Sean C. Morgan
Eric Galster was named Firefighter of the Year and Administrative Assistant Julie Mayfield Employee of the Year for Members of the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, while the Sweet Home Police Department named Officer Chris Wingo Employee of the Year at their annual awards banquet March 10.
SHFAD presented one additional award, the Keith Gabriel Humanitarian Award, to Ken Johnson.
Crawfordsville volunteer firefighter John Marble presented a special award to recognize rookie Virgil Kropf.
SHPD presented its Defensive Tactics Award to Officer Sean Potter. He also received a Life-Saving Award.
Officer Dave Hickcox received the department’s Marksmanship Award.
Wingo earned the department’s Medal of Valor.
Katie Lyon was Dispatcher of the Year, and Steve Magnolia was Volunteer of the Year.
“Eric Galster is always reliable and dedicates a lot of personal time to the district,” said Mike Severns, paramedic-firefighter.
“Eric Galster literally shows up for every fire,” said Adam Hummer, paramedic-firefighter.
“He responds,” said Josh Bondesen, paramedic-firefighter. “He’s reliable, has commitment. He’s zero-maintenance. He’ll do anything you ask, and he does things without being asked. He has a great attitude.”
“Reliable, always willing to help when called upon with a great attitude,” said Josh Starha, paramedic-firefighter.
“Eric Galster is a confident and capable firefighter, responds on fire and emergency calls on a regular basis,” said Battalion Chief Eli Harris.
Regarding Mayfield, who has been with the district for four years, Hummer said she “does an incredible amount of behind-the-scenes work to make this department run.”
With several new tools for billing collection, she has helped improve “billing efficiency and made great strides,” said Fire Chief Dave Barringer.
Mayfield deserved Employee of the Year “for all the extra assistance she offers above and beyond to help others,” Starha said. “She does multiple tasks, and she is always a pleasure to be around.”
SHPD members unanimously voted for Wingo as Employee of the Year, said Gina Riley, community services officer. “Number one, Chris is highly exalted by everyone here. He has the most calm demeanor of anyone. He’s level-headed. He has a care and compassion for his fellow employees and his community.
“We love it when he is the field training officer to the new recruits. We would love to be able to mimic his demeanor in all our new recruits.”
Wingo has a consistent and valued work ethic, Riley said. He has been a Sweet Home police officer for 11 years and is a member of the Linn County SWAT team, the department’s defensive tactics instructor and training officer and teaches at the Police Academy.
Those traits carried him through the situation where he earned the Medal of Valor, Riley said. A committee unanimously voted for Wingo to receive the Medal of Valor for his expert handling of the potentially lethal situation, which involved a suicidal armed subject in the parking lot of the Senior Center last month.
“Chris’s swift actions saved the life of a subject and others in the immediate area, including himself,” Riley said. The act of valor is defined as above and beyond the call of duty, with exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, precision and swiftness of action to save and protect human life.
The man in that situation had some mental health issues, Riley said. “Officer Wingo was in control of the situation from the moment he arrived on site. His calm manner, speech and extensive training enabled him to successfully turn a dangerous situation into one that resulted in everyone involved being safe.”
The Employee of the Year was selected prior to the incident, Riley said, but the incident demonstrates the traits that make Wingo the department’s Employee of the Year.
The SHFAD’s Keith Gabriel Humanitarian Award isn’t given often, Barringer said. It’s given when someone rises to the level of service the late Keith Gabriel demonstrated during his life.
“The officers of the fire department voted on that unanimously,” he said. “Ken has been involved with stage setup of the Jamboree for years.”
Johnson has been involved in setting up the Singing Christmas Tree for years, Barringer said. He is active in his church, and he has been with SHFAD for 31 years. He worked for the Oregon Department of Forestry, where he was a mechanic, for 40 years.
“He’s also been there when we need something mechanically,” Barringer said. He helped repair the department’s phone system and he takes care of the 1956 antique fire truck.
Johnson is extremely reliable and helps with community events, like the parades, Barringer said. For years, he covered the north end of Foster Dam with a tender during the fireworks display.
“He’s a super nice guy,” Barringer said. “He’s just doing it because he wants to help the community. That’s why he fits this award to a T.”
Barringer said the district cut the number of awards it gave this year “because the awards really mean something to us, and we wanted it to be evident.”
Potter, a three-year veteran of the department, received the Defensive Tactics Award for his consistent and progressive attention to being the best he can be as a police officer, Riley said. “He strives to be in the best shape he can and gain knowledge and training to protect himself and others.”
A committee unanimously voted for Potter to receive the department’s Life-Saving Award for saving not just one life, but three, during 2017, Riley said. He responded to two calls of a non-responsive adults that required him to initiate CPR. Potter’s medical response brought both back to life.
He also responded to a call where a female had a large incision on her forearm and it bled profusely, Riley said. He was able to control the bleeding until medics arrived.
“All three individuals owe their lives to Officer Potter’s medical/military training,” Riley said.
Marksmanship winner Hickcox has been with the department for six years and is a member of Linn County’s SWAT team.
“The officer receiving the award this year will respond by saying he doesn’t deserve it,” said Rangemaster and Senior Officer Brian Stevens.
“However, he will always qualify and will always strive to improve his skills; he also consistently demonstrates superior weapons handling techniques. Officer Hickcox earned this marksmanship award.”
Lyon has been with SHPD for eight years, Riley said. She “cares about her job” and “she is well-liked by her fellow dispatchers as well as police officers. Katie consistently strives to learn all she can to be the best dispatcher she can.”
Magnolia, she said, started volunteering at SHPD three years ago after participating in the Citizens Police Academy.
He helps with the department’s Safety Fair, the April Child Abuse Prevention program, the Trick or Treat outreach, speed monitoring, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, made ribbons for the Police Officer Memorial “and he even helped wrap Christmas presents this year,” Riley said.
“Along with that, he is also a go-to guy for electronics. Even though he has shown me numerous times, I cannot run the “smart” TV in our training room.”
SHFAD also recognized members reaching service milestones. Serving for five years are Pete “Chap” Taraski and Keith Sautel; for 10 years, Zach Lincoln, Chad Calder- wood and Jared Huenergardt; 15 years, Shannon Pettner and Rod Holman; 30 years, Guy Smith and Greg Mahler; and 45 years, Dave Trask.