Heroes Who Serve: 5 First Responders Keeping Utah Safe

Utah is home to dedicated first responders who go above and beyond to keep their communities safe. That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight EMTs, firefighters and police officers who are making a difference every day.

Check out five outstanding Utah first responders who are making an impact. And if you know a hero who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a first responder for a chance to be featured in our Heroes Who Serve series on Patch!

Firefighter Tom Elbrecht (Cottonwood Heights) — While backcountry skiing in Millcreek, Unified Fire Authority Firefighter Tom Elbrecht discovered a man who’d been buried by an avalanche 45 minutes earlier. The man’s head and an arm were free, but he was unable to make his way down the mountain with his injuries. Elbrecht stayed by his side for over seven hours while awaiting rescue teams. The off-duty firefighter splinted the man’s injured leg and aided in keeping him warm with his gear. Elbrecht received the Carnegie Medal for Heroism in December 2023 for his actions. Read more here.

Firefighter Logan Hadley (Clearfield) — In January 2024, a firefighter from North Davis Fire District risked his life to save a dog who had fallen into a frozen pond. The dog had managed to get stuck behind an ice shelf and was unable to get free. After hooking a rope to himself, Hadley crawled onto the ice and into the freezing water. The dog swam over to the firefighter but began to growl and fight before allowing the rescuer to retrieve him. Read more here.

Firefighter James Munns (Tremonton) — A woman was rescued by off-duty firefighter James Munns in October 2023 when her truck crashed upside down in the Tremonton Canal. She was underwater for five to 10 minutes before the firefighter passed by and spotted the vehicle. Munns rushed into the cold water and used a pocket knife to break her free from her seatbelt and retrieve her from the canal. His timely actions, including performing CPR, saved the woman’s life. Read more here.

Deputy Perez (Park City) — Summit County Sheriff’s Deputy Perez demonstrated a heroic act of bravery in July 2024, when he used his patrol car to intercept a truck heading westbound in an eastbound lane of SR 40. Blocking the oncoming pickup truck, the Deputy received minor injuries from the collision while the truck driver reported no injuries. Deputy Perez was awarded the Medal of Valor from the Utah Department of Public Safety for his service and self-sacrifice. Read more here.

Deputy Jeremy Taubman (Tooele) — In February 2025, Tooele County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Taubman rescued a man who had fallen through frozen Stansbury Lake. The man attempted to retrieve his dog, who had slipped through the ice, before falling in himself. Deputy Taubman utilized his water rescue rope and was able to tug both the man and his dog back to shore. The man’s behavior indicated he was near death and the rescue occurred in the nick of time. Read more here.

We’re fortunate in Utah to have first responders like these working tirelessly to keep us safe. If you know a local hero who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured on Patch!