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<\/a>\u201cI think we take it for granted that when we call 911, someone will be there,\u201d Chamber of Commerce President Mary England said. \u201cSo it\u2019s nice to give a face to that service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the chamber hosts the event, it does not pick the recipients of the honor. Each year a letter goes to the Police Chief, the Fire Chief and American Medical Response (AMR). La Mesa Police Department nominates two officers or people from that organization along with two Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol folks; the Fire Chief selects one person from the fire organization and AMR provides the names of two others from their organization.<\/p>\n
During the evening, the Police Chief, the Fire Chief and a representative from AMR took the stage with their respective heroes to talk about why they were selected to receive this award.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe will do anything to make La Mesa a safer placed to live, work and play,\u201d Police Chief Walt Vasquz said of the seven heroes honored at the event.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s honorees included: (from AMR) paramedics Jon Alva and Robert Ivery; (from La Mesa Fire Department) Capt. Dave Hardenburger; (from La Mesa Police Department) Det. Bucky Wright and Master Officer Lillie Chase; and (from RSVP) volunteers Ray Rendina and Nonie Beach.<\/p>\n
Paramedic Jon Alva<\/strong> has been serving the citizens of East County and La Mesa for more than three years. Last year he and his partner responded to a dispatch call reporting a critically injured motorcyclist. Alva\u2019s communication and clinical skills kept the motorcyclist alive.<\/p>\n Paramedic Robert Ivery<\/strong> has been serving patients in La Mesa and East County since the early 1980s. Throughout his tenure he has inspired many caregivers and students throughout East County and he treats each student and patient with kindness and respect. Ivery is well-respected by the community of La Mesa and by his peers at AMR.<\/p>\n Fire Capt. Dave Hardenburger<\/strong> is a 20-plus-year veteran of the fire service who has been with the LMFD since 1998. He was honored for his \u201cinstinctual awareness\u201d that led to him saving a child who was choking on a grape, Fire Chief Rick Sitta said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you get the child call, that really get\u2019s your gears going,\u201d Sitta said.<\/p>\n Det. Bucky Wright<\/strong> has been with the LMPD for seven and a half years. Wright made 63 arrests involving sales and possession of narcotics, wanted fugitives, robbery, burglary, assaults and identity theft suspects in the past year alone. He also represents the LMPD by working with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehensive Team.<\/p>\n Master Officer Lillie Chase<\/strong> has been with the LMPD for nine years. In Oct. 2015, Chase and her partner were dispatched to a report of a suicidal female who was attempting to jump off a bridge. Using the element of surprise, Chase reached through the concrete bars of the guardrail and grabbed the female around her chest. She, her partner and a citizen were eventually able to pull the female to safety.<\/p>\n RSVP Ray Rendina<\/strong> has been with the agency since Feb. 1998 and since that time he has volunteered more than 5,100 hours. Because he is so dependable and always has a \u201ccan do\u201d attitude, Ray is one of the favorite volunteers among the dispatchers.<\/p>\n RSVP Nonie Beach<\/strong> also joined the agency in February 1988 and she\u2019s volunteered over 4,000 hours of her time. In addition to being part of the RSVP Color Guard, she\u2019s always been diligent in performing her duties. Her 18 years of service have made her a valuable team member within the LMPD.<\/p>\n