MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – One Thursday morning the Kiwanis Club of Marquette recognized two first responders for their service to the people of Marquette. Officer Nathan King as Officer of the Year, and Engineer Brandon Morey as Firefighter of The Year. “We’re pleased that you could join with us in honoring these two individuals,” said one Kiwanis Club member. “We’re very proud of them and the work that they do.”
Fire department Shift Captain Kirk Vogler said Morey displays all the traits needed in a good firefighter, “He has been with the fire department for almost four years and has given so much of his time to make others better around him,” said Vogler. “He is mission focused and puts the needs of the team above himself in every way. Brandon has natural leadership qualities that are displayed daily, and he is quick to offer mentorship to all.”
Police Chief Ryan Grim said King in his four years as an officer has been indispensable to the department, “That’s a time in your career where you make that choice ‘what kind of officer to I want to be?’ and Nate King, he portrays the kind of officer I want to see in all my officers,” said Grim. “He does a great job every single day, this past year or so he’s been involved in a lot of the big cases we’ve had.”
Vogler also said the most important things public servants do are often the little things, “The peanut butter and jelly sandwich made at 2 a.m. for a citizen with a diabetic issue, offering a listening ear for an elderly resident that needs to be heard, helping a soon to be new mother install a car seat in their vehicle, or offering sympathy, compassion, and even sometimes an embrace after a family’s loss,” said Vogler.
Next week on Thursday the Kiwanis club will honor Benjamin Bernard as Marquette Public Works Employee of the Year.
