NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Rotary Club of Niceville-Valparaiso has presented its annual first responder awards recognizing local police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians for outstanding service to our community in 2022.
Christopher Fulford is the 2022 Niceville Police Department Officer of the Year, Charles “Chuck” Dumbaugh is the 2022 Valparaiso Police Department Officer of the Year, and Ezekiel Dixon is the 2022 Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year, the Rotary Club announced.
Other award-winners include Gage Reed, Niceville Fire Department Firefighter of the Year, and Ethan Randolph, Valparaiso Fire Department Firefighter of the Year.
Tyler Lawrence is the East Niceville Fire District Firefighter of the Year, and Tyler Gagner is the North Bay Fire District Firefighter of the Year.
“These first responders truly live the Rotary motto of Service Above Self,” the Rotary club said in an announcement.
“We are proud of the accomplishments of these first responders, and we are grateful for their efforts to make the Twin Cities area a safer place to live.”
The complete list of recipients is shown below.
Here are the recipients of the 2022 First Responder Awards presented by the Rotary Club of Niceville-Valparaiso:
Niceville Fire Department Firefighter of the Year
Firefighter Gage Reed
Valparaiso Fire Department Firefighter of the Year
Engineer Ethan Randolph
Niceville Police Department Officer of the Year
Officer Christopher Fulford
Valparaiso Police Department Officer of the Year
Officer Charles “Chuck” Dumbaugh
East Niceville Fire District Firefighter of the Year
Firefighter Tyler Lawrence
North Bay Fire District Firefighter of the Year
Firefighter Tyler Gagner
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year
Deputy Ezekiel Dixon
Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) Security Forces Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Abigail Saterfield
Eglin AFB Security Forces Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
Technical Sergeant Caleb Foy
Eglin AFB Security Forces Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
Master Sergeant Floyd Ford
Eglin AFB Security Forces Category I Civilian of the Year
Officer Jonathan Sowell
Eglin AFB Security Forces Category II Civilian of the Year
Officer Gregory Wise
Eglin AFB Military Firefighter of the Year
Staff Sergeant Josue Rosado Velez
Eglin AFB Fire Department Civilian Firefighter of the Year
Mr. Pedro Morales
Eglin AFB Fire Department Military Fire Officer of the Year
Master Sergeant Edward Thomas
Eglin AFB Fire Department Civilian Fire Officer of the Year
Mr. Whitney Stine.
“We are very blessed here on the Emerald Coast to have such great public servants,” the Rotary club said.
