Longboat Fire Rescue awards honor distinguished crew and citizens

The Medal of Honor is rarely given out by the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department.  

But on Oct. 4, as a part of the department’s Annual Awards Ceremony, the honor was bestowed upon resident Charles Shreve. 

Back in May, Shreve was working at the marina where he has worked for 10 years. A part of the job is to do routine patrols on golf carts, and one day he noticed an odd smell. 

He walked down the dock to investigate and then he saw it: smoke. 

A boat was billowing smoke, and he knew he had to act. He disconnected the power and checked the boat to make sure there was no one on board — a neighboring captain confirmed there was no one aboard. 

Shreve grabbed a fire extinguisher and did the best he could, before the Fire Rescue Department arrived on scene. He said the crew got there quickly. 

“It wasn’t anything complicated,” Shreve said. “I did what I had to do.” 

But Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi commended him for his actions. 

“Because of his bravery and quick actions, he prevented this fire from spreading to the other boats that were right next to that other vessel,” Dezzi said. 

Awards all around

The Medal of Honor was just one of many awards the department presented at the ceremony. 

The ceremony started with the “pinning of the badge,” in which Dezzi presented badges to two new firefighter paramedics and one crew member who was being promoted. 

Jentzen Barton was officially promoted to the position of assistant chief. 

Both firefighter paramedics Richard Traugott and Andre Hoefer were awarded their badges after completing all the initial fire and emergency medical services training. Now, the two are able to operate in the field without a preceptor, or trainer. 

As is customary, family members were there to pin the badge on the firefighter paramedic. 

Another high honor awarded was the Phoenix Award, which is given to a team of firefighter paramedics that save a life. 

The award is recognized as a “symbol of excellence,” Dezzi said. The name references the mythical bird that rises from the ashes. 

Four crew members responded to a call in February about an unconscious person. Upon arrival, the crew found a patient on the sidewalk, with a bystander already performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. 

Dezzi said because of the team’s quick response and consistent communication, they were able to resuscitate the patient and transport him to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. 

“You guys did one heck of a job,” Dezzi said. “If it wasn’t for what you guys did, he would not be here.” 

He was later discharged with no neurological deficits.  

“These types of emergencies remind us of how important public safety is to the community,” Dezzi said. 

Lieutenant Jose Rivera, Firefighter Paramedic Tirso Guerrero, Firefighter Paramedic Chase Bullock, Firefighter Paramedic Andre Hoefer and Firefighter Paramedic Trey Bowlin, along with Dezzi, made up the life-saving team. 

Then, Dezzi presented the Fire Chief’s Award. This year, he honored Lori Daubert for her behind-the-scenes work at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch office. 

“She is one of those kinds of people that is just a dynamite employee,” Dezzi said. “I can’t say enough about her.”

Best of the year

Next up for recognition at the ceremony was the Employee of the Year: David Oliger. 

Photo by Carter Weinhofer

Oliger joined Longboat Key in 2017, and Dezzi said he’s been a leader since day one. 

He attended special training on high-rise rescue, and presented some insights back to the crew, and this past year he completed requirements for acting officer. And on top of that, he received his inspection certification to join the inspection team. 

“He is well respected by all members of this department,” Dezzi said. “He cares about this job, which is important, and he also cares about the people he works with.” 

For Oliger, helping people is what the job is all about.

“Every time we get to 911 and somebody’s having a bad day, I enjoy being the first one to be able to help them through that and have a bad situation become not so bad,” Oliger said. 

To end the ceremony, Dezzi presented one more award. Instead of a plaque or certificate,  he presented Town Manager Howard Tipton with a custom firefighter helmet. 

“He has come in and has changed a lot of things here for us, and we appreciate that,” Dezzi said. “All of us appreciate that, not just the fire department.” 

Mayor Ken Schneier ended the ceremony by recognizing the one person who he said hadn’t been recognized yet, the person responsible for the fire department and its high citizen approval rating: Dezzi.