Firefighters, officers honored at awards ceremony

First awards night at Masonic Lodge

MOSES LAKE - Two area firefighters, a deputy, a state patrol trooper and a Moses Lake police officer were honored Tuesday with public safety awards at the Moses Lake Masonic Lodge.

The event was held for the first time this week to express the lodge's "care for members of public safety, while fulfilling our Masonic commitment to support our community," stated Gordon Harris, worshipful master.

The event is expected to be held annually and is modeled from a program done in Battle Ground, Wash. Recipients are nominated by their supervisors.

"You may ask yourself, 'what on earth are the Masons doing presenting public safety awards?'" Harris said.

Officers experience daily risks with their jobs, sometimes keeping them away from home. They may have missed Christmases and birthdays. Harris thanked the officers' wives for supporting their husbands.

The award recipients are:

• Grant County deputy Jay Atwood is a 15-year employee. His most recently helped legislators promote a tougher penalties law aimed at protecting victims of stolen metal property and providing tougher penalties against metal thieves, according to his nomination letter. The new law was enacted in 2007.

Atwood was also credited with helping jail more than six people who were later convicted of stealing metal from Columbia Basin farmers.

• Washington State Patrol trooper Phil Jesse is a 16-year employee. Jesse is a member of the patrol's Aggressive Driver Apprehension Team.

"Jesse has been very successful in this endeavor and has, in recent times, focused his efforts on state Route 17 south of Moses Lake and in the Mattawa area. This was in response to citizen concerns about the driving behaviors exhibited in those locations," according to his nomination letter.

• Moses Lake Police officer Dale Baltzell is a 33-year employee. "During his tenure as a detective, officer Baltzell was responsible for the investigation of all major crimes, including homicides," his nomination letter states.

"Throughout his career, officer Baltzell has performed his duties in a dedicated and professional manner, having a significant impact on the public safety of our community. Officer Baltzell has proven to be knowledgeable and reliable, and has been a mentor and role model for many less experienced officers."

• Firefighter/EMT Michael Evens of Grant County Fire District No. 5 is an eight-year volunteer and a part-time district employee.

His accomplishments include completing various training classes with recently becoming a member for the technical rescue team, which takes more time than standard volunteer duties, according to his nomination letter. He's also completed rope operations, swiftwater rescue technician training and ice rescue technician training over the last year.

• Firefighter/EMT Thomas Craghead of the Moses Lake Fire Department is a 33-year employee of the department, who will retire on Feb. 15.

"He has spent his entire firefighting career with the City of Moses Lake and has been a pleasure to work with. Tom began his first shift on Jan. 2, 1975. His retirement will mark the end of 33 years of service to our community and fulfilling every boy's dream of becoming a firefighter," his nomination letter states.