Recently, many of Mentor’s finest safety forces were recognized for their outstanding work in our community. We’d like to take a moment and acknowledge these upstanding members of the Mentor Police and Fire Departments.
Mentor Police Detective Ric Smith was recently presented with the Departmental Excellence Award by Mentor Police Chief Ken Gunsch for the successful investigation of a multi-state financial scam. In August 2022, a Mentor resident had contacted the Mentor Police Department after being scammed out of $68,000. Through the course of his investigation, Detective Smith discovered that a person from Maine had also fallen victim to the same scammer in the amount of $92,000. Smith worked closely with the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, the victim’s bank, and the United States Secret Service. Throughout his investigation he was able to locate a suspect operating out of Atlanta, Georgia. The suspect admitted participating in the crime while being questioned by Secret Service agents and implicated another individual at that time. Detective Ric Smith’s hard work resulted in the return of $140,628.00 to the victims. Federal authorities have now taken over the case as the suspects face federal charges.
On Wednesday, March 1st, Patrolman Ryan Heramb was presented with the Life Saving Award at the Lake County Chiefs of Police Meeting. The Lake County Association of Chiefs of Police (LCACP) Award committee annually gives out The Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Award, the Combat Cross, Injured on Duty, and the Life Saving Award. The awards consist of a citation bar to be worn on the officer’s uniform and an account of the award to be placed in the officer’s personnel file. On October 5, 2022, Patrolman Heramb was on patrol around SR-2 and Heisley Rd. A passerby informed him of a male on the side of the SR-44 north bridge over SR-2. Patrolman Heramb responded to the scene and found an 18-year-old male in mental crisis on the side of the bridge. Patrolman Heramb developed a rapport with the young man and eventually was able to grab the male, pull him back over the rail, and save his life.
Every year, the Mentor Police Department presents both the Officer of the Year award and the Civilian Employee of the Year award. Both internal awards are particularly special to the recipients because they are voted on by their peers. This year, in honor of their outstanding work, 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.
Occasionally an officer or firefighter is recognized for his or her achievements by outside agencies and businesses. On Friday, February 24th, 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-and-a-half-mile rescue mission to help return Ms. Johnson to the bottom. The heroic efforts of the firefighters were recognized both locally and nationally.
Congratulations also needs to go out to Mentor Police Captain Mike Majernik. He was honored with the VFW Public Servant Award for his dedication to the citizens of Mentor for his work with the police department Wellness Project, the Kops N Kids Holiday Event, the MPAA Charity Golf Outing, and the Shop with a Cop event. His hard work and dedication to the citizens and the police officers in Mentor is appreciated.
These are just some of the Mentor Safety Forces who willingly distinguish themselves through an act of courage, involving a risk of serious injury or death, for the purpose of saving or protecting a human life. We thank them for all they do.