Of the fires I was on, I inhaled plenty of carbon monoxide. When I would respond to fires
and emergencies in business and industrial settings, I did not know if I was ever exposed to carbon disulfide, manganese,
or other metals. Most firefighters have fought electrical fires and breathed in the fumes created when metal burns. I realize
that my Parkinson's Disease is not a death sentence, but a life sentence and I must stay as active as I can to avoid being
placed in a wheel chair. My hope with this website is to get information out about the risk of occupational exposures for
firefighters attracting Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism due to many types of exposures.
Here starts a new beginning :
Elected to office in November 2006, I began my first term as Perry Township Trustee January
1, 2007. Although this is the first elected position I have held, I am no newcomer to public service. In 1991 I joined the
fire service in Marion County. My career as a firefighter began at Franklin Township Fire Dept., where I served as Lieutenant
of Operations. In 1998 filled the role of Injury Prevention and Public Information Officer for my hometown fire department
in the City of Beech Grove. After retiring in 2006, due to a line of duty injury (3 shoulder surgeries, 2 back surgeries and
a spinal fusion of the L3, L4, L5, and S1) from the fire service, I decided to run for Perry Township Trustee and was successful
in doing so by being elected with 68% of the vote.
Other adventures included: I was a member of Indiana Task Force, where I served as the program
manager, and FEMA and IDHS liaison under the direction of TFL Mark Rapp. I was elected to the executive board of the Indianapolis
Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Association. I negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement for the City of
Beech Grove firefighters and communication employees. We were awarded the Govenor's Workplace Safety Award. I served on Mitt
Romney's Presidential Campaign, where I traveled to Michigan and Florida. I was selected for the Executive Fire Officer Program
with the Department of Homeland Security - National Fire Academy.
I am a Proud Husband and Father of 3. Having an eternal family is the most rewarding blessing
I could ever have. Happiness is with the family. My family is very supportive and my wife is the best thing that could have
ever happened for me. Now I have been selected for the 2nd year to be a top 10 finalist for Indy's Best and Brightest. What
an honor and I thank you to those who nominated me.
