Name: Chief James Marenkovic Hometown: Boardman, Ohio D.O.B.: Oct. 4, 1967 Rank/Title: Chief, EMS Coordinator, Fire Inspector and Fire Marshall How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? Since 1998 What do you like about your job? "My opportunity to provide quality service to residents and outlying people of Gulfport, quality, patient care, fire supression, public education. Trying to protect firefighters with the satisfaction and ability to do their job. I feel that I can make a difference. I've been told, always leave it better than the way you found it." What do you dislike …

Name: Robert McLaughlin     Hometown: Perth Amboy, N.J. Rank/Title: Officer. How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? Almost four years. What do you like about your job? "(A) small city allows more time to get to know the residents, good and bad ones." What do you dislike about your job? "The shift start/stop times require you to get up in the middle of the night . . . so that you can get to work at 4 or 5 a.m." What inspired you to become an officer? "I’ve been a police officer since 1977. Always wanted to be one." What do you like about Gulfport? "The city is full of …

Name: Howard Coombs Birthday: June 24th Hometown: Tampa Rank/Title: Lieutenant and Operations CommanderHow long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? Close to 14 yearsWhat do you like about your job? "Sounds cliché, but helping people. I also have seen this police department change for the better due to good people working here."What do you dislike about your job?   "I wouldn’t have had an answer for you when I started, and I really can’t say what I dislike due to my position. So I will say that sometimes the different personalities you run into can make a long day even longer."…

Name: Jon Davis D.O.B.: June Hometown: Ventura, CA Rank/Title: Police Officer How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? Less than three months. What do you like about your job? "The job is different every day. Coming to work we experience a vast number of issues to address and solve, some easy and some requiring more work and effort."  What do you dislike about your job? "Nothing to dislike, it's a continuous learning experience, we go home every night with another chapter of life experiences." What inspired you to become an officer? "The continued desire to serve the public…

Name: Tiffany Ashcom D.O.B.: 3/10/85 Hometown: Seward, PA Rank/Title: Officer, Field Training Officer for the Marine Unit How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? 1.5 Years What do you like about your job? "This is a kind of job that allows you to sort of "be your own boss." I enjoy the freedom and responsibility that comes with this career. I love coming to work and not knowing what the day brings. I also have great stories." What do you dislike about your job? "The paperwork. I also dislike being judged by what a different police officer did in the past." What inspired …

Name: Mike Vandenberg D.O.B.: 12/4/1980 Hometown: Tallahasse, FL Rank/Title: Sergeant, (In charge of) Field Training Program and Red Light Cameras How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? 8.5 Years What do you like about your job? "I like getting to help people and getting out. I like being outdoors. It's something different everyday and it doesn't get boring." What do you dislike about your job? "The opposite. The stuff that's very routine, the paperwork. I love training people, but there's a lot more paperwork." What inspired you to become an officer? "When I was in …

Name: Robert Burkhart D.O.B.: 8/24/71 Hometown: Reading, PA Rank/Title: Detective Sergeant, Public Information Officer, Marine Unit How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? 11 Years What do you like about your job? "There's so many things I like about it. Being a police officer, I enjoy the challenge of criminal investigations. Even though this is a smaller town, you still meet different people everyday." What do you dislike about your job? "One of the frustrating parts of this job is trying to help people who don't recognize that they need help." What inspired you to …

Name: Steven Beltran Date of birth:  Jan. 15, 1982 Hometown: Tampa Rank/Title: Officer, School Resource Officer and SET (Special Enforcement Team) How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? 5 years What do you like about your job? "I love dealing with kids, helping them out with daily issues. It's a rewarding position. This was the first class that I've been with since their freshman year; it was pretty interesting seeing the class graduate." What do you dislike about your job? "The paperwork. Having to see victims and dealing with victims and their families, seeing the …

Name: Jason Motte D.O.B.:  March Hometown: Redington Beach, FL Rank/Title: Officer, School Resource Officer, Marine Unit and FTO (Field Training Officer) How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? 5 1/2 Years What do you like about your job? "I enjoy the excitement of the job." What do you dislike about your job? "Between the excitement, there can be some down time. [Also dislike] the shift work and time away from family." What inspired you to become an officer? "My father was a police officer. I look up to my father . . and the excitement [of the job]." What do you like …

Name: Adam Poirrier D.O.B.: 02/27/1980 Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fl Rank/Title: Lieutenant Paramedic How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? “Twelve years in total, two of them I was a volunteer.”  What do you like about your job? “Helping people, there is always something different to do, and I like the variety in it because you never know what you’re going to come across.” What do you dislike about your job? “The schedules are rough on personal lives. We have to miss important holidays sometimes, and when we work overtime it is usually twelve more hours, which means our 24…

