Awards Aplenty!
by Maureen Becker
IPMBA Executive Director
The 2022 Awards Dinner was held on Friday, June 24, at Old River Park, once the domain of NCR employees; now part of the University of Dayton campus. Off-limits to the public, the park was ideal for training throughout the week, including the Bicycle Response Team Training’s final scenarios.
An idyllic setting, complete with picnic shelters and tables, Old River Park was also the ideal location for the Awards Dinner, which tends to be an informal affair. Following the obstacle course competition, attendees made their way to the park for a pig roast catered by Davidson’s Meats, with entertainment provided by DJ Legacy Event Group, owned by former IPMBA Instructor Shawn Huey.
After everyone commenced feasting on roast pork (and Impossible® burgers) with all the fixin’s, and quenching their thirst, M.C. Mike Wear began the awards ceremony on a bit of somber note. A moment of silence was observed for Gordon Beesley (Arvada CO Police), Jason Belton (Erie PA Police), Stephen Carr (Fayetteville AR Police), Dean Douglas (Little Rock AR EMS), Christopher Farrar (Chandler AZ Police), Brian Sicknick (U.S. Capitol Police), Houston Tipping (Los Angeles CA Police), and all public safety cyclists and other personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
After paying respects to the fallen and recognizing the heroism of the U.S. Capitol Police who defended the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Mike lightened the mood.
Plaques were presented to Chiefs Kamran Afzal (Dayton Police), Savalas Kidd (University of Dayton Police), and Mark Hess (Five Rivers MetroParks Ranger Division) and to host committee co-chairs Gordon Cairns (Dayton Police), Adam Gaby (Five Rivers MetroParks Ranger Division), and Eric Roth (University of Dayton Police).
Mike then applauded the efforts of the Command Staff, liaisons, ride guides, support personnel, local volunteers, and volunteer instructors for their roles. Members of the 2022-2023 Board of Directors were introduced and former/outgoing Board members Jason Bain, James Englert, Craig Lepkowski, Wren Nealy, and Michael Wear were thanked for their leadership and service. As a personal touch, Mike was presented with an autographed PAX “fanny pack” to add to his collection.
The members of each graduating class were recognized and congratulated (see page 36), as were those who earned Instructor Trainer status between April 2019 and June 2022: Greg Bowen, Larry Fuchtman, Jacob Coyle, Adam Gaby, and Thomas Zermeno.
In gratitude for his leadership role in updating both the Complete Guide and the ITK, as well as his mentorship of several new ITs, Rance Okada was presented with a coveted bottle of Macallan 15.
IPMBA Executive Director Maureen Becker was presented with a plaque and Canadian wine personally imported by Board Member Elizabeth Bouchard to mark her 22 years of service, for guiding IPMBA through the pandemic, and for her unwavering commitment to ensuring the quality and accuracy of the Complete Guide and the ITK.
Mike then turned the microphone over to Allan Howard and Kirby Beck for the 2022 IPMBA Awards for Excellence, presented – much to their surprise and delight – to Rance Okada and Mike Wear.
As the awards ceremony wound down, the winners of the 2022 IPMBA Obstacle Course Competition were announced, the medals presented, and the bragging rights conferred.
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for: the raffle drawing!
Matthew Mayeux of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety was the lucky winner of the custom-made Volcanic bicycle donated by Volcanic, while Richard Soule of the U.S. Capitol Police scored the Code bike donated by Police Bike Store. Kevin Uhl of the Cincinnati Fire Department became the proud owner of the Glock 43 so generously provided by the Uncle Sam’s Avengers (USAMC) Ohio II and presented by club president Jack Miniard of the Dayton Police Department.
Many thanks to all who made the event possible, from the set-up team to the clean-up crew, and everyone in between. Your efforts are truly appreciated.
(c) 2022 IPMBA. This article appeared in the 2022 Conference Highlights issue of IPMBA News.