Fire Captain Receives Recognition

MORENO VALLEY>> During the Tuesday, March 7 city council meeting, Fire Captain Robert Patterson was named as the City of Moreno Valley’s 2016 Firefighter of the Year for his devotion to the community and his passion for helping develop the firefighters of the future. Surrounded by friends, family and Fire Chief Abdul Ahmad, Patterson received a plaque from the city in honor of his recognition. "After receiving the award, I felt great," Patterson said. "It was an honor to be recognized for the work we do. I felt our hard work was paying off and my coworkers and I were being recognized for the tremendous effort we put out on a daily basis." As a Captain at Moreno Valley’s Moreno Beach Fire Station 58 since 2014, Patterson and his crew are responsible for responding to incidents throughout the city and along the SR-60 freeway, including technical rescues, mass casualty traffic accidents and car fires. "Despite the inherent danger of responding to accidents on the freeway and the challenging nature of the calls, Patterson skillfully directs his crew to manage care for multiple patients," said Kimberly Sutherland, City of Moreno Valley Public Information Officer, in a press release. "His calm demeanor and decades of experience ensure patients receive the care they need and his crew remains safe from harm." In addition to his daily responsibilities, Patterson oversees one of the department’s two Fire Explorer posts. Sutherland said Patterson’s passion for teaching and training is apparent through his oversight of the Fire Explorers, which provides Moreno Valley high school students a valuable opportunity to learn first-hand about a career in fire or emergency services. "What keeps me going is the next generation and crew I work with daily," Patterson said. "Someday, these young men and women are going to be replacing me on the job. I want to mentor my crew, my coworkers and especially the Fire Explorers to be prepared for that responsibility." Patterson said when he participates in the weekly Fire Explorer training, he feels motivated to see them work toward a possibly a job in the fire service, if they choose. "I want to help set these men and women up for success in the fire service, or school and life," Patterson said. Since 2014, Patterson has led the Spark of Love Toy Drive which collects new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment for local children and families. In cooperation with the Community Assistance Program of Moreno Valley and other non-profit groups, Patterson has helped make the program more successful each year. “Captain Patterson is the very definition of a public servant,” said Moreno Valley Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez. “He truly lives to serve our community through his work as a firefighter, as a teacher, and as a leader.” Patterson began his career in 1996 with the CAL FIRE Nevada Yuba Placer Unit where he was assigned as a seasonal firefighter for five fire seasons. In 2001, Captain Patterson was promoted to the rank of Fire Fighter II for the Temecula Battalion. Three years later he was promoted to Fire Apparatus Engineer for the Beaumont Battalion, serving Station 21 in Calimesa for nine years. Patterson said he spent weekends at his grandmother’s house in Moreno Valley and now has a family of his own in the city. "I went to air shows here as a kid and spent time here," he said. "It is an honor and privilege to serve Moreno Valley and the people I grew up with. My goal is to make the department, the city and my family proud of what I do."