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The North Branch American Legion awarded Law Officer and Paramedic/EMT of the year at a gathering on Veterans Day at the Legion Hall.

Doug Volin, Paramedic with Lakes Region EMS has a distinctive caring character. Early in his professional career he’s cared for clients with traumatic brain injuries as they developed day to day life, job, and social skills. He has also engaged with in-home care of Alzheimer’s clients before serving his community as a firefighter/EMT with the White Bear Fire Department.

Volin came to Lakes Region EMS in 2010. He has been a Field Training Officer since 2012 and was awarded the prestigious Star of Life award from the American Ambulance Association. His supervisor said, “Doug has shown consistently how to lead by example. He has the ability to take a very stressful call and turn it into what feels like a routine call. As  Field Training Officer, Doug’s ability to push new employees and paramedic students out of their comfort zones and expand their knowledge is what makes him an important part of our organization. And I concur with this statement as I have witnessed this on many calls that I have been on with Doug,” said Legion Committee chair Ron Rollins said.

Matt Beckman came to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office in 1998 as a patrol deputy. He worked for 15 years in patrol gaining credentials as a Field Training Officer, Use of Force Instructor and Firearms Instructor.

In 2005, he was given the task of developing the newly formed Chisago County SWAT team, Making it one of the leading teams in the State of Minnesota today.

In 2011, Beckman was promoted to Sergeant and he was responsible for providing training for new hires, Mobile Field Force, a

Use of Force, Firearms, and many other patrol related topics.

“As a member of the Crisis Negotiations Team, I have personally observed great wisdom and composure he retains under great stress of SWAT incidents. I have been privileged to watch in his calmness, evaluate the priority life, and allocate the proper resources in a timely fashion, at the same time, constantly evaluate the safety factors for all involved in these incidents This is truly an art” said Rollins.

The North Branch American Legion congratulates hometown heroes, Paramedic Doug Volin, and Sgt Matt Beckman.

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