The Cobb Chamber honored Cobb County’s finest this morning during its annual Public Safety Appreciation Breakfast at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The event drew 480 attendees and kicked off Public Safety Appreciation Week, a community-wide effort to say “thank you” to the men and women who work tirelessly to keep Cobb County safe.
Ross Cavitt, Communications Director at Cobb County Government, served as the awards emcee, honoring each of the nominees and presented the 2017 Public Safety Awards. Nominations were received from public safety agencies throughout Cobb County, including police, fire, sheriff’s office, campus police, and EMS.
Congratulations to our 2017 Public Safety Award winners:
2017 Public Safety Employee of the Year
Lieutenant Herman Trautwein from the Marietta Fire Department
This award is given to an employee who has performed his or her job with exceptional skill, exhibited leadership and critical incident management and a devotion to their responsibilities. The 2017 Public Safety Employee of the Year received a glass sculpture created by Lillie Glassblowers in Smyrna, and a handgun courtesy of GLOCK.
Lieutenant Herman Trautwein stands out from amongst his peers for his dedication to service, his expansive knowledge of the field, and a hunger to always be learning something new.
Lieutenant Herman Trautwien has been a devoted public servant for more than two decades with the Marietta Fire Department as well as over two decades in the Air Force Reserves. Lt. Trautwein, in his career, has devoted himself to his community and its safety. Trautwein was honored for a heroic act occurring while he was off-duty, far from the community he serves daily.
On June 25, 2016, Lt. Trautwein came upon two individuals who had been struck by lightning while wading in the shallow water of the ocean. Disregarding his own safety, Lt. Trautwein sprinted towards the man and women to aid them. Both were injured by the strike, were not breathing and were unresponsive. Without hesitation, Lt. Trautwein, along with other bystanders, extricated the victims from the water. Lt. Trautwein began CPR on the victims and was able to rejuvenate the man. However, the female passed just after making it to the hospital for treatment.
Awards of Merit
• Josh Taylor, Cobb Fire & Emergency Services and Steve Hammond, Cobb County Police Department
• Marietta PD Morning Watch Officers
The Award of Merit recognizes a deserving recipient for acts of courage, demonstrating genuine care and concern for the citizens of the community and going above and beyond the call of duty, often resulting in a life being saved. This year, our esteemed list of nominees warranted two awards.
Josh Taylor, Cobb Fire & Emergency Services and Steve Hammond, Cobb County Police Department
In 2012, Taylor and friend, Detective Stephen Hammond of the Cobb County Police Department, saw a need to increase care and timely intervention for wounded individuals in the area and created the Cobb County Police Department’s Tactical First Aid Program. The Tactical First Aid Program provided the department with the training and equipment needed to treat extremity wounds, penetrating chest trauma and airway obstructions. In 2013, Capt. Taylor began conducting training sessions to prepare the department for usage. Today, the program is fully operational and all Cobb County Police Officers receive this lifesaving training, are receiving CPR and basic medical training and are using these radical practices to save lives daily.
Since the program’s inception, there has been a 74 percent survival rate when officers utilize the training and equipment provided by Capt. Taylor and Det. Hammond. Today, 23 citizens are alive because of the foresight, dedication and teamwork of Capt. Taylor and Det. Hammond to develop such a lifesaving, essential program.
Marietta Police Department Morning Watch Officers
On August 14, 2016, Morning Watch Patrol Officers Scott Davis, Michael Malcolm and Kenyon Jackson responded to a theft auto call. The call involved multiple suspects and the officers were aware of similar crimes in the surrounding jurisdictions involving armed suspects. At the scene of the crime, the officers devised a strategy to apprehend the suspects. When the officers approached the suspects and issued verbal commands, the suspects opened fire. Officer Scott Davis sustained gunshot wounds in his right hand and his right leg and fell to the ground. Officers Michael Malcolm and Kenyon Jackson responded with return fire. Officer Davis was unable to stand, but he remained calm and stayed focused on the suspects. He was able to communicate the description of the vehicle that fled from the scene with additional suspects. As additional units arrived to the scene, two suspects were taken into custody. The suspect who fired on Officer Davis was wounded and the other suspect hid in a vehicle until removed by officers. Officers Davis, Malcolm and Jackson displayed all the qualities of highly trained officers—protecting each other and the residents of the City of Marietta.
