Paramedics, Other Responders Honored During Texas Ceremony

March 09--When Chris Colpitts responded to a call about an 84-year-old female resident who fell outside her home, he took his job one step further than he had to.

Colpitts asked the woman if she had a Life Alert System and learned she did, but the base was lost.

Arrangements were made to order a replacement and he offered to set it up when it arrived.

When she called to take him up on his offer, Colpitts took a female co-worker with him to the 84-year-old's house and stayed until the device was installed and working correctly.

"He spent his own time to help this lady," read Alan Harrison, interim director of University Medical Center EMS, from the nomination letter for Colpitts to receive the 2015 Outstanding Paramedic of the Year award at the 13th Unsung Heroes Awards ceremony Tuesday evening.

Colpitts, a UMC EMS paramedic, said he was only doing what anybody else would have done.

"It was the right thing to do," he said.

Colpitts was one of four Unsung Heroes honored during the ceremony, which was presented by Metropolitan Rotary Club and Prosperity Bank.

Others included Lt. Cory Buck with the Lubbock Fire Department, Adam Freeman with the Lubbock Police Department and Sgt. Tim White with the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office.

Bobby McCloud, president-elect of Metropolitan Lubbock Rotary Club, said the idea for the event was born after 9/11. The club partnered with the bank to localize Lubbock's own Unsung Hero recognitions.

The event hasn't always been consistent, which is why there have only been 13 ceremonies, McCloud said.

Each department votes to nominate their winner and recognize them during the ceremony each year, he said.

Buck, the 2015 Outstanding Fireman of the Year, said he grew up around fire departments.

His father was the volunteer fire chief in Shallowater, Buck said.

"It was all I ever wanted to do," he said.

When Chief Lance Phelps with the Lubbock Fire Department introduced Buck, he described Buck's work ethic as "unmatched" and said he's watched Buck grow into a leader during his time with the department.

Buck's station -- Station 8 -- is always well maintained and countless new fire recruits have gone through training with him, Phelps said.

There are more than 400 firefighters in Lubbock, Buck said during his speech after accepting his award.

"I've worked with a majority of them," he said. Receiving the Outstanding Fireman of the Year award is humbling, he said.

Angela Buck, Cory's wife of eight years, said she's proud to see her husband's work and dedication to his profession be recognized.

Freeman said he grew up with a fascination of the red and blue lights and knew he wanted to be a policeman.

He's been a member of the police force for about eight years and now works as a detective, which was always one of his goals, he said.

Lubbock Police Chief Greg Stevens said the one word that sums up Freeman's nomination for the Unsung Hero recognition is "perseverance."

Stevens said Freeman can always be counted on as a volunteer and he's always at work early and stays late.

Stevens said Freeman has become a "go-to" for missing persons cases and works to run every lead the department receives, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Freeman said his driving force is his two young daughters, his unborn son and his wife.

"We're proud that people see what we see at home," Farrah Freeman, Adam's wife, said of his recognition.

White got his start in law enforcement in 1991, he said.

Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe said White has helped train countless rookies and has been an outstanding leader in the department.

White has shifted around and tried each branch of the department, he said.

Crystal White, Tim's wife, said his heart has always seemed to be in patrol.

She and their family were proud to see her husband honored among the other Unsung Heroes. There are aspects to being the family of a law enforcement official or first responder that the public might not understand -- like long hours, sleepless nights and endless worry, she said.

"There's the aspect that every time he walks out the door, there's a possibility he may not come back," she said. "But we put our faith in God and we know that God is in control and he's going to take care of him when he's away from us."

During his speech, White addressed that aspect, too.

"We chose these professions and put up with the challenges just in order to get the job done and to help people along the way," he said. "The job in and of itself is fulfilling, rewarding and something to be proud of. It's not for recognition or accolades that we tolerate the negative. ...We feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in doing our jobs."

ellysa.gonzalez@lubbockonline.com

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