The Redding City Council has honored the Exchange Club's Firefighter and Police Officer of the Year.
Travis Baud was the police officer recipient, receiving the honor for regularly leading the effort in the seizure of stolen guns, property, and felony arrests. Baud writes numerous search warrants and targets street-level drug dealers and provides valuable information to the Shasta Interagency Narcotic Task Force and the Neighborhood Police Unit. At the meeting Tuesday night Baud told the council the honor came as a surprise.
“Redding Police Department just has a really high caliber of officer, lots of training experience so to get recognized is a big deal,” Baud said.
When it came to honoring the firefighter of the year, Mayor Julie Winter visibly held back tears. Prevention Inspector Jeremy Stoke was the recipient. He lost his life in a fire tornado which ripped through west Redding last July 26th as part of the Carr Fire.
“Mr. Stoke cut his vacation short to assist the fire crews battling the fire—evacuated residents and saved numerous lives,” Winter said.
Stoke will be remembered again Wednesday when a bench will be dedicated in his name on the Sacramento River Trail at 11 a.m. Former Redding Fire Chief Gerry Gray, who died last year in his sleep, will also be honored with a bench bearing his name.