Name: Michael Hayes D.O.B.: 8/27/1977 Hometown: Fort Pierce, FL Rank/Title: Firefighter and Paramedic How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? “Six years.” What do you like about your job? “Helping people, flexible hours and comradely on shift.” What do you dislike about your job? “Running calls after midnight.” What inspired you to become a firefighter? “I went to EMT school, and after seeing what firefighters do with patient care, I decided to become one.” What do you like about Gulfport? “The small town feel of it and all the good places to go for entertainment.” What do …

Name: Frank Wheelehan D.O.B.:  4/12/1960 Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL Rank/Title: Communications Officer How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department Communications Center? Since October 10, 1994 What do you like about your job? "It's never the same. Everyday brings something different. No two days are ever exactly alike. Being a one man operation, we do a lot more than the other agencies . . . we share all the duties." What do you dislike about your job? "People will call for the dumbest reason, but they won't call when help is needed. We need people calling us [for emergencies…

Every Monday on Gulfport Patch we introduce you to a first responder in the city. Meet the police officers, firefighters and communications officers right here. Take a moment and learn more about the first responders in Gulfport. How long have they been a member of their department? What do they like about their jobs? What inspired them to give back? Find out today! Gulfport Police Department Officer Jesse Kellington Detective Jimmie Embry Detective Hanh Pham Officer Tom Adams Officer Alex Falconeri Officer David Cavanah Officer Bob Bang Communications Officer LaKeisha Isaac Police Services …

Name: Lesley Jordan D.O.B.: 2/15/68 Hometown: St. Petersburg Rank/Title: Firefighter and EMT How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? This is the sixth year as a full time firefighter. Jordan spent 10 years volunteering with the Gulfport Fire Department before becoming full time. His total experience is 16 years. What do you like about your job? "I like everything about my job, the brotherhood, the camaraderie, the closeness. It's a tight knit family." What do you dislike about your job? "There's no dislikes about my job. I don't think I can say anything about my job." What …

Name: Gerard Grady D.O.B.: 12/11/74 Hometown: St. Petersburg Rank/Title: Firefighter and Paramedic How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? This year will be 8 years. What do you like about your job? "It can be challenging, but you get to see different things. I like helping people." What do you dislike about your job? "Nothing really. I don't like dogs. I don't like going into houses with dogs." What inspired you to become a firefighter? "I was with somebody who was looking into it. I went in with him [to the fire station] and [learned] that you get a chance to help people …

Name: Erick Fuchs D.O.B.: Jan. 3, 1978 Hometown: St. Petersburg Rank/Title: Firefighter and EMT How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? 12.5 years (two as a volunteer and 10 full time) What do you like about your job? "You get to help people. The guys I work with, we serve the public." What do you dislike about your job? "The persona that people have, that we don't do anything. . . not understanding the training." What inspired you to become a firefighter? "The kindergarten trip to the fire station." What do you like about Gulfport? "It's a diverse community. As a …

Name: James Beane D.O.B.: August 13 Hometown: Newark, New Jersey Rank/Title: Police Services Supervisor How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? Since December of 1999 What do you like about your job? "That you never know what the day is going to bring. There's no routine. It's a very dynamic position." What do you dislike about your job? "Sometimes it's that same dynamic environment. You make plans, but [because of] the nature of the job, you don't always get to carry out those plans." What inspired you to become a communications officer? "My buddy said there was an …

Name: LaKeisha Isaac D.O.B.: November 5th Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL Rank/Title: Communications Officer How long have you been with the Gulfport Police Department? Since December of 1996 What do you like about your job? "I like that my job is the same but different every day." What do you dislike about your job? "The fact that my profession does not get recognized as a profession." What inspired you to become a communications officer? "It happened on accident. I stumbled into it. I saw they were hiring and here we are 15 years later." What do you like about Gulfport? "I like that it's …

Name: Timothy Burton D.O.B.:  6/13/80 Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL Rank/Title: Firefighter, Paramedic How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? 3 Months What do you like about your job? "I love everything, the history, the great friends, the brotherhood. (I like) getting the opportunity to help people." What do you dislike about your job? "Nothing so far. I haven't been here long enough." What inspired you to become a firefighter? "My family. It's the best job. I have family members who were both firefighters. They kept putting it into my ear." What do you like about Gulfport…

Name: Christopher Mathis D.O.B.:  2/6/1979 Hometown: St. Petersburg Rank/Title: Firefighter, EMT How long have you been with the Gulfport Fire Department? Mathis started on March 15, 2011. What do you like about your job? "I like the fact that it's not a monotonous job. There could be a traffic accident, medical call . . . always keeps you on your toes." What do you dislike about your job? "Nothing right now. Everybody's great so far. No complaints." What inspired you to become a firefighter? "I've always wanted to have a job where people respect you. You feel proud to do it. I have a couple …