“I love it and couldn’t ask for anything more,” especially, said Bell, as he “chose this later in life. I love going into to work, it’s a great place to be, a great group of guys” required to respond to a variety of incidents and calls.GMSP Moderator Ben Schuck noted, “To call someone and say give me 24 hours of your life” and they respond is admirable, especially as “not many would be that accommodating. We all recognize how important it is to have a Reserve force” to supplement the understaffed SPFD.The city, he added, is “blessed to have you and others that volunteer their time,” sacrificing time with their own families. “I admire that you are so passionate about your service.”Santa Paula Chevrolet/John Macik provides the monthly award plaques.
GMSP! SPFD Reserve Bell honored as Public Safety Officer of the Month
May 22, 2009
Santa Paula News
A dedicated Santa Paula Fire Department Reserve was honored by the Chamber of Commerce as the Public Safety Officer of the Month at Good Morning Santa Paula!
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA dedicated Santa Paula Fire Department Reserve was honored by the Chamber of Commerce as the Public Safety Officer of the Month at Good Morning Santa Paula! The May event, sponsored by the Chamber, was held at Logsdon’s at the Santa Paula Airport.“It’s always good to have Reserve Firefighter Terry Bell on our engine,” and alluding to Bell’s towering height, Fire Chief Rick Araiza noted “We grow them big in Santa Paula!” Reserve Bell has been part of the SPFD mutual response engine company team on large incidents including the Loma Linda freeway fire.“The first thing said when Terry gets off the engine is we brought someone that can do the work,” and Araiza said Bell proves that right every time he is involved in an incident. It is very rare, he added, that a Reserve is assigned to a strike team.A native of Santa Paula who has been a Santa Paula Fire Reserve for a little more than a year, Bell’s dedication, Araiza said, is obvious: “Over the last couple of months we’ve been short of reserves and we give him a call and he’s always happy to come in so Santa Paula is not short of coverage. Terry is always ready to work and is a hard worker above and beyond regular reserve” duties. Such dedication, said Araiza, is especially notable, as Bell has a wife and young son.
