Community Heroes

Meet Jeff Potts, Emmaus Auxiliary Police Officer

Potts hails from New Jersey and Manhattan but loves his life in the Lehigh Valley.

Name: Jeff Potts Where do you live? "I currently live in Emmaus. I grew up in a small North Jersey town where HBO did a lot of filming for its 'Sopranos' TV series. I worked in Manhattan for 10 years prior to my transfer here." What is your occupation? "I am a general manager for Compass Group North America. I run on-site corporate dining services for corporations. I also have been working for the Borough of Emmaus for the past three years as an auxiliary police officer and up until recently have been a firefighter for Emmaus for the past five years."  What is your training? "I went to the Ohio State University and North Hampton for Hotel Restaurant Management. I also have over a dozen various certifications from the Pennsylvanian State …

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Community Heroes

Meet Patrick O'Leary, Emmaus Ambulance Corps EMT

O'Leary has overcome a reading disability to achieve state- and national-level certifications in his field.

Name: Patrick O'Leary Where do you live? Lower Macungie Township Volunteer activities: Emmaus Ambulance, for about two years "I am involved with the Lower Macungie Fire Department. I have been a Volunteer Firefighter with Lower Macungie now for about six going on seven years. I started with the department at the age of 14. I was the last Junior Firefighter that could join at the age of 14 due to a change in the department protocols." Professional employment: Full-time EMT with Cetronia Ambulance "I work in the paratransit part of the company, so I am often doing transports to and from different locations." What is your training? Tell us a little about what you do on a daily basis. "My daily responsibilities include going to either …

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Community Heroes

Meet Don O'Leary, Emmaus EMT

O'Leary won't let age prevent him from helping others.

Name: Don O'Leary Where do you live? Wescosville, Pa. (Lower Macungie Township) Tell us about your family. "I have been married for 38 years to my beautiful wife, Florence. We have four boys - ages 20 to 33 years. We also have a rescue dog and an Indian Ringneck Parrot - Buddy and Squeeky." What is your occupation? "I am currently looking for full-time work but work part time at Emmaus Ambulance Corps." What is your training? "I am an EMT-Basic. I also have certifications in Basic Vehicle Rescue, Special Vehicle Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, as well as firefighting." Tell us a little about what you do on a daily basis. "As an EMT, I assist the Medics as needed, drive the units, as well as handle the more basic calls that we may be called to…

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Community Heroes

Meet Dave Gatens, Emmaus Auxiliary Police Officer

Gatens might be the new guy in town, but he's got an eye on what's happening.

Where do you live? Allentown What is your occupation? Auxiliary Police Officer with Emmaus Police Department. Describe some of your daily responsibilities. "I serve the community as a public safety figure for various functions throughout the borough during the year. During the summer months it's being a presence in the parks system. During the rest of the year it's staffing the numerous events at the schools and parades." Tell us why you enjoy your job as an auxiliary police officer. "Networking and the outdoors. I have the chance to work in an environment I really enjoy and meet new people on a daily basis." Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree? "I graduated from DeSales University in 2008. I have a B.S. in Sports/Business …

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Community Heroes

Meet Bob Martrich, Emmaus Fire Police Officer

Martrich has a heart for volunteering...in more ways than one.

Name: Bob Martrich Age: 63 Hometown: Born in Allentown, moved to Emmaus in 1978 Tell us about your family: "My wife Dawn and I have been married 40 years and have three sons. Jeremy lives in Hamburg, Michael lives in Philadelphia, and Andrew lives in North Salem, N.Y. They are all still single so we have no grandchildren. We have replaced the kids with 2 dogs (yellow labs), Abby and Maggie and a parrot named Barnes." Fire company: Emmaus Fire Department Title/Role/Position: Fire Police Officer and Chaplin for the Emmaus Firemen’s Relief Association What training have you received? "Fire Police Officers require training in traffic control, communications, legal issues, warning communications and security. Most officers receive around 100 …

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Community Heroes

Meet Brett Kratzer, Citizens' Fire Co. of Upper Milford

Kratzer does what it takes to keep Upper Milford and Emmaus residents safe.

