‘Consumate’ firefighter bids adieux
Above, decorated firefighter Paul Hawkins (holding envelope) is flanked by firefighter Steve Ramirez, retired engineer Vince Bruccolieri, engineers Brian Grebbien and Mike Smotrys, firefighter Jimmy Bruccolieri and Capt. James Crawford, during Hawkins’ final shift. Photo
Paul Hawkins, a decorated city firefighter who won the admiration of his peers, the thanks of countless victims of fires and other emergencies, and the gratitude of a Mexican sister city whose emergency services he helped to revamp, has retired with a quiet cheerfulness that marked three decades of service.
“He was a consummate professional firefighter-paramedic,” Capt. James Crawford said, after Hawkins worked his final shift last Tuesday without fanfare. “That was his life. He wanted to run calls all the time. He loved his job.”
Hawkins “never wanted to promote” from the rank of firefighter, Crawford said, adding that Hawkins loved treating medical-aid patients as much as he loved putting out fires.
Hawkins served for more than 20 years as the coordinator of the department’s paramedic program, providing training and overseeing logistics.
“We’re taking a big hit to lose him at the department,” Crawford said.
The cash-strapped city is offering early retirement incentives to employees, and Hawkins departs along with longtime Public Works Superintendent Mike Flaherty, who is soon to follow. Officials expect about 10 employees to retire early, and with a hiring freeze on 14 vacant employee positions, it is not yet clear whether new workers will be hired to offset positions lost to retirement.
Hawkins cut a recognizable figure with his compact, wiry frame, his calm, smiling demeanor, and a Tom Selleck moustache he adopted decades ago and never abandoned.
In May he received a Sustained Superiority Award at the 36th annual South Bay Medal of Valor ceremony, at which he was cited for outstanding service as a firefighter, a mentor, and a tireless leader in a program to train paramedics in Hermosa’s Mexican sister city, Loreto.
The award was presented to Hawkins by Hermosa Beach Fire Chief David Lantzer.
For 30 years Hawkins has “consistently exceeded the expectations of his supervisors. Always willing to train new paramedics and firefighters, Hawkins is constantly striving to improve paramedic and fire services for the citizens and visitors of Hermosa Beach,” read a statement from the Medal of Valor committee.
“Hawkins has excellent paramedic skills and serves as a prime example for young firefighters and paramedics of quality leadership under the stress of treating critically ill and injured patients in the field,” the committee wrote.
“Along with his regular assignments, Hawkins is quick to create and participate in programs to promote emergency medical services,” the statement read.
“Some of these accomplishments have included assisting in physician CPR re-certification as well as coordinating ‘Super CPR Days’ that include training hundreds of local residents in life-saving techniques,” the committee wrote.
“In addition, Hawkins is one of the founders of the Sister City Paramedic Program in Loreto, Baja Mexico. For the last 11 years, Hawkins and two other members of the Hermosa Beach Fire Department have traveled to Loreto twice a year to provide a week-long training for new paramedics and to help improve their program. This is the only Advanced Life Support Program of its type in Baja California.
As the local paramedic coordinator, Hawkins was “a leader in researching and implementing new technology and equipment to serve the needs of the citizens of Hermosa Beach and the entire South Bay.”
In December 2006 Hawkins took an ax blow to his hand as he helped fight a five-alarm blaze that leveled five Manhattan Beach businesses. Although the injury would require surgery followed by eight weeks off duty, firefighters said Hawkins barely flinched when it was inflicted, and continued working the fire for more than two hours before allowing himself to be taken to a hospital.
“Paul’s a stud,” a fellow firefighter said.
The injury occurred when Hawkins was holding a tool that another firefighter struck with the flat of an ax head, and Hawkins’ hand got in the way. ER