Each year around the anniversary of Sept. 11, the Pampa Kiwanis Club bestows the honor of Police Officer and Firefighter of the Year to individuals who work in these sectors in Pampa. The club asked for nominations from Interim Police Chief Logan Stout and Fire Chief Kim Powell. The honorees for this year are Sgt. Donny Brown and Equipment Operator Jerry Brock.

At a recent lunchtime meeting, Kiwanis member John Warner presented plaques to Brown and Brock in honor of their selfless hours of public service to the residents of Pampa.

According to Stout, he nominated Sgt. Brown as Police Officer of the Year because he was an integral part of the organization achieving "Recognized"

status last month. Pampa's police department is only the sixth agency in Texas to achieve this status, which requires a department to comply with 150 "Best Business Practices for Texas Law Enforcement."

"While all officers at the police department had to do their part in this process, Sgt. Brown had the pressure and responsibility of completing deadlines and keeping accurate documented files," Stout said. "He did so many day to day assignments in making sure our police department was within the required guidelines."

Stout went on to add that Brown has done an outstanding job especially over the past year, but also during the last 20 years that he's been with the Pampa police department.

Fire Chief Kim Powell said she nominated Equipment Operator Brown because he not only does his job but he really goes above and beyond the required tasks of the Pampa fire department.

"Jerry personally makes repairs on pumps, lights, sirens and alarms on the trucks which save taxpayers the cost of having it done commercially," Powell said. "He has taken more continuing education classes than are required, he teachers hazmat classes and also rescue and vehicle extrication classes and he is currently studying to become a Fire Officer No. 1, which involves a lot of planning, tactics and strategies in fighting fires."

Fellow firefighters described Brock as "enthusiastic" and "having great initiative." They also said that sometimes he overdoes his job. In May of this year, he was injured while fighting a large fire and had to be ordered off of the fire path by his captain. He was later transported to the hospital for treatment.

Brock has been a Pampa firefighter since Dec. 31, 2001.

Kiwanis President Pat Bagley said that he thinks the men and women of the police and fire departments really represent this community very well.

"The residents of Pampa have every reason to be proud of the Pampa Police and Fire departments," Bagley said. "They not only serve and protect the residents, but they are also active participants in this community as well. We are very lucky are proud to have all of them."