Pittsburgh wants to hear about your good experiences with first responders

The Department of Public Safety recognized its first class of Distinguished Service award winners on Friday.

Zone 5 Officer Elvis Duratovic and his son Ethan Duratovic, 4, take a photo together after he was recognized for helping save people during a flood on Washington Boulevard.

Jasmine Goldband / The Incline

Oct. 28, 2016, 5:38 p.m.

The city wants to hear about your great interactions with firefighters, paramedics, police officers and animal care officers.

A new biannual awards program will recognize employees for their “outstanding commitment to providing high-quality public safety services to people who live, work, and visit the City of Pittsburgh,” department spokeswoman Sonya Toler said.

To recognize someone in the department: Email [email protected] or download a nomination form here. If your nominee is selected, you’ll be invited to the ceremony, according to the city.

This afternoon, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich recognized public safety employees at its first awards ceremony.

Animal Care & Control

Officers Jim Genco and Leo Mincin rescued a deer trapped in a fence in Fineview.

“Every call we go to we try and do the most humane thing for any animal we deal with,” Genco told KDKA at the time.

Jasmine Goldband / The Incline

Emergency Medical Services and Fire

Firefighters Darius Allman, Mike Buckley, William Cinker, Danny Doyle, Fred Hunt, Sean Kirby, Curtis Krauth, Matthew Novotny, Jesse Pierce, Donald Pulkowski and Justine Zietak; and paramedics Aaron Byrne and Russell Dimon (not pictured in this order) rescued two men from a West Oakland fire.

Jasmine Goldband / The Incline

Paramedics Mark Bonasso, John Dombrowski and Jennifer McDermott-Grubb resuscitated a runner during the Great Race.

Jasmine Goldband / The Incline

Police

Police Officer Spencer Scott was the first police officer to use Naloxone.

Jasmine Goldband / The Incline

Police Officers Geoffrey Blasko, Melissa Delval, Elvis Duratovic, Pat Knepp, Brian Markus and Aundre Wright and Alan Hausman of the public safety administration rescued people during a Washington Boulevard flood.