Pelham honors two first responders with Wounded Blue awards, council echoes support for pension change

Pelham — At its Jan. 5 council meeting, Pelham City leaders and members of the Wounded Blue organization presented honors to two local first responders who were seriously injured in the line of duty.

Chief Ed Delmore introduced the program and described the Wounded Blue award as an effort to recognize officers who have suffered catastrophic injuries and to support their families. "We have a huge gap in the RSA pension system," Delmore said, calling it "wrong" that "an officer has to be on 10 years before they become eligible for such a pension." He said local representatives are working with the city to change that rule.

Lieutenant Randy Sutton, representing Wounded Blue, described the award as "the purple heart for the police" and outlined the circumstances that led to the honors. According to Sutton and Delmore's comments, one recipient, Mike Talley, was pinned under heavy material when a structure collapsed while investigating an arson; Delmore said Talley suffered fractured vertebrae, multiple broken bones and chest injuries and was airlifted for treatment. The chief also recounted the case of Officer Elizabeth (identified in remarks as Elizabeth Lamar), who was struck on Interstate 65 by a driver alleged to have been impaired; Delmore said the driver received a 15-year sentence in the case he described.

The Wounded Blue's mission statement was shared with the council: the organization provides national peer support, advocacy and resources for officers injured or disabled in the line of duty and promotes connection among officers, families and experts. The organization provided information on how to get involved and donate (www.thewoundedblue.org).

City Manager and council members praised the presentation and invited the award recipients and family members for photographs and to speak with media after the ceremony. The mayor and council did not take formal action on the presentation itself; Delmore and others said efforts would continue at the state level to address pension eligibility for catastrophically injured first responders.

The presentation concluded with the Wounded Blue representatives making themselves available to the press in the lobby. Council members repeatedly described the remarks as moving and emphasized the city's support for injured officers and firefighters.

What happens next: Wounded Blue representatives and city officials said they will continue work with state legislators on proposals to address the RSA pension eligibility rule raised during the presentation.