Indiana Emergency Responders Honored

Monday, August 29, 2016 10:48 AM EDT Updated: Monday, August 29, 2016 02:09 PM EDT
By Alex Brown
Indiana Emergency Responders Honored Richmond Fire Department Chief Jerry Purcell received the Fire Chief of the Year Award.

First responders throughout Indiana have been recognized for their service. The Indiana Emergency Response Conference this weekend presented its annual awards.

The event is presented by the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety Medical. Nominations were submitted by emergency service personnel or any person who has been aided by the department they are nominating.

The recipients include:

Fire Instructor of the Year (Individual)

  • Cole Huth, Clay Fire Territory (South Bend, Ind.)

Fire Instructor of the Year (Division)

  • Vincennes Township Fire District (Vincennes, Ind.)

Dispatcher of the Year

  • Rita Hughes, Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Heroic Rescue of the Year Award

  • Paul Blanford, Decatur Township Fire Department (Indianapolis)

EMS Basic Life Support Provider of the Year (Fire Department-based)

  • Plainfield Fire Department

EMS Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year (Fire Department-based)

  • Scott Township Fire Department (Evansville, Ind.)

EMS Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year (Non Fire Department-based)

  • Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

Firefighter of the Year

  • Larry Shots, Vincennes Fire Department

Fire Chief of the Year (Career)

  • Jerry Purcell, Richmond Fire Department

Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year

  • Karen Hendershot, Washington Township/Avon Fire Department (Avon, Ind.)

Primary (EMS) Instructor of the Year

  • Mike Hunter, Harrison County Hospital EMS

EMS for Children Award

  • Scott DeBoer, Pedi-Ed-Trics Emergency Medical Solutions (Dyer, Ind.)

EMT-Basic of the Year

  • Kalvin Hicks, Indianapolis EMS

EMT-Advanced of the Year

  • Gary Henderson, Harrison County Hospital EMS

Paramedic of the Year

  • Bryn Arnold, Indianapolis EMS

Medical Director of the Year

  • Joshua Krumenacker, M.D., Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health (Crawfordsville, Ind.)

Fire Officer of the Year

  • Brian Dodd, Vincennes Township Fire Department (Vincennes, Ind.)

EMS Officer of the Year

  • John Toler, Crawfordsville Fire Department

Distinguished Service Award

  • Paul “Pete” Martin, Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department (Corydon, Ind.)
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