COEUR d’ALENE — First responders don’t do what they do for the accolades.

“We do it because we feel called to help people,” said Erik Loney, a firefighter and paramedic with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

But sometimes the awards come anyway.

Loney was among the local first responders honored Tuesday at the 2022 Public Safety Award Luncheon.

More than 120 people gathered at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn to celebrate the honorees. The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce organized the event.

Loney works on one of the busiest ambulances in Idaho: Medic 32, based out of Station 2 on North Ramsey Road. It routinely runs 10 to 15 calls a day and all night long.

“The last two years have been very difficult,” Loney said. “We’ve had increased calls. We’ve had sicker patients.”

Those calls aren’t only from people who’ve contracted COVID-19, he said. Other patients have avoided the hospital due to the pandemic, leaving them in worse shape when paramedics reach them.

It’s put increased strain on first responders — but professionalism and camaraderie help.

“I work with a great group of people,” Loney said. “They do the right thing. They treat other people the way we want to be treated — with kindness, respect and dignity.”

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department honored Officer Codey Debias, who responded to more than 1,300 calls for service last year — more than any other officer with the agency.

Debias has reportedly received praise from area defense attorneys for treating defendants with respect and preserving their rights, no matter the situation.

Detective Sgt. Neil Uhrig received the award from the Post Falls Police Department.

Uhrig specializes in the investigation of sex crimes involving children, child exploitation and cybercrime. He’s part of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force in Seattle.

Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police praised awardee Cpl. Richard Axtman for his investigation into crimes, as well as for the leadership role he’s taken in his community.

Though Patrol Deputy Arek Brock has only been with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office for six years, he’s reportedly become a leader among his peers. Brock is a member of the SWAT team and a former member of the Special Investigations Unit.

Idaho State Police honored Sgt. Jess Stennett, who is reportedly responsible for the seizure of more than 100,000 fentanyl-laced pills. Stennett has provided education and awareness about the dangers of fentanyl to hundreds of community members, including students and parents.

Capt. Kevin Lawler, a paramedic with 15 years of experience, received the award from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. Lawler has been a leader of the new ground-based critical care transport program, even going back to school to become a medical service officer.

Mike White — CEO of Mike White Ford of Coeur d’Alene, the award ceremony’s top sponsor — said he was humbled to address the room full of first responders and express a community’s gratitude.

“I can’t imagine going to bed at night, wondering if you guys are going to answer the phone,” he said. “We’re so blessed to have the ability to do that every night, knowing you’re going to be there, rain or shine.”