Melfi and Lt. Greg Franey of the Westerville Division of Police received the honors. The City of Westerville said in an announcement that these public safety experts were commended for maintaining community safety in Westerville.
The Westerville Division of Fire has received two noteworthy accolades in addition to individual recognition. Greg Schlabach and Ryan Wamsley, members of their Medic 112 team, were recently recognized by OhioHealth EMS as the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department of the Month. In a different occurrence, the OhioHealth Trauma Care Conference recognized the Station 111 Unit 1 crew for their life-saving efforts during a serious two-vehicle incident. Wamsley, firefighter/EMS Schlabach, and fire chief Brian Miller were all pictured together to commemorate this honor.
Officers from the Westerville Division of Police wore pink patches in October to promote awareness of breast cancer as part of another community engagement initiative. “With a city of our size, breast cancer affects almost everybody,” said Officer Ashley Flack, who supported the initiative’s inception. “Behind this badge, I’m still a woman and a mother, and we’re all a part of this community,” the City of Westerville said, highlighting the significance of the campaign. Officer Flack’s viewpoints and her attempts to use the badge as a conversation starter and a symbol of community connection were viewed through the prism of Westerville Police.
At the family-friendly Coffee with a Cop event, residents also took the initiative to establish a connection with the local police department. In order to strengthen ties between law enforcement and the community, officers from the Westerville Division of Police interacted with the public over coffee and baked goods at the Family Room Coffee & Bake Shop. The dedication to the community doesn’t stop there; in December, Westerville Police Department will hold a blood drive to promote civic engagement through blood donation.
One resident’s impassioned letter brought the city’s public safety officers into the public eye. After receiving a call from her neighbor, Pam Clegg of Westerville commended the responsiveness of Lt. Daniel Lundy and firefighters/EMS Eric Parkins and Greg Schlabach. The team’s thoroughness was highlighted in Clegg’s letter, which read, via City of Westerville, “They observed the situation, not just the patient.” The narrative in Clegg’s letter highlights the extraordinary contribution these people render above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrating how they protect citizens’ safety and well-being in deeper, frequently invisible ways.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply