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Award winners are William Gilley, Thomas Miller, Mark Price, Randy Roslin, Jeremy Wilkins, Steven Forrester, Bart Beavers and Tom Ross. “Owens Community College’s Alumni Association is proud to honor our brave police, fire and emergency medical professionals for their dedication to making our lives safer,” said David Seeger, Owens President of the Alumni Association. “Our nation would not be experiencing freedom and safety as we know it without their selfless acts of public service.” The awards are presented within the categories of outstanding Police Officer, Firefighter and Service to Community. Selection criterion is based upon a nomination process for candidates demonstrating exceptional service related to dedication, ingenuity, bravery, special skills and/or community service over a sustained period of time. The awards are not limited to a single recipient and can be a group honor where teamwork was a key element. The recipients of the Outstanding Police Officer Award are William Gilley of Findlay (Sergeant, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office), Thomas Miller of Mount Blanchard (Deputy, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office) and Mark Price of Vanlue (Deputy, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office). The individuals were nominated by Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman for their outstanding leadership and teamwork in a difficult situation involving a suspect attempting to kill her roommate and then severely injuring herself before attacking and killing her mother in June 2007. Amid the confusion, Gilley, Miller and Price were able to contact EMS, as well as secure and maintain the scene by taking the perpetrator into custody. They also tended to the two victims until investigators arrived. The three individuals were recognized for handling themselves professionally and effectively in a situation that had to be the last thing they expected upon arrival to the scene. Randy Roslin of Northwood (Medic/Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department) and Jeremy Wilkins of Toledo (Firefighter, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department) are named the Outstanding Firefighter recipients. They were nominated by Battalion Chief David Hitt from the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department for demonstrating teamwork and exhibiting professional behavior and bravery in saving two lives in March 2007. Upon arrival to a fire in a very large apartment building, the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department was alerted that there were trapped occupants. Realizing the first floor was clear, the two firefighters proceeded to the second floor. Roslin was very familiar with the building layout and knew he could not reach the fire room from his current second-floor location. He then breeched a two foot by six foot wall that separated him from additional fire. Roslin’s decision to breech the wall saved precious time in recovering the trapped occupants. After breaking through the wall and attacking the fire, Roslin located a small child at his feet and passed the fire victim through the hole in the wall to Wilkins. Roslin, although low on air, returned to the involved room and rapidly located another fire victim. Again the child was passed through the access hole to Wilkins and rapidly to Life Squad 1 personnel. Roslin and Wilkins displayed professional behavior and bravery that resulted in saving two lives. The Outstanding Service to the Community Award is presented to Steven Forrester of Monroe, Mich. (Sergeant, Toledo Police Department), Bart Beavers of Sylvania (Detective, Toledo Police Department) and Tom Ross of Toledo (Detective (Retired), Toledo Police Department). The three individuals were nominated by Captain Ray Carroll from the Toledo Police Department for their tireless efforts in bringing to justice numerous individuals who have taken the lives of one or more people while serving as members of the Lucas County Cold Case Unit. In 2007 alone, the group solved five previously unsolved murders dating from 1988-2002, most notably the arrest of Raymond Cox, a serial killer, charged with beating three homeless men to death. The Lucas County Cold Case Unit has brought closure and peace of mind to the victims’ families through their tenacity, creativity and perseverance in solving unsolved crimes. Since opening its doors in 1965, Owens Community College has provided higher education to more than 250,000 students. Owens’ Alumni Association is committed to the personal and professional success of alumni and students through the ongoing development of value-added initiatives. Owens Community College is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students. Owens is committed to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu. © Copyright 2003-2006 by Findlay Living™ and DynamiKComm, Inc. |
