As part of the 28th annual Public Safety Appreciation Week (Oct. 2-6), the Cobb Chamber will honor Cobb County’s finest during a special recognition program at the Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon event held at the Coca-Cola Roxy on October 2. The luncheon will kick off a weeklong effort to celebrate public safety personnel in Cobb County.
Preparations for such an event begins months in advance with the nomination process for the Public Safety Employee of the Year Award, in addition to other awards such as the Medal of Valor, Award of Merit, Distinguished Achievement Award and Outstanding Community Contribution Award. Public safety agencies are given the opportunity to nominate public safety personnel for these honors. The 2023 Public Safety Committee Chairman is Interim Director Bill Johnson, of the Cobb County Department of Public Safety.
The Cobb Chamber would like to congratulate the following personnel and public safety units on their nomination for a public safety recognition award:
Individuals
Officer Taniesha Palarche, Acworth Police Department
Training/QA Manager Todd Borowski, Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications
Emergency Communications Officer I Jonathon Clark, Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications
Detective Bryan Bridges, Cobb County Police Department
Officer Michael Calhoun, Cobb County Police Department
Officer Christian Gutierrez, Cobb County Police Department
Agent Quinn Lyles, Cobb County Police Department
Detective Dustin Shirley, Cobb County Police Department
Retired/Reserve Police Officer Ronson Smith, Cobb County Police Department
Field Training Officer Taylor Stanford, Cobb County Police Department
Officer Stephen Bagwell, Kennesaw Police Department
Detective Sergeant Kyle Partridge, Kennesaw State University Police Department
Firefighter Jonathan Jimenez, Marietta Fire Department
Officer Denise Hernandez, Marietta Police Department
Officer Paul Hill, Marietta Police Department
AEMT Kevin Donnell, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
Paramedic Chris Quigg, MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service
Officer Carson Yates, Powder Springs Police Department
Emergency Management Specialist/Lieutenant Evan McBrayer, Smyrna Fire Department
Captain Joe Paul, Smyrna Fire Department
Public Safety Units
Austell Engine 1 and Engine 2 C-Shift, Austell Fire Department
Lieutenant Derek Horton, Sergeant Alfredo Troche, and K9 Officer Alex Hays, Austell Police Department
Truck 22 A-Shift, Cobb County Fire Department
Deputy Sheriff Randall Lossing and Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Hudgins, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
Shift 4 Deputies and Sergeant, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Jared Wheeler, Officer Blake Arnold, Sargeant Coty Thompson, Officer Jessica Richardson, and Officer Andrew Brock, Kennesaw Police Department and Cobb County Police Department
Squad 55, Marietta Fire Department
Unit 325, Puckett EMS
Truck 1, Smyrna Fire Department
Stations 1 & 2 C-Shift, Smyrna Fire Department
R.A.D. Program Staff, Smyrna Police Department
Award winners will be announced and celebrated at the October 2 Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon. Sponsors include Marquee Sponsor, Superior Plumbing; Platinum Sponsors, Cobb EMC and MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service.
For more information on Public Safety Appreciation Week, visit www.cobbchamber.org/publicsafety or contact Katie Guice at 770-859-2334 or kguice@cobbchamber.org.