Distinguished Achievement Award
• Master Patrol Officer Louis Defense, Smyrna Police Department
• Lieutenant Curtis Endicott, Acworth Police Department
The Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose service and performance has exceeded the demands of the job. This year, our esteemed list of nominees warranted two awards.
Master Patrol Officer Louis Defense, Smyrna Police Department
MPO Louis Defense has not only served for 16 years at the Smyrna Police Department, he has also served as Marine. MPO Defense is college educated, energetic, a positive influence and holds many leadership accomplishments according to his constituents. In 2015, MPO Defense was assigned to community outreach as a veteran officer due to his great talent as an effective communicator. In addition, MPO Defense assumed leadership over the Citizen’s Police Academy and has successfully taught and graduated three classes. MPO Defense founded and authored the “Call Before You Go” program in 2015, which encourages businesses and individuals to allow officers to escort them to financial institutions when making hefty deposits. Along with the numerous projects, programs and efforts MPO Defense has been involved with, he is known for the energetic and intelligent perspective he brings to his position. His “can do” attitude provides his peers and the community surrounding with vision, morale and overall positive thinking.
Lieutenant Curtis Endicott, Acworth Police Department
Acworth Police Department Lieutenant Curtis Endicott has devoted over three decades of his life to public safety and service. The past two decades have been served with the Acworth Police Department. “He sets an example by serving selflessly,” writes his supervisor Captain Stan Melton. Lt. Endicott is a natural leader, honest listener and solid example for his peers and the community in which he serves. Having served this community for over 20 years, Lt. Endicott is committed to not only improving it, but also keeping it safe. Now, Lt. Endicott has initiated many new and innovating ideas to improve public safety within the community such as the Quality of Life Unit. Having seen the need to enhance the delivery of public safety services to parks, Lt. Endicott developed a new division of the department dedicated to improving the quality of life in the city by patrol units.
Medal of Valor
• Mark Blesener, Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services
• Scott Davis, Marietta Police Department
The Medal of Valor is the highest award recognizing an individual for an act of bravery in a life-threatening situation. The award is only presented when a deserving candidate is found.
Mark Blesener, Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services
For the past 10 years of his life, firefighter Mark Blesener has committed himself to serving the Cobb community and keeping it safe. All 10 of those years have been served with the Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services. Blesener is known for his professionalism and fearlessness. On September 18, 2016 Blesener responded to an emergency response call of a hypothermic woman on the Chattooga River in Rabun County. When Blesener, along with others from the unit, arrived at the scene by helicopter, he was lowered to the rock where the affected woman was, assisted her into the rescue basket and quickly wrapped her in warm layers. Once safely in the helicopter, the woman was given medical attention.
Blesener is commended for his bravery and bold response to this dangerous and daring rescue. Because of his quick thinking and fearlessness, that woman’s life was saved that day and she has made a full recovery.
Scott Davis, Marietta Police Department’s Morning Watch Officers
Officer Davis sustained a gunshot wound while responding to a call with his fellow officers on Aug. 14, 2016. Despite his wound, he remained focused and his actions helped apprehend several assailants.
Morning Watch Patrol Officers Scott Davis, Michael Malcolm and Kenyon Jackson responded to a theft auto call. When the officers approached the suspects and issued verbal commands, the suspects opened fire. Officer Scott Davis sustained gunshot wounds in his right hand and his right leg and fell to the ground. Officers Michael Malcolm and Kenyon Jackson responded with return fire. Officer Davis was unable to stand, but he remained calm and stayed focused on the suspects. He was able to communicate the description of the vehicle that fled from the scene with additional suspects. As additional units arrived to the scene, two suspects were taken into custody. The suspect who fired on Officer Davis was wounded and the other suspect hid in a vehicle until removed by officers.
The 2017 Public Safety Appreciation Breakfast was made possible by the following sponsors: Platinum Sponsors Cobb EMC and WellStar; Awards Sponsor LoRusso Law Firm; Silver Sponsors, Atlanta Braves, C.W. Matthews, Fisher & Phillips Attorneys at Law, Genuine Parts, GLOCK, LGE Community Credit Union, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service, Puckett EMS, Six Flags Over Georgia; and Vinings Bank, and Patriot Sponsors, Georgia Power, Marietta Toyota, and Publix, and Media Sponsor Cobb County Government.
For the latest information on Public Safety Appreciation Week, visit www.cobbchamber.org/cobbappreciates, or follow us on Facebook at Public Safety Appreciation Week.