KENNEWICK, Wash. – A local Firefighter took matters into his own hands when he learned about a missing 77-year-old woman with dementia in his neighborhood.
“I don’t like standing idly by when somebody needs help,” Garrett Trappett, Kennewick Firefighter and Paramedic, said.
Trappett was on his way home when he noticed a dispatch call about his missing neighbor. He offered his help at the command post, but was told they had enough resources.
After spending a few hours at home, he felt he had to help. Trappett took his dog and began following a route he thought the woman might have taken.
“I was thinking, what would a lady with severe dementia do? Where would she go?” Trappett said. “And I just kind of followed the route that I would take if I were in her shoes and walked to the interstate and followed the fence line down west and found her underneath a bush, kind of tangled up in the barbed wire of the fence there.”
The woman was injured and dehydrated when he found her. Trappett called for help and carried her up a hill to an ambulance, making sure she was taken care of.
“And I know anybody else in my situation would have done the same thing. I don’t feel like I did anything special,” Trappett said.
For his actions, Trappett received the ‘Citizen Service Award‘ from Interim Benton County Sheriff Mike Clark.
Kennewick Fire Chief Michael Heffner said Trappett is a great example of a public servant.
“Garrett really represents the attitude, the level of professionalism that our firefighters have here on and off duty,” Heffner said. “And we recognize that our folks are ready to respond at work and then take those skills and are able to use them when the timing is right out in the public,”
Trappett remained humble after the recognition and said he was simply helping his neighbor.
“I love this job and I don’t think there’s anything else I could do in life because it’s so much fun being able to show up to work with your friends every day and be able to help the community that you live in,” Trappett said. “You’re able to serve those that are around you and make a difference in somebody’s life. On their worst day, we’re able to show up and make a difference, and that’s the satisfaction that I get from the job.”
