Mentor first responders honored for stellar achievements
Apr. 3—Several of Mentor's first responders from the police and fire departments have recently been recognized for their work in the community.
Every year the department presents both the Officer of the Year award and the Civilian Employee of the Year award, which are both voted on by their peers.
According to a post on the Mentor Police Department Facebook page, Patrolman Jeremy Epling was selected as the 2022 Officer of the Year and Crime Prevention Specialist Tracey Woodward was selected as the 2022 Civilian Employee of the Year.
Meanwhile, on Feb. 24, Bob Zonneville of the VFW Post 9295 presented Fire Lieutenant Jason Sorgen and Firefighter/Paramedic Rollin Pachinger with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Firefighter of the Year Public Servant Awards for a rescue they performed while vacationing in Alaska.
Janet Johnson, who was vacationing in Alaska from Tennessee, had fallen and lost her footing on Flattop Mountain. What started as a leisurely hike turned into a 2 1/2-mile rescue mission to help return Johnson to the bottom. The efforts of the firefighters were recognized both locally and nationally.
Also, Mentor Police Captain Mike Majernik was honored with the VFW Public Servant Award for his dedication to the citizens of Mentor for his work with the department's Wellness Project, the Kops N Kids Holiday Event, the MPAA Charity Golf Outing and the Shop with a Cop event.
