New Carlisle firefighters chose two of their own to be honored with annual awards.
Capt. Dan Bowman was chosen as the officer of the year and Steve Trusty was chosen as the firefighter of the year.
“Our process is that we do online voting through an online survey generator,” said Brad Phillips, New Carlisle fire chief. “Every employee is given the link to vote so they can vote from anywhere they have Internet access. There is no reward other than the nice trophy and the respect of your peers.”
Bowman has been with the division since November 2012 and has been a firefighter for 25 years. He has worked as a volunteer, part-time and full-time. He has also worked for the FDNY and as a deputy sheriff.
“I feel it’s a honor for being chosen by my peers,” Bowman said. “I became a firefighter to help others. I feel the New Carlisle fire division is a great department and we serve great citizens. It truly is ‘neighbors helping neighbors.’”
Bowman took over the fire training program and often provides one-on-one training at the division, Phillips said.
“Dan works very hard at breaking each subject down so that everyone understands,” Phillips said. “He is someone that I know will share my vision for the Division and work as hard as I do to make it a reality. Dan put everything he has into his work and it shows.”
Trusty has been with New Carlisle since April 2013. He has been a firefighter for 35 years and retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in June.
“I feel very honored and humbled to be selected for the award knowing it came from my peers,” Trusty said. “I try to live by putting others before myself. I wanted to become a firefighter to give back to others and to help others.”
“I love working at New Carlisle fire,” Trusty said. “It is my second family.”
Trusty also serves as the fire division chaplain and runs the fire inspection program, Phillips said.
“Steve has really taken some projects that I really wanted to get off the ground and ran with them,” Phillips said. “Using his 30 years of experience as a fire inspector for WPAFB, he has helped me get to the point I want to be with the program. Steve is a great person and always willing to share his knowledge with the younger members of the division.”
