October 11, 2019 – Slinger, WI – First responders from the state of Wisconsin gathered at the State Capitol in Madison to be recognized by the State Assembly. This event was to pay tribute to individuals that have dedicated their lives to serve others.
Assembly District Rep. Rick Gundrum nominated Assistant Chief Brad Schaefer of the Slinger Fire Department.
Bernie Wolf of the Allenton Volunteer Fire Department was recognized by Assemblyman Tim Ramthun as the First Responder of the Year for the 59th District.
Nominated for the 60th District by Assemblyman Rob Brooks was Chief Gilly Schultz (retired) of the Saukville Fire Department.
Assemblyman Tim Ramthun said, “I urge you to carry on the momentum by thanking a first responder in your community, whether it be law enforcement, firefighter, or EMS provider. It’s the least we can do for those who serve our communities, and a little appreciation can go a long way.”
Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) announced Officer Lea Olsen of the Brown Deer Police Department as the recipient of the 24th Assembly District First Responder of the Year Award. Officer Olsen and her guests joined Rep. Knodl for special recognition by the Wisconsin State Assembly in Madison.
“It was an honor to present this award to Officer Olsen today in recognition of her dedication and bravery in service to the community,” said Rep. Knodl. “We are fortunate to have outstanding first responders like Officer Olsen across the 24th Assembly District working to save lives and keep our communities safe.”
Officer Olsen was nominated by Brown Deer Police Chief Michael Kass for her act of bravery in responding to a call at an apartment complex in the community. Apartment residents discovered someone lying on the bottom of the pool.
Upon arrival, Officer Olsen quickly assessed the urgency of the situation, set aside her personal safety, took off her police equipment, and jumped into the deep end of the pool. She retrieved the lifeless body from the bottom and resurfaced. With the assistance of another officer, Officer Olsen was able to remove the body from the pool and initiated CPR until she was relieved by the North Shore Fire Department. The decisiveness of Officer Olsen’s actions, despite the personal risk, were exemplary as well as instrumental in prolonging the young man’s life.
“There are nearly 14,000 law enforcement officers, 9,400 firefighters and 9,900 EMS personnel, as well as 23,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS that play a crucial role in every community across the state,” added Knodl. “We honored some of them today in the Assembly, and we also extend our gratitude and thanks to all first responders across Wisconsin for the important work they do.”
In legislative action today, the Assembly approved additional funding to update our statewide 911 system, a tax credit for volunteer firefighters, and a resolution designating October 28th as First Responders Appreciation Day. We also passed Senate Bill 266 which helps provide health insurance benefits to families of fallen law enforcement officers. It will now go to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
