Duncan Firefighter of the Year; Smith Police Officer of the Year
The East Ridge Optimist Club held its annual tribute to the city’s first responders and remembered the terrorists attacks on the United States on 9-11-2001, Friday in the bay of Station One at the Fire and Police Services Center.
Ginger Howard, Optimist Club President, presided over the event. She lit three candles to pay homage to the victims of the 911 attacks, the police officers who responded and to the firefighters who raced directly into harms way in an effort to aid the victims.
East Ridge Fire Chief Mike Williams said he and Deputy Chief Randy Albright were looking for qualities in a department firefighter that showed “great pride, ownership, and tradition in the department.” A person who goes above and beyond and is “committed to the citizens and department every day.”
They found that firefighter in Battalion Chief Jeff Duncan, he said.
Duncan began his career, ironically enough, in 2001, as a volunteer, Chief Williams said. Over the years, Duncan rose through the ranks excelling in different areas.
“I have a little story to share about this member that very few know,” Chief Williams told the 70 or so people gathered in the bay. “His crew would go out to eat for lunch and he would buy extra food. On the way back, they would stop and feed a homeless man that hung out near the station. I watched this several times. I asked (Duncan) if he thought the man really needed food, and his response was, ‘It’s not up to me to judge him. I do it because we should help each other in times of need.’ He did not ask for assistance or recognition for his good deed; he did this from the goodness of his heart.”
When asked to say a few words after the presentation, Duncan just shook his head from side to side.
As a run-up to naming Terry Smith as the Police Officer of the Year, ERPD Chief Stan Allen noted that in addition to the 343 firefighters killed in New York on 911, there were 23 NYPD Officers and 37 NY Port Authority Officers killed.
He also wanted to remember the 169 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2022 and 640 officers slain in 2021. Over the last decade, Chief Allen said, 2,556 police officers have been killed in the United States.
Chief Allen said that the ceremony should honor all first responders serving East Ridge every day. “They stand out front to create a safer East Ridge for our citizens and visitors by reducing crime, preserving the peace, and protecting lives and property.”
Officer Smith joined the ERPD in 2017, after working for 12 years as an officer in Collegedale and five years in Lower Chichester Township for five years in Pennsylvania.
“Terry spent 11 months on medical leave, returning on November 1, 2021,” Chief Allen note. “When he returned, he returned with the mission of making the streets of East Ridge safer.
“As a traffic officer, his primary focus is to enforce the traffic laws and he has led the department in this area every month since his return. I have no doubt that his enforcement efforts have saved lives and reduced injuries and property damage from traffic crashes by making drivers aware of potentially dangerous behaviors. It’s an honor to present the 2022 Officer of the Year award to Officer Terry Smith.”
“I want to thank you all,” Officer Smith said upon receiving the award. “My wife and I had a rough road. The employees and citizens of the city came through for us.
“It’s a big family and I appreciate that,” he continued. “Thank you.”
