Police Department Awards

Officer Jonathan Cline is assigned to the Traffic Unit and has performed his duties in an outstanding manner.  During this time Officer Cline has written 678 citations, and made 45 arrests.  He takes significant pride in his work and his consistency in productivity is evident by his current statistics.  Officer Cline is heavily involved in community activities conducting child safety seat inspections, instructing at the Citizen Police Academy and mentoring Tivy High School students during Job Shadow Day.

Officer Cline is a field training officer, firearms training instructor, special operations team leader and ceremonial team leader. He is respected by his peers and is regularly sought out because of his knowledge of the state traffic code, penal code and department policies.   

Officer Cline is a proven leader who is involved in all aspects of the department and understands his responsibility of being a good steward of the department’s resources. He knows and strives to achieve the goals and objectives of the department, investing his time and efforts to accomplish our mission.  Because of his outstanding performance, devotion to duty and demonstrated commitment to the department and to this community, Officer Jonathan Cline was selected as the Kerrville Police Officer of the Year.     

Since her assignment as the Training/Personnel Supervisor Sergeant Krebs has primary responsibility for officer recruitment, training, community services, media relations and school resource officers.  Sergeant Krebs is a tireless leader who’s work over the last year exemplified a can do attitude and commitment to the department and the city.  She has recruited and processed the hiring of seven (7) police officers, reviewed and modified our Field Training Program manual, managed our field training program, coordinated and taught 11 training classes, assisted in coordinating two citizen police academies, developed and presented two successful AACOG grants totaling $322,00.00 and assisted in the development of the Junior Police Academy to be held this summer.  Sergeant Krebs has displayed superior performance in the execution of her duties and responsibilities this past year. 

As a Community Service Officer, Officer Paul Gonzales has demonstrated a thorough understanding of his role in community policing.  During his tenure in this position, he has continuously worked at delivering the highest level of community service.  During this past year Officer Gonzales has committed numerous hours to the department and to the community.  He has participated in the BT Wilson Career Day, resurrected ‘McGruff the Crime Dog”, coordinated 3 citizen police academies graduating 60 students, coordinated and participated in National Night Out activities, assisted in the Blue Santa program, assisted in the development of the Junior Police Academy, and coordinated the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association volunteers at several city events.  Most recently Officer Gonzales was responsible for the coordination of Cpl. Jacob Leicht’s funeral escort.  Paul’s commitment and dedication to honor Cpl Leicht’s service was quite evident on Saturday June 5, 2010 as our community stood together along the funeral route.

Sergeant Krebs and Officer Gonzales are being recognized for excellence in police work and individual merit for their performance over a period of time.  

Fire Department Awards

Firefighter of the Year 2010

Every year at this time both the Kerrville Police Department and Fire Department recognizes one of its members as being their officer or firefighter of the year.  I am here to introduce to you Kerrville Fire Department’s Firefighter of the year.  He was selected by his peers and superiors for his nine (9) years of service to the City of Kerrville and the numerous hours he has spent on-duty and off-duty to make Kerrville a better place to live, work and play.    

Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Miller is the son of Roger and Linda Miller and is a native of Andrews, Texas.  He is a graduate of Seminole High School in Seminole, Texas.  Brandon has been married to his wife Diana for 11 years and they have two children, Collin, their 7 year old son that attends Tom Daniels Elementary School and Christopher, their 2 year old son that is looking forward to attending Tom Daniels Elementary School.  Brandon’s interests include anything having to do with his family, motorcycle riding and bow hunting.     

Brandon holds numerous certifications that are typically not easy to acquire, and they include:

• Advanced Firefighter 
• Paramedic – Highest Level in Emergency Medical Services
• Instructor – Pediatric Advanced Life Support 
• Instructor – International Trauma Life Support 
• Instructor – Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Instructor – Emergency Medical Services
• Medic First Aid and American Heart Assoc. CPR Instructor Trainer
• Critical Incident Stress Management Trainer

His Public Safety Leadership, besides serving as a Firefighter/Paramedic includes:

