CELEBRATING
HAMBURG RESIDENT
BRAD DROEGE
HAMBURG & NORWOOD/YOUNG AMEICA FIREFIGHTER
FORMER HAMBURG FIRE CHIEF - 19 YEARS
RIDGEVIEW MEDICAL CENTER PARAMEDIC
2026 CARVER COUNTY SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
GUEST ON MY
WORLD-WIDE INTERNET SHOW
Recorded April 3, 2010
Former
HAMBURG FIRE CHIEF BRAD DROEGE
Named
CARVER COUNTY
SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR !!
In 2009, Brad was also named MINNESOTA FIRE OFFICER OF THE YEAR as recognized by the "DELTA DICK EXCELLENCE AWARD" presented to him.
From Page 38 of my book about the CITY OF HAMBURG, "PUBLIC OFFICIALS BEHAVING BADLY":
"I think that the next person in Hamburg that I met; probably because of our similar PUBLIC SAFETY backgrounds, was HAMBURG FIRE CHIEF BRAD DROEGE. (I was a FIREMAN in the Air Force.) Brad was also a PARAMEDIC with the Ridgeview Medical Center Ambulance Service based in Waconia. (I was a former EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN for Smith Ambulance; a 'private' ambulance company based in St. Louis Park.) I'm also a retired LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
Obviously, Brad and I had 'a lot in common'; I think that's why we instantly 'bonded'.
I can't think of ANYONE MORE QUALIFIED that I'd like to see 'coming through our door' during a 'medical emergency' than Brad. (And, the HAMBURG FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT has 'come through our door' THREE TIMES that we required their emergency services.)
I've seen Brad 'in action'; he's a real professional. I was GLAD that I met him when we moved to Hamburg and I was PROUD to call him my friend !!
While the 'order' is unimportant, there are three specific 'events' on which I worked closely with Brad. It was TRULY AN HONOR to work and be 'ASSOCIATED' with him !!
First was when Brad 'spearheaded' an effort to build a PUBLIC SAFETY MEMORIAL dedicated to Law Enforcement, Fire and the Emergency Medical Services professions. I CLEARLY remember Brad coming over to our house one morning (I'm thinking this was in about 2008 ??) around 8AM with the perceived 'plans' of how this 'Memorial' would look upon completion."
I was an ARDENT SUPPORTER of Brad from the very FIRST TIME THAT I MET HIM !!
From Page 39 of my book about the CITY OF HAMBURG, "PUBLIC OFFICIALS BEHAVING BADLY":
"I was SO IMPRESSED with Brad that I wanted to 'do something nice' for him to 'let the world know' what a GREAT PERSON that I thought he was !! I invited him to be a guest on my Internet Show to talk about his long and impressive career in the Fire and Emergency Medical Service professions. (As I recall, I think Brad told me that he was a member of the Hamburg Fire Department for something like thirty-seven years; nineteen of which he was the Fire Chief.)
I took my recording equipment to Brad's house and he gave me a tour of all of the 'memorabilia' relating to the Fire and Emergency Medical Services that he has collected over the years. (I hadn't EVER seen such an extensive, similar collection, before or since, when I toured the 'Sports Museum' that 'sports enthusiast' Dick Jonckowski has in his basement, several years ago !!)
While at his house, I took lots of pictures for a Website that I would eventually create about Brad to honor and 'recognize' him, as I did for the 'Memorial'. I also met Brad's charming wife Barb, and THOROUGHLY ENJOYED the couple of hours that we all spent together talking about his professional, and varied, PUBLIC SAFETY 'backgrounds' and our mutual interests."
Now, with the HAMBURG CITY OFFICIALS that the City has today; it MUST be very DISAPPOINTING, probably even
DISTRESSING to him; for Brad to see the DISHONESTY,
MISCONDUCT, DECEIT, DECEPTION, CORRUPTION and the LACK of ETHICS, INTEGRITY, CREDIBILITY and
ACCOUNTABILITY of HAMBURG'S current (and former)
PUBLIC (and FORMER) OFFICIALS, and HOW 'LOW' the
CITY OF HAMBURG has 'SUNK' because of their actions; see
and
www.HAMBURGMINNESOTA.com since the time when
BRAD, HIMSELF; was a HAMBURG PUBLIC OFFICIAL and
PROUDLY SERVED and REPRESENTED OUR CITY ADMIRALLY !!
I've finally found the INTERNET SHOW that you're hearing
RIGHT NOW that Brad and I recorded on April 13, 2010. I'm
PLEASED to make it PUBLICLY AVAILABLE for your listening enjoyment, ONCE AGAIN !!
BRAD DROEGE: MINNESOTA FIRE OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Up to two awards can be presented each year; one for a fire officer serving a small city or township (2,000 population or less), and one additional award open to all fire officers.
Individuals who are eligible for nomination and selection as Fire Officer of the Year are limited to active officers of departments. Qualified individuals include; Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Training Officer, Fire Marshal, etc.
