Deptford council drew attention to emergency responders during its Feb. 10 meeting, as it swore in multiple officers and named two firefighters citizens of the month.
More than a dozen township officers took the oath for the police department, according to Mayor Paul Medany, with two promoted to sergeant and one to captain. Their hiring was meant to bolster Deptford’s efforts in the area of public safety.
“Public safety is always a priority for us,” Medany explained. “We beefed up neighborhood patrols to have more officers about and we beefed up business patrols. We’re trying to become more proactive, since we noticed things are usually more reactive.”
The fire department was also cited at the meeting, as two members of the Oak Valley company, Roland “RJ” Williams and Lt. Robert McDermott, were named citizens of the month for February because of their actions in response to an October fire.
The two were responding to a call on Oct. 7 when they found an individual whose clothing had caught fire. McDermott and Williams put out the flames despite the individual’s resistance, and he survived with some burn injuries.
Williams and McDermott also received meritorious service awards at the 58th annual Gloucester County Fire Chiefs Association Awards banquet on Jan. 9.
Meanwhile, Inspira Health Center was named business of the month at the meeting, in part because of its involvement in the community. The hospital network opened the center in November at the former Dick’s Sporting Goods to provide primary health; sports; and cardiac care, among other services.
With all the honors, council’s meeting is estimated to have drawn more than 100 people, according to the mayor, and showcased the community’s appreciation for its emergency services.
“It was the community saying thank you to our first responders,” Medany observed. “We thank them (first responders) for their service and they’re doing a great job. It was a very good meeting.”
