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Local officer among three recognized by VFW
By The News staff
Last Updated: December 10, 2015

A Valley Center police officer and two Wichita Fire Department personnel have been recognized in the Veterans of Foreign Wars law enforcement, firefighter and EMT of the year program.

VFW Post 3115 will submit Valley Center Officer Allen Adams, Wichita firefighter and EMT Jeff Cheek and Wichita Fire Department Lt. Rob Kanaga to the district level for consideration for the 2015-16 statewide recognition.

Allen Adams, police officer

Allen Adams, who has been in law enforcement for 18 years, was a DARE officer for the Valley Center school district and is currently the school resource officer for the intermediate school and the middle school.

Adams, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, is a sergeant in the National Guard. He served several overseas tours of duty.

In his job as SRO, Adams is involved in developing a safety plan for every school in the district. He led an effort to obtain new classroom door locks so teachers could safely and quickly secure their rooms in the event of a lockdown. He also was instrumental in obtaining a drug dog for the community and the school district.

Adams started SHOW (Students Helping Out Warriors) groups at the intermediate school and middle school last year. The groups have been active in service projects for military veterans, including a Veterans Day breakfast and program last month that attracted more than 200 people.

In late 2014, Adams obtained a donated vehicle for a middle school staff paraeducator who did not have reliable transportation.

"We are proud to have Officer Adams as a part of our team and mentor to our students," police Sgt. Lloyd Newman said in a nomination letter.

Jeff Cheek, EMT

Jeff Cheek has been a firefighter/EMT with the Wichita Fire Department since January 2014.

Cheek, who formerly worked in the heating and air conditioning business, is assigned to one of the busier firehouses in south Wichita.

Cheek was nominated for the VFW award for his actions on two occasions while off duty.

On Dec. 6, 2014, Cheek was at a restaurant when he heard a woman scream for help. Cheek immediately responded and found the woman's young son choking on food. Cheek administered back blows to dislodge the food.

On Aug. 29, 2015, Cheek was the first to arrive at a multi-vehicle wreck. He administered aid to the most critically injured of the five patients. He stayed on the scene and helped firefighters and EMS treat the patients and load them into ambulances.

Cheek and his wife have three children and they live in Wichita.

Rob Kanaga, firefighter

Rob Kanaga has been with the Wichita Fire Department since 1999 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2009. He has been involved with the heavy rescue team for 13 years and is certified in swift water rescue, high angle rescue and trench rescue.

He also is a member of the truck team, which is responsible for ventilation of structures during fires.

This year, Kanaga received several awards, including the Wichita Fire Department Medal of Honor, the Wichita Area Insurance Professional Firefighters of the Year award, the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office Tom McCaughey Award and the Midwest Chapter of the American Red Cross Firefighter of the Year Award.

Kanaga was nominated for the VFW award for his actions during a March 15, 2015, apartment fire.

After hearing that a person was inside on the second floor, Kanaga entered the apartment and located a victim who was barely conscious. Kanaga removed the victim and saved the person's life.

"His selflessness and compassion portray the image of a true public servant," Fire Chief R.D. Blackwell said in a nomination letter.





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