Dayton officer and firefighter honored

DAYTON (WDTN) - While there are hundreds of men and women who make up the Dayton Police and Fire Departments, on Thursday, September 17, two of them stood out.

Officer Chuck Hurley and Lt. Adam Landis recieved the Community Service Award from the Dayton Masonic Temple.

"They need to be recognized, they are putting their lives on the line," said Earl Lutz, past Master of the Masonic Lodge. "They all need our appreciation".

Officer Hurley is a 20 year veteran on the Dayton Police Department. In addition to being a police officer, he has also spent two decades serving with the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He is a member of the Lima Company.

"To me, if that isn't community service, I don't know what is," said Sgt. Bill Keller, who nominated Hurley for the honor.

"It's my job. In police and fire work you choose to serve," said Officer Hurley. "You don't get to pick when and where, it's just whatever the cards deal you".

In the case of Dayton Firefighter Adam Landis, the cards dealt a Christmas Day he won't soon forget. "It was a very trying run," said Landis. "There were a lot of elements involved".

Landis was recognized for his role in a crash scene rescue. December 25, 2008, several children were trapped under a car. Officials said Landis climbed underneath the twisted metal so he could stabilize a young girl. As a result of his heroic efforts, she survived.
"I was just doing my job," said Landis. "Anybody else would have done the same thing".

But members of the Dayton Masonic Lodge don't agree and that's why this is the 5th year they have handed out Community Service Awards.