The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
WARNER, WHITE HONORED FOR DUTY
Charlie Decker Public Safety Dinner: Firefighter, police officer earn accolades for service
ONEIDA >> The city celebrated its first and finest Friday at the 21st annual Charlie Decker Public Safety Dinner.
Every year, the police and fire chiefs choose a member of their department to be honored for their contributions throughout the year. This year, they chose Lt. Jeff White of the Oneida Fire Department and Officer Ryan Warner of the Oneida Police Department.
White has been an “instrumental part of this department for his entire career,” said Fire Chief Kevin Salerno. “When he does something, he ensures it is done right the first time. His work and dedication to the fire department is second to none.”
For the past few years, White has helped oversee equipment replacements in the department, from new trucks to new gear, with much of the work being done on his own time. “He just does what he needs to, no questions asked, because he wants to make sure that the city has a piece of equipment they can rely on and his coworkers can trust their lives with,” Salerno said.
Some of the highlights of White’s work include the Opticom system at the intersection of Routes 5 and 46, which allow firefighters to change the light from the cab of their truck to make travel through there for emergencies safer. White also negotiated with the state to have the same system installed along Route 365 since it is currently under construction.
White also helped establish the I Am Responding system in the county that allowed off-duty firefighters to instantly report if they can come in for an emergency. Knowing immediately if more personnel can be on-scene allows active firefighters to make more informed decisions on tactics, staffing and if further calls need to be made for aid.
Salerno said White was also able to secure $25,000 from Sen. Dave Valesky’s office to replace firefighting gear that
was nearing the end of its use.
White’s “dedication to the department has made him one of the most respected firefighters amongst his peers,” Salerno said. He is a “testament and example for juniormembers to try and aspire to follow.”
For Police ChiefDavidMeeker, Ryan’s reliability, communication skills and work in the patrol divisionwas whatmade him a great candidate for the award.
Since 2012when he joined the department, Meeker saidWarner has only taken four hours of sick time. In 2015, he handled hundreds of calls, made 68 arrests and issued 41 traffic tickets. He oversees the TRACS program, a computerized ticketing program, and deals with any other computer issues in the department.
Warner is also highly community-minded, participating in events, school talks and presentations. In one case, Meeker said Warner called a woman back later in the night to verify her blood sugarwas reading okay after a call earlier in the day.
Warner helped arrest two armed robbery suspects who had fled from a nearby village and attempted to run from po- lice when approached. He was also recognized for his efforts in arresting a woman who had stolen the identity and credit cards of a victim in Florida after she tried using the card at a local bank. Warner’s investigation helped identify several men workingwith the woman, which led to their arrest in Sydney, N.Y., this past summer.
In the fall, Warner responded with other officers to a report of shots fired in a home. “At risk of their own safety, officers made a calculated entry into the residence, using sound tactics in an attempt to render aid to any victim,” Meeker said. Theman who had fired the gun was arrested.
Warner also responded to an accidental shooting in Walmart earlier this yearwhen aman shot himself in the foot. “The calm and professional handling of the incident prevented any panic and was handled in a safe and thoroughmanner,” Meeker said.
Warner’s “steady and consistent performance of duty and dedicationare a plus to the community and the department,” Meeker added.
During the ceremony, Madison County Community Manager Ted Halpin spoke about the importance of being prepared for emergencies, such as the Flood of 2013, or the possibility of a fire like what hap- pened in Syracuse and Alberta, Canada this past week. He also praised those who go into emergency services for their work and dedication to protecting others.
“There is nothing more rewarding than taking care of your family and those in the greatest need of their lives,” he said.
His job as community manager is to make sure the county and the towns and villages within it are prepared for any eventuality. He helps train firefighters and officers on proper procedure, educates the public about safety, and coordinates with other municipalities, counties and the state on what to do in an emergency situation.
“Theseplanshelpus regroup,” he said. “We have a gameplan in place.”
For him, the evening was a welcome highlight for emergency services and what they do for the city of Oneida.
“It’s fantastic howthe community chooses to honor its first responders,” he said.
The evening also saw the second annual Kane Buss Award presentation to a local student who is pursuing a career in law enforcement.
This year’s award went to OneidaHigh School student Taylor Schneider, who plans on attendingMohawk Valley Community College.