2022

2022 Firefighter of the Year
Firefighter Chad Trueblood & Bryan Meyer

This Firefighter of the Year is a 5-year member of the department.  He came to the Quincy Fire Department from another department, so we first had to break him of his bad habits. He has been a trusted member of Shift 2 since he came on and quickly earned the respect of his fellow firefighters.  He is a firefighter that presents solid arguments for change and is willing to do the work both on and off duty to get the job done.  He fills in as an acting officer without hesitation and makes sound decisions.

He is certified as an Advanced Tech Firefighter, Swift Water operations, a QFD Boat operator, car seat technician and paramedic. He took the time to develop and build props at the Quincy Regional Training Facility for our Western Illinois Practicum. These new props have improved the training that is available at our training facility by adding features that create hidden voids for searching for fire extension and additional walls. In addition, he is a Fire and Cause Investigator and a leader in our Honor Guard. It is this regard that I truly want to recognize him for his selfless dedication.  He attends Honor Guard training throughout the state and assists other departments when the call is placed. He was instrumental in assisting with our lost firefighter Steven Pezzella last year.  Thank You.

So, with that, we are proud to announce Chad Trueblood as Firefighter of the Year. 

 

This other Firefighter of the Year is also 5-year member of the department.  He has been a positive contributor to the department and continues to be more involved every year.  He has become knowledgeable in many aspects of the fire service in a short period of time. He is not afraid to fill in as an acting officer and has the trust of his crews and superior officers.

He is certified as an Advanced Tech Firefighter, Swift Water operations, a QFD Boat operator and paramedic. He serves on our Public Education Team and will be leading the 2023 Citizens Fire Academy.  He took over our PPE service officer program and has laid out an effective plan to ensure that all members have two sets of gear.  This firefighter also took the time to research Thermal Imaging Cameras, acquired demos for us to train with and took the time to train all the shifts on their use. In addition, he has led the charge to acquire and use a helmet camera for the benefit of our training and public education. He is also a respected member and leader of our Honor Guard.

It is in recognition of all his hard work that we are proud to also announce Bryan Meyer as a Firefighter of the Year.