Name: Brett Kratzer Age: 18 Hometown: Emmaus Tell us about your family: "I have a 10-year-old sister who looks up to me, and a mother who supports me in every decision and thing I do." Do you have an occupation outside of the fire department? If so, what do you do?: Kratzer works for Semmel Excavating Company as a laborer. He digs out pipes in ditches and checks grade for equipment operators. Fire company: Citizens' Fire Co. of Upper Milford (Vera Cruz) Title/responsibilities with the fire company: Firefighter  "I actually run with station 28, Vera Cruz Fire Department. A normal week all depends on weather. I only respond to a few calls. I mainly put signs out for fire police and apply speedy dry where oil has spilled at a motor vehicle …

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Community Heroes

Meet Vickie Gruver, Emmaus Ambulance Corps EMT

Vickie Gruver dedicates her days to helping those in need of medical services.

Full name: Vickie Gruver Tell us about your family: Gruver has been married for 29 years. She has two grown boys, one granddaughter (age 6) and one grandson (age 3). Where do you live? Emmaus Job Title/Description: Part-time Emergency Medical Technician, for 23 yrs. Gruver also works as a full-time certified nursing assistant (CNA) and a part-time security guard. Explain what you do on a daily basis: "As an EMT, I am responsible for being the right hand to the medic. They rely on the EMT to know what they will need.  "When I am on the clock at Central Station, we are responsible to be sure that trucks are ready to respond, having fuel, oxygen and all the required equipment. We are responsible for doing trip sheets after a call if it was a …

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Community Heroes

Meet Craig Blose, Emmaus K-9 Officer

Officer Blose is a familiar face around town, with or without his trusty K-9, Zandor.

Name: Craig Blose, Patrolman/K-9 Officer, Emmaus Police Department Age: 36 Family: Blose is married and a father to two "very active, beautiful children." What training have you received?       Blose attended the Allentown Police Academy. He has taken seminars in evidence collection and preservation, use of force, defense tactics, firearms, disaster response, narcotics identification and interdiction techniques. Blose has studied the German, Czech and Dutch languages. He is well-versed in search and seizure laws. He is nationally certified as both a police emergency driving instructor and a child safety seat technician. He is certified as a police mountain bike officer.       Blose has attended three police K-9 academies with three …

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Midday Car Fire on Broad St. Brings out Police, Fire Dept.

Local college student's car catches fire as he heads home from class earlier today.

A college student traveling home from classes at Lehigh Carbon Community College acted quickly as he realized a fire had ignited beneath the hood of his late-model Cadillac. After crossing over S. 10th Street and heading east on Broad Street, the S. 4th Street resident saw smoke escaping from the Lincoln's hood. He pulled over in the residential block near Fire Co. #1 at S. 6th Street to try to figure out what was going on. Flames shot up quickly and spread throughout the front portion of the vehicle. A passerby assisted him with a hand-held fire extinguisher that delayed the fire long enough for police and fire fighters to arrive. The fire was extinguished just before spreading to an elm tree that was hanging above the vehicle.

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September 11

Community Heroes Day Brings Emmaus Together

Emmaus Public Library hosts 10th annual Community Heroes Day.

"Everybody who takes care of me is dead," said a 4-year-old boy as he and his mother walked toward the first Community Heroes Day at Emmaus Public Library. "It's OK honey, see, not all the firemen are dead," his mom responded. George DeVault, assistant fire chief for Citizens' Fire Co. in Upper Milford, became choked up, even 10 years later, as he recalled hearing these words from the boy who approached the parking lot on the first night of what has become an annual event in Emmaus - "Community Heroes Day." On September 11, 2001, Martha Vines, Emmaus's children's librarian, said she overheard a young boy talking to his mom in the library about his fear of no longer being protected after the Twin Towers fell. Vines knew then that something …

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