Villages Department of Public Safety firefighter Jose Labrador was among those honored for valor Wednesday by the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce.
“Jose is one of those rare people who lifted the department up the day he came aboard,” said Villages Fire Chief Mike Tucker in bestowing the honor.
Labrador was responding to a structure fire at the Rail’s End mobile home park in Wildwood earlier this year when he discovered an elderly woman inside. He rescued her from the structure and provided care and treatment at the scene.
In another instance, Labrador discovered a patient was lacking proper nutrition and he reached into his own pocket and went out and bought groceries for that individual.
“These are a few examples of why we feel that Labrador is deserving of this award and stands out as a true professional in the field of emergency services,” Tucker wrote in his nomination.
Labrador’s wife, Olivia, put it more succinctly.
“We are very proud of him,” she said.
She attended the event at Wildwood Country Resort with her husband and their two children, Dominique and Donavon.
Others honored included James Schroeder, a correctional officer at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex; firefighter Sean Duffy; Sumter County sheriff’s deputy Beatrice Ayala; and Wildwood police oficer Brian Harrie.
Check out a video from the event at http://villages-news.com/villages-firefighter-honored-for-valor/