2008 LEPA Award Winners

Dedication Awards 

James Doyle Dennis 

Acadian Ambulance and Air Med Services

Mr. Dennis was a presenter on Multi-Agency Coordination Systems at the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association’s  conference in Shreveport, Louisiana, in June 2007.  He lectured to colleagues, emergency managers and at least one parish president on this topic. He designed and facilitated a hurricane drill exercise for the Acadian Ambulance management and supervisory team. This allowed the company to not only prepare for the season but exercise the plan. He participated in this year’s Hurricane Dean Drill and the State Pandemic Flu Drill as a DRC. Contributed (wrote) chapter on Mass Casualty Incidents for the following textbook: Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, 8th Ed., Brady 2007. Contributed chapter on Medical Incident Command for the following textbook: Nancy Caroline’s Emergency Care in the Streets, 6th Ed., Jones and Bartlett, 2007. Lastly, since 2001, Mr. Dennis has been actively training all EMTs, Paramedics and future medics in the state concerning the following topics: WMD Response, Medical Incident Command, START triage, Mass Casualty Response, and Incident Command Systems.

Lynn Pennison

Administrative Assistant, ExxonMobil 

Ms. Pennison, without serving on a committee, has served LEPA behind the curtain for many years. She always attends the workshops and works on everything that she is asked to and things that she is not asked to do. Ms. Pennison has collected door prizes, ditty bag stuffers, and silent auction items relentlessly every year and has always supported LEPA.

Scott Hess 

St. Tammany Fire Protection District #11

Captain Hess is the Emergency Management Coordinator for St. Tammany Fire Protection District #1. This program was non-existent when Captain Hess was assigned to the newly formed emergency management coordinator position. This position was formed after Fire District #1 was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Captain Hess was responsible for the design, construction, employee training and real world implementation of a state of the art fire department command post as well as a Comprehensive Fire Department All Hazards Emergency Management Plan. The command post is outfitted with the latest communications equipment to include Web EOC as well as being fully NIMS compliant in relation to paper work and training. Captain Hess instructed all department personnel as well as personnel from surrounding jurisdictions in IS 300 and 400 as well as ensured that Fire District #1 personnel were and remain 100% certified to the appropriate ICS training level to include IS-100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800. Captain Hess lead the team to confect the All Hazards Emergency Management Plan, which governs how Fire District #1 responds to events of all sizes. He continues to ensure that this plan is updated and constant exercising and training is conducted. Captain Hess oversees an aggressive GIS program, which includes flood models and the latest maps that are used in the response to weather and hazardous materials incidents. Captain Hess serves as a member of the St. Tammany Parish CISD Team. Captain Hess coordinates all members assigned to the parish EOC and assures that they stand ready for training and real world activations. Captain Hess serves as the assistant Fire District #1 Haz Mat Team Coordinator. Captain Hess has been a member of LEPA in good standing for several years. His emergency management experience encompasses not only public safety but private industry as well, making him a well rounded emergency manager. Captain Hess attained the prestigious Louisiana Emergency (LEM) credential in 2007. Captain Hess’s actions and dedication to the field of emergency management truly epitomizes the LEPA Mission. His actions have directly contributed to the advancement of public safety for the citizens of St. Tammany Parish as well as the state of Louisiana.

Ernest Mitchell 

Caddo Fire District #3 

Chief Mitchell is the primary leader in the Northwest Louisiana community to promote the implementation of patient-tracking to improve daily and disaster medical response. Efforts by Chief Mitchell to automate all aspects of mass casualty response by regional EMS forces have been noted as landmark achievements locally, regionally and nationally. Chief Mitchell’s dedication to Emergency Management has improved the efforts to protect the people in Louisiana from man-made and natural disasters. 

Steve Nezat 

Shreveport Fire Department 

Chief Nezat is the primary leader in the Northwest Louisiana community to promote the implementation of patient-tracking to improve daily and disaster medical response.  Efforts by Chief Nezat to automate all aspects of mass casualty response by regional EMS forces have been noted as landmark achievements locally, regionally, and nationally. Chief Nezat’s dedication to Emergency Management has improved the efforts to protect the people in Louisiana from man-made and natural disasters.

Richard Gray 

Bossier Parish EMS

 Bold initiative to design, resource, and train a medical response group from Northwest Louisiana called “LA-7”. This team is dedicated to deploy anywhere in Louisiana to help fellow citizens in need. Mr. Gray has been instrumental in the development of the communication term “RE-COM” to support LA-7.  Mr. Gray’s dedication to Emergency Management has improved the efforts to protect the people in Louisiana from man-made and natural disasters.

