Club Honors Firefighters, Police of the Year

Bigwigs in the San Clemente first-responder and civic communities showed up at Irons in the Fire to honor four employees of the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff's Department for their outstanding service.

The Exchange Club hosted the event at . The deputies and firefighters recognized were chosen by their peers in their respective departments.

Deputy David Pultz was honored as the 2012 Deputy of the Year for his work catching parolees, cultivating informants, getting grants for the department, enforcing alcohol violations and nabbing taggers.

"He really wanted to get out in the street and immerse himself in police work," said Lt. Paul D'Auria of San Clemente Police Services.

The OCSD San Clemente staffer of the year was Community Services Officer Stephanie Jones. She has been responsible for computer transitions, remodeling, handing all sorts of reports and generally keeping things running smoothly within San Clemente Police Services.

D'Auria called overseeing all these administrative tasks a "monumental task" that keeps the department running "smoothly, flawlessly and within budget."

On the OCFA side, Division Chief Rick Robinson recognized career firefighter Tom Forrester. Forrester has been serving at Station 29 in Capistrano Beach for years with the fourth busiest engine unit in the county, responding to 3,000 calls per year.

Robinson said Forrester was integral in helping develop techniques used today in urban search-and-rescue operations, and his unit received a citation for rescuing three people from the balcony of a burning building.

Robinson also honored reserve firefighter Scott Mermel, who did not attend the luncheon. Robinson said Mermel has devoted hundreds of volunteer hours per year.

The Exchange Club has been recognizing firefighters and peace officers annually since 1966.