‘A unique group’: Cedar City Police and Fire departments welcome new recruits

CEDAR CITY — The Cedar City chambers were packed with family and friends as the Cedar City Police and Fire departments welcomed their new recruits at the City Council meeting last week.

Cedar City’s newest firefighters, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 14, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

Fire Chief Mike Phillips told the council the department wanted to introduce 11 new volunteer firefighters and invited their lead instructor Deputy Fire Marshal Greg Orloski to the podium on Sept. 14.

The room was filled with family members and friends, who Orloski said had supported the new recruits for 1 1/2 years.

“That’s to be commended because they put a lot of hours in and so that’s a tough position for the family,” he said. “So this badge ceremony in this position is as much there’s as it is the firemen and firewomen. Thank you.”

He introduced the “Fire Department class” of 2021, calling it a “unique group,” as it consisted of six second-generation firefighters, two sets of brothers, three who had served previously as wildland firefighters, one whose spouse is a firefighter and paramedic from Las Vegas and a retired correctional officer out of California.

Cedar City’s newest firefighters, Cedar City, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Cedar City Fire Department, Cedar City News

“So please join me tonight in officially welcoming them to the Cedar City Fire Department,” Orloski said.

The 2021 Fire Department class includes Kurtis Cox, Kyle Cox, Roman Dotson, Stacey Dupee, Garrett Garces, Micheal Scott Kenfield, Aaron Mayes, Cason Maxwell, Jordan Maxwell, Kenadee Stubbs and David Watson.

Following a self-introduction, each new recruit had their badge pinned on their uniform by a family member. After which, Councilmember R. Scott Phillips was informed that it was new recruit Dotson’s birthday and asked the room to sing “Happy Birthday.”

Phillips said that Councilmember Terri Hartley was integral to the group and participated in the interview process. He thanked her for her time.

“Thank you for getting them all through,” Hartley said.

Additionally, two police officers were sworn in. Officers Daniel Bowler and Kyle Barrett took their oaths and received pins from their wives.

New officers Daniel Bowler (back) and Kyle Barrett (front) receive their pins at the Cedar City Council meeting, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 14, 2022 | Photo courtesy of the Cedar City Police Department, Cedar City News

Barrett told the council that he’s lived in Cedar City for approximately four years and was originally from Price. He said that the area has “grown” on him.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know each of you on a personal level and doing what I can to make our community a better place,” he said.

Bowler moved to the city a few years ago, he said, adding that his wife was raised in St. George.

“And since we moved here, I think we’ve been convinced it’s the real Southern Utah — the better Southern Utah,” he said. “So we’re happy to be here. We love it here and … hopefully that we can make a difference here.”

The new cadets were congratulated on the Cedar City Police Department’s Facebook page, which also stated that the officers will begin patrolling after they finish their two-week, in-house training.

To watch the new police officers and firefighters be sworn in on the Cedar City Council’s YouTube channel, click here.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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