Rick Ware

 Bossier City Fire Marshall’s Office

 Bold initiative to design, resource, and train a medical response group from Northwest Louisiana called “LA-7”. This team is dedicated to deploy anywhere in Louisiana to help fellow citizens in need. Chief Ware has been instrumental in the development of the communication term “RE-COM” to support LA-7. Chief Ware’s dedication to Emergency Management has improved the efforts to protect the people in Louisiana from man-made and natural disasters.

Fred McCann

Bossier Parish 911 Communications

 Bold initiative to design, resource, and train a medical response group from Northwest Louisiana called “LA-7”. This team is dedicated to deploy anywhere in Louisiana to help fellow citizens in need. Chief McCann has been instrumental in the development of the communication term “RE-COM” to support LA-7.  Chief McCann’s dedication to Emergency Management has improved the efforts to protect the people in Louisiana from man-made and natural disasters.

Lifetime Achievement Awards

 Sharlot Edwards

Retired, Director of Emergency Preparedness, West Baton Rouge Parish

Mrs. Edwards retired in May 2008 from West Baton Rouge’s Office of Emergency Preparedness.  Ms. Edwards has served as 911 Director for West Baton Rouge for 10 years and on March 1, 2004, became Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and 911 Director for WBR Parish. She was formerly with East Baton Rouge EMS. She has been instrumental in obtaining several grants to assist the agencies in her Parish and has helped with obtaining a boat for the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office Flotilla to use on the Mississippi River aiding several parishes, an  equipped Hazmat Trailer for the Hazmat Team, a Command post for all agencies and a smoke house for fire training. She is a member of NENA, APCO, and LEPA. Ms. Edwards has served as the LEPC Chair for West Baton Rouge since 1997. She has been assistant Fire Chief for Erwinville Fire Department since 1989. She also served on the West Baton Rouge/North Baton Rouge RMP Committee. She enjoys bass fishing, reading, traveling and nature. Ms. Edwards has served on the LEPA Board of Directors for the past decade and was elected President for the 2006-2007 Board term.

Robert J. LeBlanc

Brigadier General, Retired

General Leblanc retired in October 2007 from the Vermilion Parish Office of Homeland Security  & Emergency Preparedness after being the director from June 1957 through October 2007. He has dedicated his life to serve the people of Vermilion Parish in whatever capacity he can.

Leadership Awards

John Fulco

Caddo-Bossier OHSEP

Primary leader in the Northwest Louisiana community to promote the implementation of patient-tracking to improve daily and disaster medical response. Efforts by Mr. Fulco to automate all aspects of mass casualty response by regional EMS forces has been noted as a landmark achievement locally, regionally and nationally. Mr. Fulco’s dedication to Emergency Management has improved the efforts to protect the people in Louisiana from man-made and natural disasters.

Fred Weaver

Bossier City Fire Department

Bold initiative to design, resource, and train a medical response group from Northwest Louisiana called “LA-7”. This team is dedicated to deploy anywhere in Louisiana to help fellow citizens in need. Chief Weaver had been the primary leader and promoter of the Emergency Management Readiness “Surge” Capability. Chief Weaver’s dedication to Emergency Management has improved the efforts to protect the people in Louisiana from man-made and natural disasters.

Valor Awards 

Duane Farmer

Houma Police Department

In August of 2007 Lieutenant Farmer performed lifesaving CPR to Mr. Leroy Pierron who suffered a heart attack. Doctors have admittedly attributed Mr. Pierron’s life being saved by the actions of Lieutenant Farmer.

Benjamin Dempster

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Dempster was engaged in the apprehension of a suspect who had committed an aggravated battery with a fire extinguisher on another person.  When he arrived at the suspect’s residence, he was told that no one remained in the residence. The suspect was hiding under some blankets alongside a bed in a FEMA trailer. When Deputy Dempster entered the trailer and pulled on the bedcovers, the subject presented a .357 magnum handgun and began to fire, striking Deputy Dempster in the upper portion of his chest. The bullet was stopped by his bullet-proof vest, but did leave a serious contusion which required medical attention. Deputy Dempster showed quick reaction to a perilous situation after being shot and fired upon by the subject; he returned fire which resulted in the subject’s death.

Presidential Award

Jeffrey "Jeff" Meyers