MAYS LANDING, N.J. (May 12, 2017) - Representatives of Atlantic City Electric presented the company's 11^th Annual Merit of Excellence Award for Commitment to Public Safety to Gary Stevenson, mayor of Paulsboro, N.J. The presentation was recently made during the annual New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Conference at the Tropicana Casino & Resort.

"We are honored to recognize Mayor Stevenson for his many years of service and dedication to fire service, emergency management and volunteerism in his community," said Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president.  
 

The Merit of Excellence Award for Commitment to Public Safety was created to honor those who commit their time and talents to the residents and visitors of our region and to recognize individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to emergency preparedness and safety in southern New Jersey.

Prior to being sworn in as mayor of Paulsboro in January 2016, Stevenson began his career in the fire protection industry in 1984 which included serving as chief of the Paulsboro Fire Department for 12 years. He volunteers with the American Red Cross installing smoke detectors where needed throughout Paulsboro and the surrounding area.  
 

Mayor Stevenson's firefighting instincts kicked in the morning of January 10 of this year when he noticed black smoke and flames bellowing from the second floor of a home in Paulsboro. He approached the residence and knocked on multiple doors. He managed to wake the sleeping homeowner and helped the resident outside of the home. After calling the local fire department, Stevenson did a walk-through of the home to ensure no one else was present. The mayor's actions helped save a life that day.

Atlantic City Electric supports the New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Conference through its Emergency Services Partnership Program, which provides resources for safety initiatives, education, recruitment and retention activities, and scholarship opportunities for police, fire and emergency management officials.
 

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