BY TERESA ACKERMAN
Gazette Newspapers
MENTOR – The Lake County Blue Coats held an annual banquet and awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 4, at the Wingate by Wyndham LaMalfa Centre in Mentor.
Former Ohio Rep. and current president of the Lake County Blue Coats John M. Rogers welcomed the guests.
He then introduced Dr. Stephen Baum, who is on the Dr. Ronald J. Taddeo Memorial Scholarship committee for The Lake County Blue Coats, who said they received 16 applications for this scholarship.
Baum said the criteria for applying is having a parent who works for a first responder agency in Lake County.
“I am proud to say that we selected six applicants this year,” said Baum.
The 2025 Dr. Ronald J. Taddeo Memorial Scholarship Award recipients:
• Ariel Ackerman – Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine – parent: Teresa Ackerman – Madison Township Police Department
• Brielle Collins – University of Michigan – parent: Dennis Collins – Mentor Police Department
• Matthew Lehner – West Virginia University – parent: Andrew Lehner – Mentor Police Department
• Reese Meister – John Carroll University – parent: Justin Meister – Madison Fire District
• Joshua Smelcer – Lakeland Community College – parent: Jon Smelcer – Mentor Police Department
• Ryan Zorko – The University of Akron – parent: Anthony Zorko – Wickliffe Police Department
Rogers introduced the guest speakers for the ceremony, LeAnne Suchanek, director of the Lake County Crime Laboratory, and Dr. Kent Caserta, forensic dentist.
Suchanek shared information about the future of the Lake County Crime Lab and Dr. Caserta shared a PowerPoint presentation on behalf of the Lake County Coroner’s office on forensic dentistry.
Past recipients of the Dr. Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award were introduced (those who were in attendance) by Rogers.
Retired Mentor Fire Chief Richard L. Harvey introduced Painesville Township firefighters Lt. Kevin Falvey and Matthew Watson. Both were nominated for the Dr. Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award by their Chief, Eric Burchak.
“On September 27, 2025, at 1103 hours, the Painesville Township Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire involving a one-story dwelling, located at 991 Robinhood Drive in Painesville Township,” Harvey read “With a report of a special needs victim being trapped inside. Upon arrival, Lt. Kevin Falvey and Firefighter Matthew Watson encountered a residential structure showing a heavy fire. Civilians on the scene also verified that a 20-year-old autistic female was inside a bedroom within the house. The reported victim’s bedroom partially open bedroom window, located approximately five feet from the ground and heavy smoke billowing out of the room, was too small for ingress or egress. With the dwelling now encompassing a fully involved fire, Lt. Falvey ordered Firefighter Watson to stretch an attack line hose and begin applying water into the bedroom. After circling the house, Lt. Falvey and Firefighter Watson, at the Lt.’s direction, donned their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and pushed their way into the home, beating back the fire while searching the residence for the victim and anyone else that might be in the home. The victim was found in her bedroom, unresponsive and laying prone next to her bed. Lt. Falvey and Firefighter Watson – with the subsequent arrival and assistance of the Painesville City Firefighters – successfully extricated the victim who was then transported to the hospital by a Leroy Township EMS Squad. Shortly thereafter, the victim was flown to Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital’s burn unit by Medivac for treatment. While she ultimately made a full recovery and was released, her father, who was found outside of the home upon arrival with severe burns, passed away a week later. Risking serious personal injury or death, while making their way into the home, both Lt. Falvey and Firefighter Watson’s actions, were above and beyond the call of duty, and worthy of recognition. Lt. Kevin Falvey’s and Firefighter Matthew Watson’s outstanding efforts bring great credit to themselves and the Painesville Township Fire Department, while setting a standard of excellence for all firefighters to emulate.”
Rogers presented Falvey and Watson each with The Lake County Blue Coats Dr. Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award.
Retired Mentor Police Capt. John Jaros, introduced Mentor Patrolman Ryan Heramb, who was nominated by Mentor Police Chief Kenneth Gunsch for the Dr. Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award.
Before Jaros read the nomination for Heramb, dashcam footage from the call (resulting in Heramb’s nomination) was shown to the audience.
“On Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at approximately 1 a.m., Mentor Police Officer, Ryan Heramb, was dispatched to investigate a report of a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, in the westbound lanes of traffic, on State Route 2, heading towards Mentor from State Route 91,” Jaros read. “Concerned that the driver might be impaired, Officer Heramb activated his emergency lights and siren, and proceeded onto State Route 2, travelling westbound from Center Street. Information was relayed to Officer Heramb that the wrong-way vehicle had just passed State Route 306 and was heading east in the westbound lane, travelling approximately sixty miles per hour. Officer Heramb purposely travelled in the left lanes to force westbound traffic to merge into the right lanes for their safety, while trying to signal the wrong-way driver to stop. Notwithstanding the fact that the wrong-way vehicle continued to speed toward Officer Heramb, he positioned his police cruiser in the center lane of travel, preparing to react to the violator’s threatening movements. As the wrong-way vehicle approached, Officer Heramb observed the driver slumped over toward the passenger side. In his effort to stop the oncoming car, Officer Heramb placed his cruiser in its path resulting in a collision, that prevented it from travelling further and threatening others on the highway. Due to Officer Heramb’s actions, the wrong-way vehicle was stopped, and the ninety-seven-year-old non-impaired driver was fortunately not injured. While Officer Heramb sustained injuries and his police cruiser being damaged, his actions likely prevented other head-on collisions, protecting innocent victims and averting a loss of lives. While in the performance of his responsibilities, Officer Ryan Heramb’s behavior went above and beyond the call of duty. By placing himself in harm’s way to protect others, his selfless actions were nothing less than heroic. His outstanding effort brings major credit to himself, the Mentor Police Department, and sets a standard of excellence for all law enforcement officers to emulate.”
Rogers presented Heramb with The Lake County Blue Coats Dr. Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award.
The Lake County Blue Coats provides financial assistance to the families of first responders that have given their life in the line of duty to protect our communities, recognizes first responders for extraordinary acts of valor through the Dr. Jorge Medina Distinguished Service Award and awarding the Dr. Ronald J. Taddeo educational scholarships to children of first responders employed in Lake County.
For more information about the Lake County Blue Coats go to www.lakecountybluecoats.com.
