Staff Report / Allentownlocal.org

**Allentown Paramedics and Firefighters Honored at Annual Awards Ceremony**

Allentown, PA - This morning, paramedics from City of Allentown’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) joined the Allentown Fire Department for their annual awards ceremony. During the event, multiple awards were presented in recognition of exceptional service and heroism.

Paramedics were awarded unit citations, certificates of merit, and certificates of heroism. The ceremony also featured the presentation of the Paramedic of the Year award, the EMS Chief's award, and various time in service awards.

Sergent Christopher Hendricks of the Allentown Police Department awarded CPR save awards to officers Arthur Owens and Kaila Balatgek for performing CPR on Hendricks himself after he experienced a medical event during a police incident last June.

The recipients of the various awards are as follows:

- **Paramedic of the Year 2024**: Andre Harris

- **EMS Chief's Award 2024**: Scott Brokaw

**Service Awards:**

- 20 years: Alex Takacs, Scott Brokaw

- 10 years: Kristen Vargo (EMS Administration)

- 5 years: Ricky Menendez, John Bower (EMS Administration), Melody Newhard-Kirk (EMS Administration)

**Certificates of Merit** were awarded to:

Lindsay Knoblauch, Brandon Selig, Asst. Chief Bryan Fritz, Shawn Peischl, Mason Brett, Asst. Chief Keith Davis, Kris Zeller, Jason Eckert, Michael Bruneio, Jason Knight, Zack Bachert, Alejandro Strunk, Josh Werkheiser, Robert Ford, and John Hirschbock.

**Certificates of Heroism** were awarded to:

Ricky Menendez, Patrick Stankovic, Michael Reitnour, Andre Harris, Adam Wilson, Travis Tripp, Josh Werkheiser, Asst. Chief Bryan Fritz, and Chief Mehmet Barzev.

**Meritorious Service to Special Teams** includes:

- **Emergency Response Team**: Dr. Jeff Kuklinski, Dustin Wentz, Patrick Stankovic, Cody Colon, Mason Brett

- **Dive/Underwater Recovery**: Jesse Eichelbaum, Ricky Menendez, Brandon Selig, Josh Werkheiser, Chris Sholley

- **Bomb Squad**: David Ober, Stephanie Burke, Brett DeReamus

- **Special Operations Team**: Dr. Jeff Kuklinski, Ryan Trexler, Asst. Chief Matthew Brett, Andrew Stevens, Adam Wilson, Michael Bruneio, Chris Schierloh, Chief Mehmet Barzev

- **EMS Cyclists**: Stephanie Burke, David Ober, Adam Wilson, Andre Harris, Asst. Chief Ryan Trexler, Chief Mehmet Barzev, Mason Brett, Brett DeReamus, Cody Colon.

This ceremony honors the dedication and service of those who respond to emergencies in the Allentown community.

Source: City of Allentown EMS | Pittsburgh PA | Facebook

Source Type: EMS

Source Location: Allentown

Pittsburgh, PA

https://www.facebook.com/384783387401899/posts/554117487135154

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