Officer of the Month

Monica Decker was nominated as Officer of the Month for September by her peers. Her outstanding work and service to the Squad as a QA Officer and Crew Chief does not go unnoticed. She picks up extra shifts on Monday days making sure our community has extra ambulance coverage. Along with her volunteer jobs at LPVRS keeping her remarkably busy, she works here in Southern MD as an Admin Officer. When she is not busy with all of that, she enjoys running duty with new members, teaching and helping them in the back of the ambulance. Helping put their new skills to use and understanding the “how and why” processes are important. Monica says this is one of her favorite parts of being in the Squad. She just loves to help others. Monica enjoys being recently retired from the Federal Government after 41 years of service as well as a retired Division 1 Volleyball official. She enjoys golf, pickleball, swimming and going to the beach to boogie board. When asked, Monica said she would tell her younger self…self “you should have started earlier” Monica joined LPVRS in October 2023 at the bright age of 58. She said Shawn Davidson influenced her; he was her EMT Instructor. If you had to tell someone something about the Squad, what would it be, she said, “You will work hard and see things nobody should see. However, when you go home you know you did something good for someone. Monica started volunteering in PG County in 2011 at Bowie VFD then she came to us.

Squad Person of the Month

Ian Krusinski was nominated as Squad Person of the Month for September by LPVRS Officers due to all the “extra” effort he put forth running additional shifts and helping around the station. He was in the top ten of running for the month was “turned over” as a Crew Chief. Ian joined LPVRS right after he moved back from NC in 2023. He was 17 a Leonardtown High School student, attending the Tech Center for Engineering, running duty, and taking the EMT course (a very intense course in a short amount of time) through the Rescue Squad. When asked what his biggest accomplishment was…his response “passing my EMT class.” Ian, THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLSHMENT!!! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GETTING YOUR EMT CERTIFICATION. Wow, with everything you have going on. He doesn’t stop there, he states working a job, “if you count serving ice cream and cleaning yards as a job. Just to throw that in” he says. His most memorable experience since joining the squad was a CPR save. Where every factor was perfect for the patient to survive; he coded in front of us, we got him back on the first shock, the 2 medics were prompt; they were ready when he coded again, trooper 7 was quick to meet us. Afterwards the patient came to the rescue squad to say thank you. He wanted to meet us in a less interesting circumstance than our introduction. Ian’s favorite part of being a member of the squad is the atmosphere and environment; all of us come from different lives but come together to serve our community. Advice to my younger self would be that ‘regardless of where you are or what it is, if you fight, you will make it through If someone asked me about volunteering, I would tell them about the fun stuff and the gritty stuff, but I’d emphasize the personal growth that comes with it. LPVRS was Ian’s first volunteer squad that he joined, and he said he was glad it was. “I was drawn to the squad because I wanted to learn how to handle tougher situations and the classic cliche line; I wanted to help people. ‘I might have swayed to join Lexington Park because my Aunt Penny & Uncle George McKay were members previously (1990’s/2000’s) and I got to tour the ambulances when I was little.

I hope you have enjoyed reading ‘a little bit about our spotlight on our SPOM and Officer of the Month’. Please help me Congratulate Monica and Ian on their nominations and their individual accomplishments they have made since joining LPVRS.
If you’re interested in joining your local rescue squad or fire department go to their website and fill out their application and someone will get in contact with you.