October 26, 2018 – Two human City first responders and one with four legs were honored earlier this month at the 2018 Carl and Esther Gerstacker Police and Firefighter of the Year Awards at Midland Country Club. Midland Police Department Officer John Dubois and his K9 partner Tza’Yid were named the City’s 2018 Police Officers of the Year, while Midland Fire Department Jim Daveluy was honored as 2018 Firefighter of the Year.
Officer John Dubois & K9 Tza'Yid
Officer Dubois has served as a police officer with the City of Midland Police Department for 24 years as a road patrol officer, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team officer, field training officer, and currently as a K9 handler. He has also served as president of the Midland Police Officers Association. Ofc. Dubois’ K9 partner, Tza’Yid, has been with the Midland Police Department since March 2012, and together they have completed more than 300 deployments in the past year alone. Of those deployments, Ofc. Dubois and Tza’Yid have completed over 80 positive narcotic indications and 15 “live find” tracks, including the successful discovery of a loaded firearm that was discarded in a school zone during an altercation. The pair boast a live find tracking average of over 50 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average of 25 percent.
Firefighter Jim Daveluy
Firefighter Daveluy is a four-year veteran of the Midland Fire Department. In addition to his duties at Fire Station 2, Daveluy is also a live fire training instructor and conducts real-life training exercises for both new and experienced team members. When he’s off-shift Daveluy works as a public educator, delivering fire safety education programs to kindergarten and first grade classes at area elementary schools, and he served as coordinator for the department’s 2018 “Fill the Boot” campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Awards are funded through and given by the Midland Area Community Foundation. The selection process and awards ceremony is coordinated by the Midland Exchange Club.