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Sydney Cromwell
2018 Greater Shelby Chamber Safety Awards
The recipients of the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce 2018 Annual Safety Awards.
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Sydney Cromwell
2018 Greater Shelby Chamber Safety Awards
Adam Knight receives the Chelsea Firefighter of the Year Award.
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Sydney Cromwell
2018 Greater Shelby Chamber Safety Awards
Ryan Poe receives the Hoover Firefighter of the Year Award.
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Sydney Cromwell
2018 Greater Shelby Chamber Safety Awards
Lakenderick Edwards receives the Hoover Police Officer of the Year Award.
The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce honored outstanding first responders on Sept. 26 in its annual Safety Awards Luncheon.
The luncheon at Pelham Civic & Ice Complex honored 17 firefighters and police officers from emergency departments across the county. Each recipient was given their Firefighter or Police Officer of the Year award by a leader from their respective departments, with family and friends in attendance as well.
Some of the honorees were chosen based on their response to a specific incident or emergency call, while others were selected based on their ongoing contributions to their police or fire department on a day-in, day-out basis.
Prior to giving the awards, the chamber invited Pelham City Councilor Rick Hayes to speak. Hayes recalled his own experience with a "widow maker" heart attack, when he was saved by his brother's efforts at CPR and the response of Hoover and North Shelby firefighters. His father is a former police officer as well, Hayes said, so honoring excellence in safety and emergency response is particularly important to him.
Hoover Police Department's Officer of the Year is Lakenderick Edwards, who patrols the U.S. 280 corridor of the city and has made 150 arrests so far. His career with the department, Hoover Chief Nick Derzis said, has included more than 40 drug arrests and aid in arresting some career criminals, including a bank robber who repeatedly targeted a bank in Meadow Brook.
Hoover's Firefighter of the Year is Ryan Poe, an eight-year member of the department who retires this week from his role on Engine 6. He is moving to a part-time role with the same engine, just with more focus on training.
Fire Chief Clay Bentley described Poe as "just a remarkable Christian man. He is a mentor and a leader for our department."
Chelsea's Firefighter of the Year is Adam Knight, who has been with the department 12 years. Fire Capt. Brad McCain said Knight was chosen for his work on Chelsea's public education and school programs, as well as his other contributions this year.
The other Officers of the Year were:
- Matt Glassford and Stu Hartley, Shelby County Sheriff's Office
- Andrew Rowan, Alabaster
- Fredrick Yerenko, Calera
- Ken Peavy, Columbiana
- KC Handley, Helena
- Peter Reese, Montevallo
- David Tkacik, Pelham
- Jillian Sanders, University of Montevallo
The other Firefighters of the Year were:
- Brian Thrasher, Alabaster
- Ryan Blackmon, Calera
- Richard Sutton, Columbiana
- Chris Miller, Helena
- Ken Mays, Pelham
