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Police, fire, rescue workers honored for Ike performance
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| Gilbert Santana and Baytown Mayor Stephen DonCarlos present Harris County Pct. 3 Deputy Terry Ganey with the public safety award of excellence at Tuesday night’s dinner honoring all first responders in the area. |
By JOSH HARDWICK
This year’s public safety recognition dinner in Baytown took on a special meaning as public officials gave special thanks to area police, fire and rescue personnel for their work during and immediately after Hurricane Ike.
Sponsored by the Baytown Chamber of Commerce, the dinner recognized first responders representing the Baytown Police Department, Fire & Rescue, Emergency Medical Services and Harris County Pct. 3.
Baytown Mayor Stephen DonCarlos said that Ike forced the deployment of nearly all police, firefighters and ambulance personnel in the area to help keep order and help others get their lives back to normal, a mass movement of public officials not seen in more than 20 years.
“I have received nothing but high praise and compliments for our workers. Red Cross workers actually thanked me for letting them come to our city,” he said.
DonCarlos recounted how police officers patrolled darkened streets at all hours of the night in the days following Ike and how - even during its peak - paramedics still tended to injured citizens, firefighters fought fires and officers cleared major roads of debris.
“There are not many times during our careers when we deploy our entire workforce, but we did so during Hurricane Ike,” said Baytown Fire Chief Shon Blake. “I’m very proud of the performance of our department and all public servants and they did a great job.”
This year the Chamber presented 23-year veteran Lt. Terry Ganey with the Public Safety Award of Excellence as Harris County Precinct. 3 Constable Deputy of the Year.
Ganey was commended for being an active, “street cop” with a tenacity for fighting crime in Crosby, Highlands and Baytown.
In June Ganey headed up a raid on a suspected cocaine dealer’s apartment complex after several months of undercover surveillance, uncovering a cache of more than 100 pieces of crack cocaine and $3,000 in cash.
“Lt. Ganey is a very conscientious, behind-the-scenes kind of officer and he gets the job done well,” said Precinct 3 Constable Ken Jones. “I’m glad they picked him to receive this award and I am proud of him.”
Ganey himself deferred recognition to his fellow officers. “It feels great, but there are so many others who are just as entitled to it as I am. I’m very appreciative that they chose me,” he said.
Excellence awards were also presented to 15-year Baytown Fire Department veteran Gaston Gagne and BPD Special Operations Detective Scott Vice.
A posthumous honor was awarded to Donald Preddy Maloney, Jr., who spent 20 years working with Baytown EMS before his death in February 2008.
Maloney, or “Catfish” as he was known by family and friends, is perhaps best remembered for his unwavering professionalism and enthusiasm for working as an emergency medical technician.
Few could ever catch Maloney without his iconic stethoscope hanging around his neck, a symbol of his love for his job, said Crime Prevention & Safety Committee Chairman Gary Cochran.
“He was adored and respected by the hospital staff, fire department, police department and most importantly by his patients,” he said.
Representing Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Ted Poe delivered the keynote address at Tuesday’s dinner, personally thanking first responders for making sacrifices for the public comparable to that of a soldier or veteran.
“It’s appropriate that on this day we honor not only our veterans but those of you who wear a little different type of uniform, but still a uniform you wear while taking care of us, the people, as volunteers,” he said.
Having served as a Harris County judge for 22 years, Poe said he has been able to witness firsthand the power of public servants to calm, reassure and inspire those in distress.
The congressman recounted how an underage kidnapping and sexual assault victim fearfully refused to testify in court against her assailant until the deputy sheriff who rescued her was present in the courtroom.
“His presence gave her the ability to testify. I don’t know how you deal with both the worst people in our community – criminals – and the best – children - but you do,” said Poe. “It’s always one person in public service that makes a difference.”
Sponsored by the Baytown Chamber of Commerce, the dinner recognized first responders representing the Baytown Police Department, Fire & Rescue, Emergency Medical Services and Harris County Pct. 3.
Baytown Mayor Stephen DonCarlos said that Ike forced the deployment of nearly all police, firefighters and ambulance personnel in the area to help keep order and help others get their lives back to normal, a mass movement of public officials not seen in more than 20 years.
“I have received nothing but high praise and compliments for our workers. Red Cross workers actually thanked me for letting them come to our city,” he said.
DonCarlos recounted how police officers patrolled darkened streets at all hours of the night in the days following Ike and how - even during its peak - paramedics still tended to injured citizens, firefighters fought fires and officers cleared major roads of debris.
“There are not many times during our careers when we deploy our entire workforce, but we did so during Hurricane Ike,” said Baytown Fire Chief Shon Blake. “I’m very proud of the performance of our department and all public servants and they did a great job.”
This year the Chamber presented 23-year veteran Lt. Terry Ganey with the Public Safety Award of Excellence as Harris County Precinct. 3 Constable Deputy of the Year.
Ganey was commended for being an active, “street cop” with a tenacity for fighting crime in Crosby, Highlands and Baytown.
In June Ganey headed up a raid on a suspected cocaine dealer’s apartment complex after several months of undercover surveillance, uncovering a cache of more than 100 pieces of crack cocaine and $3,000 in cash.
“Lt. Ganey is a very conscientious, behind-the-scenes kind of officer and he gets the job done well,” said Precinct 3 Constable Ken Jones. “I’m glad they picked him to receive this award and I am proud of him.”
Ganey himself deferred recognition to his fellow officers. “It feels great, but there are so many others who are just as entitled to it as I am. I’m very appreciative that they chose me,” he said.
Excellence awards were also presented to 15-year Baytown Fire Department veteran Gaston Gagne and BPD Special Operations Detective Scott Vice.
A posthumous honor was awarded to Donald Preddy Maloney, Jr., who spent 20 years working with Baytown EMS before his death in February 2008.
Maloney, or “Catfish” as he was known by family and friends, is perhaps best remembered for his unwavering professionalism and enthusiasm for working as an emergency medical technician.
Few could ever catch Maloney without his iconic stethoscope hanging around his neck, a symbol of his love for his job, said Crime Prevention & Safety Committee Chairman Gary Cochran.
“He was adored and respected by the hospital staff, fire department, police department and most importantly by his patients,” he said.
Representing Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Ted Poe delivered the keynote address at Tuesday’s dinner, personally thanking first responders for making sacrifices for the public comparable to that of a soldier or veteran.
“It’s appropriate that on this day we honor not only our veterans but those of you who wear a little different type of uniform, but still a uniform you wear while taking care of us, the people, as volunteers,” he said.
Having served as a Harris County judge for 22 years, Poe said he has been able to witness firsthand the power of public servants to calm, reassure and inspire those in distress.
The congressman recounted how an underage kidnapping and sexual assault victim fearfully refused to testify in court against her assailant until the deputy sheriff who rescued her was present in the courtroom.
“His presence gave her the ability to testify. I don’t know how you deal with both the worst people in our community – criminals – and the best – children - but you do,” said Poe. “It’s always one person in public service that makes a difference.”
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