On October 15, two Shaker Heights first responders were honored for exemplifying the Rotary Club motto of “service above self” in a ceremony at Fire Station #1 on Chagrin Blvd.
The Rotary Club of the Heights of Greater Cleveland honored Sergeant William Wedeking of the Shaker Heights Police Department as 2024 Police Officer of the Year and Firefighter Connor Groh of the Shaker Heights Fire department as 2024 Firefighter of the Year.
Friends, family, and City officials, including Mayor David E. Weiss and members of City Council, were in attendance.
“This event provides an opportunity for us all to pause, take a deep breath, look back on all the accomplishments of our first responders, and to honor a couple of key people, as we have done since 1991,” said Mayor Weiss, who also gave thanks to the Rotary Club for hosting the event.
Candi Hazlewood of the Rotary Club of the Heights of Greater Cleveland led the program. Rotary Club members Ken D'Amato and John Sobotincic served as presenters to Sergeant Wedeking and Firefighter Groh respectively. Honorees received a plaque for their service, and a monetary award.
Wedeking joined the Shaker Heights Police Department in 2007 as a patrol officer. He has been a Departmental Firearms Instructor and a member of the Shaker Heights Police Honor Guard since 2010, and was also a member of the regional EDGE SWAT Unit at its inception in 2011. During his nine years with EDGE, he served as a Unit Firearms Instructor, Unit Armorer, and Precision Marksman. Over the past 18 years Sergeant Wedeking has served in the Uniform Patrol Bureau, and is currently Platoon Sergeant of the Uniform Patrol Bureau’s B Platoon.
Shaker Heights Police Chief Wayne D. Hudson said, “I consider myself very fortunate as I met Bill early on in my tenure as Chief of Police. I was very impressed by how he trained our staff. That training really paid off as Bill was the sergeant in charge during a very high-risk call that was handled very safely. Bill embodies the Rotary Club’s 'service above self' commitment to building a better world. He has been and continues to be a friend to all.”
Firefighter Groh began his fire service career in East Cleveland in 2015 as a Firefighter/Paramedic and joined the Shaker Heights Fire Department in 2020, also as a Firefighter/Paramedic.
“While Connor would humbly say he’s ‘just doing his job,' it is exactly that humility – and the way he quietly lifts others – that sets him apart,” noted Shaker Heights Fire Chief Patrick Sweeney. “His commitment to others goes far beyond emergency calls and station duties. Without ever seeking attention or recognition, Connor has repeatedly stepped up to support colleagues facing personal challenges. Whether it’s organizing construction projects at a fellow firefighter’s home, building accessibility ramps, or simply offering a helping hand, Connor always answers the call. As a department, we are proud to recognize him as someone who truly embodies the Rotary’s guiding principle of ‘service over self.’”
The Rotary Awards were created to honor the exemplary service provided to the community by the honorees, and to recognize the ongoing commitment of all of the City’s firefighters and police officers who protect and serve the residents of the City of Shaker Heights. This marks the thirty-third year for the awards, with the first being presented to James Yarcusko (police) and Dean Charvat (fire) in 1992.