The Centralia City Council presented a letter of commendation to several of Centralia’s emergency responders at its meeting on Monday for saving the life of a man in a fire.
Mayor Bryan Kuder read an account of how Lieutenant Jordan Parson and Captain Blake Perez of the fire department, as well as Sergeant Ryan Bundy, Officer Travis Ripperda, and Officer Nolan Beggs of the police department, responded to a fire call on Bond Street coordinated by Telecommunicator Derik Moss of 911 dispatch.
“Their heroic, quick-thinking actions from the policemen and the firemen saved a resident from the burning structure. Captain Perez along with Lt. Parsons immediately issued first aid to Officer Ripperda and Beggs. Telecommunicator Moss working alone maintained composure dispatching police, fire, and EMS not only for the initial call but then dispatching additional ambulances for the injured officers.”
Mayor Kuder praised each of the men for their conduct, saying this event showed excellent coordination between the fire department, police department, and dispatch.
Also honored was Officer Blake Dukes, who received a service award for fifteen years of service.
In other business, the council approved the annual water treatment plant chemical bids for 2023-2024, accepting the bids for liquid caustic, sodium permanganate, and aqua ammonia from Hawkins and the bid for hydrofluosilicic acid from Chemstream.
The council approved the Centralia Chamber using the Illinois Theatre for the upcoming Christmas Stroll on Friday, December 1st.
Centralia Police Officer Blake Dukes is honored by the city council for 15 years of service. Photo by Austin Williams.
