You won’t find Joey Wicker’s name plastered around the community, but his peers at Central Emergency Services say they couldn’t do without Engineer/EMT III Wicker. He was voted CES Fire Fighter of the Year at last Saturday’s Awards Banquet…
Wicker: “Trying to make every day better for the people that I work with and the members of my community. I’m extremely lucky to have the job that I have and have the support of the people in this community to afford me the opportunity to have this job. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do and every day I come to work it’s a blessing.”
Wicker said he recognizes the unique opportunities at CES, since most fire fighters in the Lower 48 serve as volunteers in their spare time…
Wicker: “And that’s how I started, just because it’s a great way to give back to the community. I think it’s just wonderful that a community here would actually provide for us the opportunity to have a job and do it for a living and basically dedicate myself to doing it.”
Chief Chris Mokracek read a list of Wicker’s contributions last year, how he quietly kept the volunteer’s gear in order, making sure his colleagues were prepared and protected, stepped in to help when other staff were absent, all while he supported his wife through her battle with breast cancer.
Chief Mokracek: “He’s a true leader within the Department, even though he doesn’t hold an office or rank. He’s definitely looked up to by his peers and they see he walks the walk and talks the talk and really leads by example. He does a tremendous job.”