MONROE POLICE AND FIRE APPRECIATION WEEK

First responders educate Monroe youth about service

First responders spend time each year visiting local schools, interacting with kids and answering questions about what it's like to be a first responder during Monroe Police and Fire Appreciation Week.

Monroe Fire District 3 firefighters Ryan Rozelle and Zac Forghani stopped by Angela Herr's fourth-grade class at Frank Wagner Elementary School, along with Captain Jeff Zornes, on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Monroe Police Officers Jake Carswell and Derrick Lether joined them. The group spent about 30 minutes answering questions from students, many of whom raised their hands when asked if they were interested in pursuing a career as a police officer or firefighter.

Zornes emphasized that public safety in Monroe is a combined effort, and the police and fire departments work closely together. Often times, he said, both agencies will be called to the scene of an incident, and each takes on different roles during the process.

"We're working on the people that are actually in the traffic accidents, to make sure that they're taken care of,GÇ¥ Zornes said. "These guys are helping make sure that we don't get hit by cars and stuff like that; investigating what all went on.GÇ¥

Zornes said police sometimes arrive at a scene first, since they are frequently on patrol throughout the city. Firefighters are typically at the station until a call comes in, he said.

"They'll start working on getting people rescued,GÇ¥ Zornes said. "So we rely on these guys a lot for helping us out, getting there as quick as they can and watching our back while we're doing things.GÇ¥

Carswell talked about the various ways technology has transformed the job. They discussed GPS, and how 911 calls automatically link to an address, and the way that emergency dispatchers use computers to transmit information almost instantaneously. He pointed out that any time 911 is called, dispatchers are able to tell where the call came from.

Carswell told the kids if they ever needed help, but were unable to speak, they could still call 911, and first responders would get there.

"If it's something where you feel like you can't talk, you're scared and you want us to come, you can dial 911 on a cellphone or a home phone, and lay it down on the table and just sit there,GÇ¥ Carswell said. "We're going to get that call and we're going to know where to go.GÇ¥

The fourth-grade students asked numerous questions, wanting to know whether the first responders had any kids, and what type of training it takes to become a firefighter or police officer. They were curious about animal-related calls, and one student asked if they had ever had to deal with a bobcat. Oddly enough, Carswell had.

"I did,GÇ¥ the officer said. "There was a bobcat up at the prison that was stuck in the razor wire one day.GÇ¥

The bobcat story received national attention when it happened in 2012, and was even published in the Huffington Post. The injured cat got punctured by razor wire, and was treated at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital in Snohomish.-á -á

A young man asked Carswell if being a police officer is hard.

"I wouldn't say it's hard,GÇ¥ Carswell said. "It's fun. We get to help people a lot, and we get to work with the fire department.GÇ¥

A relatively new officer, Lether was sworn in last October, and chimed in about the job.

"It's challenging, but that's part of what makes the job fun,GÇ¥ he-á said. "It's no fun if it's easy, right? You want a little bit of a challenge ' that's what makes it interesting ' and why we wake up every morning glad to be doing what we're doing.GÇ¥

Lether caught the eye of the media last September, when he and Officer Paul Henderson were commended for their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to help a young disabled boy found walking alone on U.S. 2. The young man had just been released from a local hospital, and was completely on his own. Henderson and Lether dug deep in search of resources to help the young man, who had mental and physical disabilities.

"We don't know what that day's going to bring and what challenges we're going to have to face,GÇ¥ Lether said. "It's fun and it's challenging all at the same time.GÇ¥

Making it official

Full proclamation here.

Monroe Police and Fire chaplain, sponsors keep 15-year appreciation lunch tradition going

The city of Monroe celebrated Police and Fire Appreciation Week last week; a 15-year Monroe tradition meant to tangibly honor its first responders and thank them for their service.

The week, which included numerous visits by first responders to local schools, culminated in an appreciation lunch held on Friday, Nov. 20, at the Monroe Fire Department. The event is spearheaded by Monroe Police and Fire Chaplain Pastor Michael Hanford, with support from the entire community.-á St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church Sister Barbara Geib, who initiated the Monroe Police Chaplain program 30 years ago, is another founder of the appreciation lunch.

Hanford joined the Monroe Police Chaplaincy program in 1998, and serves officers, firefighters and victims of accidents and serious crimes. Initially only affiliated with the Monroe Police Department, both the chaplaincy program and appreciation week eventually evolved to include the Monroe Fire Department.

Each year, Monroe Ixtapa owner Mateo Barajas donates food for the luncheon. This year, ladies from St. Mary's and Christ Church Monroe helped decorate the training room at the fire station and served punch and cake. Union Bank sponsored the cakes, which were provided at a discounted rate by Walmart.

The luncheon featured performances by young students from Frank Wagner Elementary and Monroe Christian School.

