Monroe Honors Regional First Responders at Awards
The second annual ceremony recognized nineteen service members across the ArkLaMiss region for their dedication.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Emergency Response
KNOE First Alert News and Centric Credit Union hosted the second annual First Alert First Responder of the Year awards in Monroe. The banquet recognized nineteen professionals including nurses, doctors, linemen, and public safety officers.
Why it matters
This event highlights the essential service provided by those who protect and support the ArkLaMiss community daily. Peer-nominated awards acknowledge the difficult and often thankless nature of emergency response work.
Nineteen service members were recognized during the banquet, marking the second year of the awards program. The honorees were selected from a pool of nominees submitted by their coworkers and fellow service members.
The players
Ryan Davis
He is a professional who was honored as both First Responder of the Year and Public Information Officer of the Year.
John Santogrossi
He is a medical professional who was recognized as the ER Doctor of the Year for his service.
KNOE First Alert News
This is a regional news organization that co-hosted the awards ceremony to honor public safety personnel.
Centric Credit Union
This financial institution partnered with local media to sponsor and host the annual awards event.
The details
Award winners included Ryan Davis, who secured both First Responder and Public Information Officer of the Year honors. Other notable recipients included Ron Chapman for Community Partner, Laura Bagwell for Correctional Officer, Cortincia Shelbon for Deputy, Erika Spivey for Dispatcher, Janna Farmer for EMT, and Dr. John Santogrossi for ER Doctor.
Timeline
October 19, 2026: The second annual awards ceremony was held to honor regional service members.
Seasonal Patterns
The ceremony follows a broader trend of formalizing appreciation for first responders who provided critical services during past regional crises. These localized events reflect an ongoing shift toward acknowledging essential labor across the ArkLaMiss region.
Residents are encouraged to support future nomination efforts to ensure local heroes are recognized by their peers. This program highlights the critical personnel who maintain safety and medical readiness within the community.
The takeaway
Recognizing the contributions of local first responders fosters greater community trust and morale among public safety agencies. Citizens interested in similar efforts should monitor local news channels for future call-for-nomination windows.
Further reading
Find more coverage of local public safety initiatives on the Monroe Emergency Response page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Knoe.
