Salem County commissioners present certificates to local first responders

Salem County commissioners paused their agenda on Feb. 26 to present certificates recognizing local first responders and to highlight a multi‑year training partnership with Cooper University Hospital.

An unidentified speaker opening the presentation said the sheriff’s office would hand certificates to individual honorees. A second speaker thanked the board for time on the agenda and described coordinated emergency response efforts involving Chief Sewell and members of the New Castle response team, and credited the Salem County Sheriff’s Office and the county Department of Emergency Services for life‑support interventions at the incident being described.

"For the last 4 years, the county ... sheriff's office have partnered with Cooper University Hospital to provide advanced level of training to over 400 first responders," the speaker said, calling it a longstanding effort to raise local emergency capabilities. The same speaker later added, "I've known John for a long time ... he's super passionate about Trump," while stressing the trainer’s contribution to local readiness.

Speaker 3 called honorees forward for photographs and said Director Haney and Commissioner Timmerman would help present the certificates. The speaker read names and affiliations for the recipients, including Captain Brooke Catmiano of Pennsville Township EMS; Lieutenant Aaron Heffner of Pennsville Township EMS; Chief Cody Sui of Deepwater Fire Company; paramedics Mark Garlet and John Rolfe of Inspira; paramedic corporal Oliver Kotcher and paramedic Courtney Sella of New Castle County; paramedic Kyle Fields of New Castle County; and a civilian, Paul Kinsella.

No motions or votes were recorded in the meeting transcript for this item; the segment consisted of recognition and brief remarks. The commissioners and sheriff posed for a group photograph after the certificates were presented.