Public Service and Heroism Awards
September 15, 2023
Jeff Myers along with Host Philip Schwartz presenting
Emergency Medical Services Commendation Medal and Certificate
to David Pence, Columbus Division of Fire
FF David Pence has been with Columbus Division of Fire for 20 years and is currently assigned to Rescue 11. Prior to that he worked for the Westerville Fire Department part time for 3 years and for Medflight for 15 years.
In 2019, FF Pence volunteered for a new venture that the department was starting in partnership with OhioHealth, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Mount Carmel Health Systems called the Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit (MSTU). This is a highly specialized emergency vehicle that is cross staffed with Columbus Fire Paramedics, CT Techs, and Advanced Practice Providers specially trained in stroke care.
Their only job is to save the lives of stroke victims and minimize the side effects of a stroke by getting lifesaving care started in the field rather than waiting to get to a hospital to start treatment. Studies show that for every minute stroke treatment is delayed, the patient needs a week of rehab.
The national standard to treat a stroke victim in the hospital is 60 minutes. The MSTU is getting it done in 25 minutes! Only a few other departments in the USA that are doing similar work, but other departments are calling Columbus so they can try to copy our success rates. FF Pence is a pioneer in this endeavor and has shared our successes at national conferences regarding stroke care in the pre-hospital setting.
FF Pence is passionate about this program and it clearly shows. He has taken on the role of Mobile Stroke Specialist with OhioHealth, one of three people in the entire Columbus area. He does all this while also staying active with his Fire/Rescue duties. FF Pence has spent his career learning, training, and improving so he can make a positive difference for all he is called to serve. The City of Columbus and Central Ohio are lucky to have him.
Law Enforcement Commendation Medal
Steve Kinsey, Columbus Division of Police
Officer Steven Kinsey is a 22-year veteran of the Columbus Division of Police and has been with the Helicopter Unit for the last 10 years. After graduating from the police academy, Officer Kinsey worked patrol in Zones 1, 2 and 5 during the evening mid- watch shifts. He chose inner-city precincts as he felt most effective in these areas due to his upbringing in similar neighborhoods in Michigan.
His law enforcement career was born from a desire to change the system. Growing up in Michigan, Kinsey said he faced constant, unjustified harassment from the police. Those instances changed his life's trajectory and inspired him to pursue law enforcement. .
He had a deep fascination for aviation his whole life and after attending an airshow at Rickenbacker International Airport, he immediately drove to a flight school, walked in and said "I want to fly an airplane." As fate would have it, a flight instructor had availability, so within an hour of leaving Rickenbacker, Kinsey was flying a plane. He completed his initial training at Fairfield County Airport. This helped him ultimately land a job as an aircrew member with the police division in 2013.
Officer Kinsey continued his aviation career while mastering the helicopter with CPD. He is a Certified Flight Instructor and acts as an instructor for the Ohio State University Airport as well as the Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at Capital City Aviation. He is also an Auxiliary Officer for the Ohio State University Police Department.
Officer Kinsey's airmanship and superior ability as a Tactical Flight Officer working the FUR camera system and Nightsun® spotlight has led to numerous felony apprehensions. He is truly an asset to the Aviation Section and the division of police.
He also donates countless hours inspiring youth by volunteering with the Capital City Young Aviators.
Officer Kinsey displays dedication, commitment and passion when it comes to aviation and the division of police.
L-R Host Steve Brubaker, BFC
Heroism Medal, Steve Treinish, Division of Fire
Host Tony Rugger, BFC
Life Saving Medal, Curtis Young, Division of Fire
On October 4, 2022, the Fire Alarm Office received a call from the police, reporting a person in the Scioto River in front of 1 Miranova Place, and that they were responding. A Water Rescue run was dispatched at 5:27 p.m. Engine 2, stationed at 150 E. Fulton Street, was out on a run and had just marked back in service.
Lt. Steve Treinish was the officer in charge of Engine 2 that day. He is the Division’s most senior and most experienced diver. FF Benjamin F. Funk was also on the engine and is also a diver. Typically, the engine would go back to the fire station and pick up other divers and dive tenders and respond in the Dive and Rescue Team (DART) vehicle. Because Engine 2 was so close to the run location, Lt. Treinish made the decision to respond directly to the scene and planned on meeting the other members of the team there.
Upon arrival, police were standing on the Rich Street bridge watching a man in the water who appeared to be floating and not in distress. Lt. Treinish was quick to recognize that the victim was not floating in a relaxed fashion, but was in a stage where drowning victims are so exhausted they begin to accept they are going to die and have no energy left to fight to stay afloat.
Lt. Treinish and his crew donned life jackets from a compartment on the engine. Without hesitation, Lt Treinish dove into the water and started to make his way to the victim. Lt Treinish was able to grab the victim and hold his head above water until FF Funk could swim out to them with a rope so they could be pulled back in to shore by the third member of Engine 2, FF Curtis L. Young.
All companies who were dispatched to the run had arrived and were ready to act in any manner necessary to support the rescue. The victim was immediately moved to a Medic and seen by EMTs before being transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Jeff Myers presenting Life Saving Medal and Certificate to Fire Fighter Curtis Young
Jeff Myers presenting Heroism Medal and Certificate to Fire Fighter Steve Treinish
Absent were Lt. Glenn Cecil, Columbus Division of Fire who won the Fire Safety Medal and
Benjamin Funk, Columbus Division of Fire who won the Live Saving Medal.