City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 7, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing to Consider the Recommendation of the City Council Naming Committee to Name the Alexandria Fire Department Professional Development Center at the Lee Center in Honor of Paramedic Joshua A. Weissman.
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of recommendation of the City Council Naming Committee to name the Alexandria Fire Department Professional Development Center at the Lee Center in honor of Paramedic Joshua A. Weissman who died in the line of duty on February 9, 2012, and setting this report for public hearing and consideration on Saturday, June 15.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council hold the public hearing and following the hearing approve the recommendation of the City Council Naming Committee to name the Alexandria Fire Department Professional Development Center at the Lee Center in Honor of Paramedic Joshua A. Weissman.
The Naming Committee recommended unanimously that Council receive and consider their recommendation that the Fired Department Profession Development Center be named in honor of Paramedic Joshua A. Weissman.
DISCUSSION: Alexandria Paramedic Joshua A. Weissman died in the line of duty while responding to an emergency call for a car fire on Route 395 in Arlington County near Glebe Road the night of February 8, 2012. Paramedic Weissman fell from the roadway and suffered a severe head injury. He was rescued by City of Alexandria and Arlington County firefighters and paramedics, with assistance from Alexandria, Arlington and Virginia State police officers. In spite of valiant efforts by the medical team at Washington Hospital Center, Paramedic Weissman died of his injuries at 4:25 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012.
He was seven year, well-regarded member of the Alexandria Fire Department, who was known to have a great passion for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). He was an active instructor, role model, mentor and field training officer throughout his career. He obtained specialty instructor certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, International Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, and Geriatric Education for Emergency Medical Services.
During his career in Alexandria he received an Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Valor Award, and an Alexandria Jaycees Award for his contributions to the Field Training Program for EMS interns.
The Alexandria Fire Department has requested that their Professional Development Center, located at the Lee Center, be named in honor of Paramedic Weissman.
The City Council Naming Committee (Councilwoman Pepper, Mayor Euille and Deputy City Manager Michele Evans, the City Manager's designee) discussed the request at its meeting on May 9, 2013. The Naming Committee recommended unanimously that City Council name the Alexandria Fire Department Professional Development Center at the Lee Center in honor of Paramedic Joshua A. Weissman. They asked that this recommendation be forwarded to Council for receipt in May with public hearing and consideration in June.
ATTACHMENT: Joshua A. Weissman Obituary
STAFF:
Michele Evans, Deputy City Manager
Adam Thiel, Fire Chief
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