Left to right: Mayor Clay Larkin, Chief Scot Haug, ECO Supervisor Laurie Sutton, ECO Amanda Hughes, Officer Pat Eismann, Officer Hope Tucker, and Officer JD Putnam (not Pictured) Sgt. Pat Leonard
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Mayor Larkin and Chief Haug recognized six employees of the Post Falls Police Department for their life saving efforts. The employees were all recognized with the Mayors Medal, as well as, the Post Falls Police Department Life Saving Award.
Mayor Larkin thanked each employee for their service and congratulated them on receiving this award.
Excerpts from Chief Haug's comments during the presentation:
"Tonight is a proud moment for me, a proud moment for myself and the entire Police Department. We are here tonight to recognize several of the Police Department employees for their life saving efforts. It is always enjoyable to have the opportunity to recognize employees for outstanding work.
In the early morning hours of September 21st the staff here tonight made a difference, they made a difference and saved peoples lives at the Falls Park Apartments.
Early on Wednesday morning, our 911 center received a call of a fire at the Falls Park Apartments. The Emergency Communications Officers (ECO) working that night, quickly relayed the information to the officers.
When the officers arrived they faced one of the buildings fully engulfed in flames. Realizing that residents were still inside sleeping, without hesitation, they ran into the burning building, and started removing people from the burning building.
Many residents, who were inside sleeping, did not even know that the building was on fire.
With the assistance of the Rathdrum Police Department, KC Sheriff's Department and KC Fire and Rescue no one was injured and everyone was evacuated safely from the burning building.
After this incident Sergeant Leonard commended the employees involved:
'With the work that was provided, I believe that several lives were saved before the fire department was able to arrive on scene. After everyone was taken to safety, you did not stop working; you carried air tanks for the fire department, you helped them pull fire hose from the trucks and you even found time to supply warm blankets for most of the displaced families on scene. Laurie and Amanda, you two did an excellent job keeping patrol informed of what was going on and assisted patrol in getting other units from outside agencies on scene to assist in the evacuation. This was truly a great display of teamwork and all of you should be very proud of the job each of you did.'
Tonight, it is my pleasure to recognize each of the employees involved with the Post Falls Police Department Life Saving Award."
This award, which includes a metal suitable for display and an enamel ribbon, which will be worn on the employees uniform, is new to the Police Department.
It is given to those employees who:
- Reaction to the situation saved or substantially prolonged the life of another person and
- A strong possibility existed that if such action was not taken, loss of life or critical injury to another person would have occurred.
The following team members were recognized:
ECO Supervisor Laurie Sutton
ECO Amanda Hughes
Officer Pat Eismann
Officer JD Putnam
Officer Hope Tucker
Sergeant Pat Leonard
(Sgt. Leonard was unable to attend last nights ceremony and will be recognized at a later date.)
