Woodbury Honors Public Safety Personnel

Professionalism. Courage. Character.

Those are some of the words Chief Lee Vague used Thursday night to describe his team of police, firefighters and EMTs during a recognition event at .

The department handed out an “unprecedented” number of awards this year, Vague said, ranging from outstanding clerical work to a medal of valor for Sgt. Omar Maklad, who responded to a domestic situation and found himself in a shootout with a suspect. Maklad was wounded in the April 2010 incident but seemed fine Thursday as he accepted his award, hugged his fellow officers and added the department’s Officer of the Year title.

Vague told Woodbury Patch that every officer, firefighter and EMT in the city’s Public Safety Department does excellent work. Though awards were handed out for individual casework, Vague said the evening also celebrates the ongoing efforts of the department as a whole. He illustrated that point when he talked about Maklad and the humility and respect he takes to his job each day.

“We will never define you by one night,” Vague said.

Awards included:

Letters of Outstanding Achievement

Mental health crisis incident: Officers Chris Donahoe (promoted to sergeant Thursday), Tony Ofstead, Marc Olson and Kim Shogren.

Vehicle theft incident: Officer James Olsen.

Burglary investigation: Officers Susan Banick, Chris Huhn, Alanna Kopel, Scott McCafferty, Jason Posel, Jeff St. Martin and Nick Wachal, and Inv. Tech. Michele Jurjans.

Fraud incident: Officer Allan Olson.

Medical emergency: Sgt. John Altman, firefighter/EMT Michael Blohm, firefighter/EMT Brian Cartier, and officers James Olsen, Mike Pomeroy and Dan Wenshau.

Undercover operation: Officer Lynn Drost.

Motor vehicle tampering incident: Officer Lucas Rogers.

Domestic disturbance: Officers Jason Antrim, Kevin Asauskas, Jeff Benysek, Brian Cline, Alanna Kopel, Eric Ramsdell and Jeff St. Martin, and firefighter/paramedic Chris Klein.

Stolen property possession incident: Officer Steve Hane.

Check forgery investigation: Detective Michelle Frascone, Inv. Tech. Michele Jurjans and Inv. Tech. Wendy Simone.

Stolen property possession incident: Officer Brett Lawler.

Evidence processing: Inv. Tech. Michele Jurjans.

EMS education: Officer Kevin Asauskas.

Medical advisory leadership: Sgt. Neil Bauer, firefighter/paramedic Chris Klein and paramedic Dawn Rolling.

ePCR training: Firefighter/EMT Angela Kain.

Public education coordinator: Firefighters/EMTs Cory Bauman, Bill Braun, Nathan Beitler and Angela Kain, and CSO James Chandler.

Public education top performer: Firefighters/EMTS John Byrne, Jerry Halbert, Tim Heap, Ben Nelson and Chris Sawotin.

Achievement Medals

Explorer service: CSO Garret Kissner.

EMT Academy Development: Firefighter/EMT Tim Heap.

Insurance fraud incident: Officers Jeff Gottstein and Kim Shogren.

Medals of Commendation

Domestic disturbance: Sgt. John Altman and officers Jeff Gort, Jason Posel and Susan Banick.

WFBA treasurer: Firefighter/EMT Terry Lund.

Lifesaving Medals

Motor vehicle crash: Officers Scott McCafferty and Stacey Webb and firefighter/EMT Kevin Lynch.

Choking incident: Officers Dan Wenshau and Mike Pomeroy.

Employees of the Year Nominees

Officer of the Year: Sgt. Omar Makland and officer Jeff Snyder.

Firefighter of the Year: Firefighters/EMTs Troy Bengtson, Nathan Beitler, Bill Braun and Ann Mates, and firefighter/paramedic Chris Klein.

Public Safety Volunteer of the Year: Reserve officer Jason Hedican.

Public Safety Employee of the Year: CSO Adam Sack, administrative assistant Jane O’Donnell and CSO Garret Kissner.

For a photo gallery from the event, click here.