(ROCKWALL, TX – April 27, 2016) The Rockwall Rotary Club recognized several area first responders for their exceptional service to the community, and also welcomed new members to the club during its meeting on Thursday, April 21.
Leaders with Rockwall police / fire / EMS, Fate DPS and Heath DPS presented several outstanding first responders with the Rockwall Noon Rotary Roy Hance First Responders Award in recognition of their service and dedication to protecting the community: Fate Public Safety Officer Jordan Pope, Rockwall firefighter Tony Raymond, Rockwall EMS Paramedic Adam Bruckhoff, Rockwall Police Officer Craig Goff, Heath DPS Officer Brandon Seery and Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office Detective Dana Thomason.
“On behalf of the Rotary Club, I do want to thank all of the first responders for what you do every day, putting your lives on the line to protect us,” said Rockwall Rotary Club President Judge Brian Williams. “This award is just a small token of our appreciation for what you do.”
About the award recipients
Jordan Pope has been in law enforcement for about a year and a half. In his first year he has shown himself to be a very dedicated and loyal officer. He was voted Officer of the Year by his peers and received six accommodations from citizens as well as from his supervisors, and was instrumental in bringing some monetary seizures to the city and in his assist in a heroine arrest.
Tony Raymond joined the Rockwall Fire Department in 2004, starting as a volunteer and working his way into a full-time job with the department. He has given 110 percent to the department, overseeing equipment and bunker gear of everyone in the department while acting as its main lake responder, making several rescues on the lake in any weather, day or night.
Adam Bruckhoff was named the 2015 Paramedic of the Year by his peers and has spent seven years with Rockwall EMS. He has always been the guy you can count on, an excellent teacher and mentor to his fellow paramedics, and is very passionate and knowledgeable in his job.
Craig Goff came on board the Rockwall Police Department on January 21, 2011. He strives for excellence on a daily basis and takes time to mentor new young officers. One of his passions is getting drugs off the streets, which he does very well alongside his K9 partner Chico, a 65-pound Belgian Malinois. Goff remains dedicated to his monthly training in the K9 Unit and has many secondary responsibilities with the department as a SWAT team member, expert sniper, field training officer and PT instructor.
Brandon Seery joined the Heath DPS in June 2014. He is knowledgeable in many areas, with nine years’ previous experience in the field working with the Rockwall Sheriff’s Department and Balch Springs Police Department. He currently serves as the shift supervisor for the Heath DPS. Seery’s shows tremendous compassion and enthusiasm for the job, and is always the first one to volunteer to get something done. Brandon is an avid fisherman, runs his own pool cleaning company and also serves as the assistant chief of the Union Valley Fire Department.
Dana Thomason currently serves as one of four detectives in the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, and has been instrumental in helping to solve and prevent crime within Rockwall County. He and his fellow detectives bring a combined 40+ years’ experience in law enforcement. Thomason has also served on the city council of Royse City and as Royse City’s chief of police.
The Rockwall Rotary presented the awards in memory of Roy Hance, a longtime member of the club and founder of the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Posse.
The Rotary also welcomed the following new members to the club: Anita Henrichson, Counseling for Healthy Minds; Craig Power, Edward Jones financial advisor; Dan Monte, assistant district attorney with Rockwall County DA’s office; and Robin Chouteau, president / public relations at Honda Cars of Rockwall.
Story by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News editor. Photos by Richard Redig, Blue Ribbon News.
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