Selection criteria will emphasize leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, service to the public and contributions to the fire service as a whole. All of a nominee's fire service activities and accomplishments will be considered, but, because this is the Fire Officer of the Year award, special emphasis will be placed on the last three year period. A nominee's command role at a major emergency incident, while relevant, will not be enough to place that individual into contention for the award.
To learn more about the signifigance of this award and to find out some of the great things Chief Droege has done for the residents, not only of the City of Hamburg, but all of Carver County as well, CLICK HERE.
DELTA DICK PRODUCTIONS
No Portion Of This Webpage May Be Photocopied, Duplicated or Reproduced
In Any Manner Without Written Permission Of The Webmaster.
To Visit My Webpage Paying Tribute To And Honoring Other Fire Departments In Carver County PLEASE CLICK HERE !!
RICHARD ODOMS
150 Jacob Street * Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
Telephone: (612) 460-8212
E-mail Address: [email protected]
March 15, 2022
Mr. Steven Siewert, Chief
Hamburg Fire Department
350 Maria Avenue
P.O. Box 34
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
Dear Chief Siewert:
As I was in the process of writing you a letter commending the actions of Members of the Hamburg Fire Department for their prompt, professional and coordinated response to a medical emergency at our home last Saturday, what are the chances that I'd have to request your Department's assistance for ANOTHER medical emergency twenty-five and a half hours later at the SAME address involving the SAME individual ?? !!
Last Saturday and Sunday were the second and third times since moving to Hamburg in 2007 that I've needed to request the services of your dedicated, well equipped and highly trained Fire Department Members, to render medical assistance in our home as the result of a sudden onset of an illness or injury. You may (or may not) recall that the first request to your Department was about three or four years ago when the victim suddenly suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest due to a ruptured aorta. Upon my dialing 9-1-1, members of your Department responded and medically supported the victim until the arrival of an ambulance from Ridgeview Medical Center which transported the victim to Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
Statistics show that the sudden onset of an aortic rupture has a mortality rate of about 80%.
Combining that mortality rate with cardiac & respiratory arrest and an extended ambulance trip from Hamburg to a hospital in Minneapolis during 'rush hour', the odds of survival were strongly against the victim. Yet; the victim survived !!
I believe you are aware of my professional background; that's why I TOTALLY credit that survival to the initial receiving and efficient dispatching of the 9-1-1 call by dispatchers for the CARVER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, the quick and knowledgeable response, and subsequent care of the victim by the 'First Responders' of the HAMBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT, the quick assessment and treatment of the victim by RIDGEVIEW MEDICAL CENTER PARAMEDICS, coupled with the excellent emergency care the patient also received from the hospital staff upon arrival there.
Chief Steven Siewert
Hamburg Fire Department
March 15, 2022
Page 2
Once again this weekend, the 'stars (CCSO, HFD & RMC-A) became aligned'; not just ONCE, but TWICE !! I'm very happy and pleased to report that the outcome of these latest medical emergencies was once again 'favorable'. After spending about seven hours in the Emergency Room at Ridgeview Medical Center on Sunday, the victim was released and is resting and recuperating at home here in Hamburg. For that, I credit the 'handling' of the initial call to the "9-1-1 System" dispatcher(s), the prompt response, professional, coordinated & application of medical knowledge and experience of those who responded, their training and experience as well as the availability of necessary equipment required, when combined, all contributed to achieve a 'successful outcome'.
Needless to say, such EXCELLENCE can NOT go unnoticed; hence this letter.
You will also be interested, and impressed, that upon being alerted of the first medical emergency call by the Carver County Sheriff's Office dispatcher on Saturday at 9:41AM; the first responding HFD unit and personnel ARRIVED at 9:44AM. The second medical emergency call by the Carver County Sheriff's Office dispatcher alerted your Department at 11:00AM; the first responding HFD unit and personnel ARRIVED AT 11:03AM !!
Please express our sincere gratitude to the Hamburg Fire Department Members that responded each time and were a HUGE part in the very 'successful outcome' of these emergency events.
THANK YOU !! THANK YOU !! THANK YOU !!
The citizens of Hamburg, and the surrounding area for which your Department is responsible, are very fortunate, indeed; to have such a great, well equipped Fire Department with such outstanding, dedicated, professional personnel who are ready, willing and available to respond, when needed, at a moments notice.
To that end and to raise 'public awareness' of the outstanding performance of your Department that I PERSONALLY WITNESSED, I've made note of their commendable, excellent and well coordinated efforts on my Website,
Sincerely,
Richard Odoms
150 Jacob Street
Hamburg, Minnesota 55339
cc: Carver County Sheriff Jason Kamerud
Ridgeview Medical Center
Carver County Commissioner John Fahey
Hamburg City Council
While you sleep safely at night, know that firefighters all over the world are prepared, ready, willing and able to respond to any emergency at
a moment's notice !!