• Dept. of State Health Services Medical Incident Support Team Member, a team that is pre-deployed to potential Natural and Manmade disaster zones.
• For the past nine years (9) has served as President and now Vice President of the Kerrville Professional Firefighter’s Association 
• Kerrville Fire Department Critical Incident Stress Management Team Coordinator
• Shattered Dreams Coordinator for Kerrville Fire Department and Kerrville Independent School District for the past 6 years
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteer 
• Kerr County First Responders
• Former Member of Jackson County Rescue Squad 
• Former Member of Seminole Volunteer EMS

Brandon’s overall approach to his job indicates a genuine and high level of concern for providing the best level of service possible for the citizens of our community and has demonstrated this through his actions on and off duty.  He exemplifies the qualities of a team player and is extremely well respected by his fellow firefighters, paramedics and his superiors. 

EMS Coordinator Eric Maloney says, “Brandon is a dedicated employee that is willing to spend time on-duty and off-duty to improve the department and community.  He is involved with many facets of EMS from teaching CPR to summer camps, our local Shattered Dreams project, our Regional Critical Incident Stress Management Team and a Department of State Health Services Instructor for most American Heart Association disciplines and EMT programs.  Brandon is instrumental in the development of the Kerrville Fire Department Field Training Preceptor program that guides new paramedics in our department in developing the skills and training necessary to become a skilled field paramedic.  He Works with, and for, Peterson Regional Medical Center to coordinate continuing education and emergency preparedness that is beneficial to both the hospital and the Kerrville Fire Department.  Brandon has an excellent bedside manner and strives to improve patient care through self directed education and training.  His clinical and operational decisions are of sound judgment and have the betterment of the department in mind.” 

Assistant Fire Chief Mark Beavers says, “Brandon displays a deep concern for providing the citizens with the best in fire and EMS service and is always willing to provide assistance to the department and the improvement of our EMS system on both a professional and personal level.  His work ethic, bedside manner with patients and his overall attitude continues to reflect positively on the Fire Department and the City of Kerrville.”

Due to Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Miller’s continued excellence in service for the citizens of Kerrville and Kerr County, it is my honor and pleasure to announce that Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Miller is Kerrville Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year for 2010.

National Fire Academy Course Completion Recognition

Earlier this month, Fire Lieutenants Mark Dunning and Brian Hammer, representing the City of Kerrville and the Kerrville Fire Department, were selected to attend the National Fire Academy located at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. 

The National Fire Academy promotes the professional development of the fire and emergency response community.  It develops, delivers and manages educational and training programs to help State and local response agencies prevent, mitigate, prepare for, and respond to local, regional and national emergencies.

Lieutenant Dunning has been with the Kerrville Fire Department for fifteen (15) years and has held the rank of Lieutenants for four (4) years.    Lieutenant Hammer has been with the Kerrville Fire Department for eleven (11) years and has held the rank of Lieutenants for two (2) years and was Kerrville Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year for 2009.  

As Fire Chief, I was honored that three members of the Kerrville Fire Department have been accepted to attend the National Fire Academy this year.  Our EMS Coordinator, Eric Maloney, is currently in attendance at the Academy and will be returning on July 3rd.  This brings a total of four (4) Kerrville Fire Department members who have been selected and attended the National fire Academy over the past year.    

The courses at the National Fire Academy are academically rigorous and every class is considered mid- to upper-level college course work.  Their student selection process is very stringent to the point that they want to ensure that each student is capable of success in the course before being admitted.  They also want to make sure that the course is a benefit to both the student and the fire department when they return, and is of sufficient complexity to advance the student's knowledge to improve local service delivery.  Selection is also based on the impact the applicant will have on the quality of fire protection in the local community and the potential for use of the skills acquired.  I was therefore not surprised that the National Fire Academy had selected them to attend. 
 
Lieutenant Dunning took on a course entitled, “Command and Control Decision Making at Multiple Alarm Incidents” and Lieutenant Hammer took a course entitled “Command and Control of Fire Department Operations at target Hazards”.  These courses are simulation-intensive and focus on the command officer’s responsibility while conducting major operations involving multi-alarm units.  Emphasis is placed on rapid fireground decision making, advanced incident command, command and control, safety, personnel accountability and communications.