First Responders Day is Oct. 28. Firefighters, police officers, dispatchers and EMTs are the first line of response in a community emergency and individual crises. Their uniforms represent the city, but their work is often very personal. Though they help people in ways few others can, in many instances, they are meeting people on one of the worst days of their lives, witnessing horrific scenes and even putting themselves in precarious situations.

Brad Pitassi. Photo by Kyle Norby

Some told us why they do what they do:

Deputy Fire Chief Brad Pitassi
“I just fell in love with the whole service element of the job. It’s been the best, most rewarding career I’ve ever had.”

MPD Communications Manager Jennifer Hagen
“It’s about being able to make a difference in somebody’s life. If you’re a 911 operator, and you get that phone call, how you do your job can impact the person on the other line. It’s rewarding. I believe I am truly helping people. Even if you can help just one person, it’s all worth it.”

Public Safety Communications Dispatcher Kendra Lange
“To me, there’s something new every single day. It wasn’t anything I thought I would ever want to do, but now that I’m in it, I love it and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. It does bring me happiness. People truly appreciate what you do. I would continue to work here because I have a good support system inside of the police department and in the city that raised me too.”

Patrol Officer Logan Szczepaniec
“I grew up in a family of law enforcement. I grew up day-in and day-out talking to grandparents and uncles who were police officers. My dad was a firefighter, so he kind of steered me in his route, but there was always a strong influence as far as the law enforcement side. It’s in my family blood.”

Chazz Dupree. Photo by Kyle Norby

Fire Capt. Chazz Dupree
“I just realized when I grew up, I gotta figure out something I really wanna do, and what I’m passionate about is service. I liked the service aspect of it. That’s how I was oriented. Money wasn’t what made the wheels turn for me. It was doing service and helping others.”

Police Sgt. Robert Wenderoth
“I was always interested in investigations. I wanted to officially go into the FBI. At a county fair back home, I ran into some deputies and some Explorers, which is a youth group with the police departments, and I started with the Explorers and fell in love with the local aspect of it. I found my niche in investigation and decided to stick with the local route.”

Fire Chief Brady Leffler
“I have great respect for police officers. As a matter of fact, I think it’s one of the toughest times to be a police officer. My future wife is a retired Scottsdale Police officer, and I’ve got to tell you, I have the utmost respect for them. I wouldn’t change what I do for anything.”

This item appears in the October issue of InMaricopa.

 

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