Montverde Fire Chief Kevin Rausch and Mascotte Police Officer Taylor Oldham recently received the South Lake Chamber of Commerce Community Public Service Award at July’s Chamber Breakfast held at Bella Collina.
Clinton Pownall of Computer Business Consultants presented the awards to two worthy recipients.
Officer Taylor Oldham of the Mascotte Police Department
Officer Oldham has been a resident of Lake County for 20 years and has been in law enforcement for nearly seven years. He joined the Mascotte Police Department in July of last year and has consistently been at the top of the agency’s stats showing his passion for law enforcement and community. For his efforts, he received the department’s quarterly recognition for the fourth quarter in 2018.
Over the past few months, Officer Oldham has had some noteworthy calls, which due to his quick thinking and actions, made a difference. During two separate occasions, he quickly administered NARCAN to overdose victims and was credited with saving their lives. Last month he responded to shots fired call. Upon arrival, he discovered two gunshot victims; one fatally wounded. Officer Oldham quickly obtained crucial information on the shooter and the vehicle he fled in and had the information broadcasted to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Minutes later the suspect was stopped by Sumter County deputies and subsequently arrested for murder.
In May of this year, Officer Oldham participated in the department’s promotions process and is currently on the eligibility list for promotion to sergeant. In addition to his regular duties, Officer Oldham has trained several recruits, is one of the department’s website coordinators and assists with employment background investigations for hiring.
Chief Kevin Rausch of the Montverde Fire Department
Chief Rausch was born in Flemington, New Jersey and resided there until he joined the United States Air Force, where he served as an airframe structural repairman working on F-15s, C-130’s and Huey Helicopters. After his discharge, he moved to Tacoma, WA briefly until he returned to Flemington in 1989.
He began his fire service career with the Flemington Fire Department in 1986. He served as an EMT with the Flemington Raritan First Aid and Rescue Squad and remained active until he moved to Florida where he has resided since 1994.
He has volunteered for the Tri-County Volunteer Fire Department and the Royal Volunteer Fire Department in Sumter County Fire and EMS. While serving with the Royal VFD, he rose through the ranks from firefighter to acting Assistant Chief before becoming a volunteer firefighter with the City of Clermont while pursuing his State of Florida EMT and minimum fire standards.
In November 2003, he became the Fire Inspector for the City of Clermont and in 2006 he was awarded the Lake County Fire Inspector of the Year by his peers and in 2007, he was awarded the Florida Fire Inspector of the Year.
Chief Rausch is a member of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association. He participates in the operations group, safety/training group, and prevention groups.
Chief Rausch has served as a member of the Montverde Fire Department since April 2013 where he started as a firefighter/EMT and then became a Captain in July 2013 and was appointed the Assistant Chief in December of 2013. In February 2014, he became Montverde Fire Chief.
Since becoming chief, the fire department was awarded its current ISO Rating of 3 and was successful in maintaining that rating during the last inspection in 2019. Along with Mayor Wynkoop, he was instrumental in acquiring a reserve fire engine and has maintained personnel staffing on a primarily volunteer basis.
Congratulations to Mascotte Police Officer Taylor Oldham and Montverde Fire Chief Kevin Rausch.