"We've been praying for you. Every time we hear a siren, we stop whatever we're doing and we pray,GÇ¥ said Deanna Bailly, a second-grade teacher at Monroe Christian School. "We want to thank you for your community service, for your dedication to all of our families.GÇ¥

After the performance, students from Monroe Christian mingled with K9 Handler Officer Jason Southard and his partner Nuke, a 3-year-old German shepherd. Nuke and Southard were paired together in January 2014, completing the required 420 hours of K9 training through the Seattle Police Department. The tracking dog was sworn in during an official ceremony at Monroe City Hall last June, andhas engaged in numerous successful tracks since then.

Nuke replaced K9 Joker, who retired in May 2014, after many years of serving as the department's primary tracking dog. Joker is currently enjoying retired life with Officer Jake Carswell, his wife, Chrissy, and their four kids.

Various individuals from the community attended the luncheon and offered thanks.

Monroe City Councilmember Patsy Cudaback thanked first responders for their consistent responsiveness. Cudaback is the executive director at the Monroe YMCA, and said she is thankful that any time a first responder is needed at the Y, they know they can contact Monroe police and fire with the utmost confidence.-á

"That's incredibly important to us. We are forever grateful,GÇ¥ Cudaback said. "As a mom, as a Y professional, as a city council member, I am eternally grateful for all the service that you guys provide for our community.GÇ¥

She brought certificates for every police and fire employee, granting them unlimited access to the Monroe YMCA from now until the end of the year.

"We want you guys to be able to come in, enjoy the holidays, bring your family, swim together, play together, recreate and know how much we really appreciate everything you do for us,GÇ¥ Cudaback said.

Monroe Public Schools Foundation Director Sue Skillen thanked police officers and firefighters for community events like the Monroe Police Department's Walk Your Child to School Day and the Monroe Fire Department's annual open house.

Monroe resident Marta Miller was unable to attend the lunch, but sent a video thanking police officers and firefighters for their caring response when her house caught fire on the Fourth of July. The house caught fire in the evening, after unknown individuals set off fireworks in the adjacent parking lot. A row of trees next to the Millers' home ignited, and flames spread quickly to the house. They were able to get their family and guests out of the home without injury, but the house was a complete loss.-á

"Our family just wanted to say thank you and tell you that we appreciate you so much. It was a really scary thing to be in our house and our house be on fire,GÇ¥ Miller said. "You guys responded so quickly and with so much care for us and for our belongings.GÇ¥

Firefighters from Monroe, Sultan, Duvall, Clearview, Snohomish, Lake Stevens and Gold Bar responded to the two-alarm call at the Millers' Lewis Street residence. Firefighters rescued numerous sentimental family photographs from the walls, including photos of the Millers' girls when they were babies, a wedding photo of Marta and Wendell-á Miller and a photo of Wendell with his father.

"We want to just say thank you and that we appreciate you, and we hope you know that this community loves you, and that what you do is valued,GÇ¥ Miller said.

Monroe Fire Chief Jamie Silva was unable to attend the lunch, but submitted a letter that Hanford read to attendees. Silva thanked his entire staff for their service to the residents of Snohomish County Fire District No. 3 and beyond.

"I'm most thankful for the people,GÇ¥ Silva wrote. "We are extremely privileged to have such kind, caring people who serve our public. It takes a dedicated team of people to do what we do. The administrative staff, operations personnel and mechanics make all this possible.GÇ¥

He thanked Ed Faulds for his exceptional volunteerism, and Assistant Chief Steve Guptill and Fire Marshall Mike Fitzgerald for helping to facilitate the department's transition to New World, Snohomish County's new unified command dashboard system.

Geib thanked first responders, reflecting on her many years with the department.

"I've been with these groups for almost 30 years,GÇ¥ Geib said. "They're family; they're not just fire and police. Each one of you has a special place in my heart, because I've known you for so long, and I pray for you guys and girls every day, because I know how hard it is.GÇ¥

Geib said there were only six officers when she first started working with the Monroe Police Department. Her first ride-along was quite dull, she said, and she recalled thinking, "it's really quiet in this town, nothing ever happens.GÇ¥ That changed within a couple of years, she said, and things started to happen.-á

Monroe Police Chief Tim Quenzer thanked Geib for her service to the department.

"I appreciate everything you've done for our police department in the years that you've been here,GÇ¥ Quenzer said.

Quenzer has been the chief of police in Monroe since 2002.

"This community is very unique. I don't know of any other community that has a celebration like this where citizens, business people, churches and pastors come together to celebrate and thank the fire and police departments,GÇ¥ Quenzer said. "It's a wonderful time.GÇ¥

Monroe Police and Fire Appreciation Week is a hugely collaborative effort. The Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the city of Monroe, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Monroe YMCA, Saigon Kitchen and numerous others supported this year's event.

Hanford thanked all those involved for helping to make the event a success, including each and every business that decorated windows and billboards with police and fire appreciation messages and signs.