Thompson announces Heroes of the Year
Vallejo Police Officer John Ehman and Vallejo Fire Captain Patrick Wong were honored as part of the Fifth Congressional District’s Public Safety Hero of the Year Award, Rep. Mike Thompson’s office announced this week.
Each year, Thompson, D-St. Helena, recognizes law enforcement officers and first responders in the local community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. For Solano County, it was Ehman and Wong.
“It is my honor to recognize Officer Ehman and Captain Patrick Wong as our Public Safety Heroes for Solano County,” Thompson said in a press release from his office. “They have dedicated their lives to keeping our community safe and have gone above and beyond in their public service throughout their careers. We are proud to have such heroes in our community and thank them for their service.”
Ehman has been a tireless public servant on the force for thirty years, earning numerous commendations for his courage and dedication and serving for ten years on the Hostage Negotiations Team, Thompson’s office added. With all his seniority, he’s also one of the most physically fit members of the team, recently displayed in response to a suspect who engaged in a physical altercation.
Wong was recognized for his dedication not just to his department but to the community he and his fellow first responders service. He’s constantly hard at work to implement new practices to keep department members safe in the course of their work and he’s also always planning local events to ensure the community is taken care off, from holiday turkey dinner drives to toys for tots, they said. Vallejo is better for his dedication.
“Our local public safety officers are some of our most vital community members, putting their lives on the line to keep us safe and often working overtime during emergencies, such as our recent fires,” Thompson added. “I am humbled to once again present my Annual Public Safety Hero Award to the local law enforcement officers and first responders who demonstrate exceptional courage and dedication day in and day out. It is an incredible honor to represent so many dedicated and heroic public servants.”
In additions to the 11 honorees from each of the counties Thompson represents, Thompson also honored celebrity chefs Jose Andres and Tyler Florence with a special Public Safety Hero Award in honor of their work to provide meals and support during the recent fires.
The full list of the Public Safety Heroes of the Year for the Fifth Congressional District is below:
• Chief Dean Colombo, Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department
• Officer Jennifer Witschi and her K9 partner, Milo, Pinole Police Department
• Chief Neil Gang, Pinole Police Department
• Deputy Marc De La Torre, Lake County Sheriff’s Office
• Chief Willie Sapeta, Lake County Fire Protection District
• Detective Garrett Smith, Napa Police Department
• Scott Rose, Napa Emergency Services
• Officer John Ehman, Vallejo Police Department
• Captain Patrick Wong, Vallejo Fire Department
• Lieutenant Shawn Murphy, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
• Chief Mark Heine, Sonoma County Fire District
• Jose Andres, Celebrity Chef and local second responder
• Tyler Florence, Celebrity Chef and local second responder