Trueblood, Snyder, Bower and Cheyne honored by Quincy Service Club

QUINCY – Adam Yates stood front and center, looked across a capacity crowd at the Elks Club and in one succinct sentence explained what Friday’s recognition program was all about.

“They commit their lives to protect others,” said Yates, the chief of the Quincy Police Department.

Generally speaking, Yates was addressing an audience filled with first responders.

More specifically, Yates spoke of the soon-to-be announced award winners at the Quincy Service Club’s 58th annual Public Safety Appreciation Banquet.

“It never gets old recognizing the best of the best,” added Barry Cheyne, chairman of the board of Fire and Police Commission.

Ironically, an unsuspecting Cheyne, who served as emcee of the event, was later named one of the four major award winners.

Honored for their ongoing service were firefighter Chad Trueblood of the Quincy Fire Department, trooper Cody Snyder of the Missouri Highway Patrol and Ryan Bower of Adams County Emergency Services. Cheyne was honored as Citizen of the Year.

Bernie Vahlkamp, chief of the Quincy Fire Department, said Trueblood “epitomizes service before self”.

Trueblood, a six-year veteran of the department, lauded his co-workers and family and talked about the love for what he does.

“This is such a huge honor,” said Trueblood, a native of Memphis, Mo.

Snyder is a four-year veteran of the Missouri Highway Patrol and is at or near the top of the agency’s leaders in a number of arrest categories, particularly those that are drug-related. Much of his work is done in Adair and Schuyler counties.

“It’s nice to be recognized for what you are doing,” Snyder said.

Yates praised Trueblood’s commitment.

“Every day he gives the maximum effort,” Yates said.

Bower may have been the most moved of the recipients.

“I am honestly humbled by this honor,” Bower said. “This means the world to me.”

John Simon, chief of  Adams County Ambulance and Emergency Management, talked at length about Bowers’ contributions.

“He puts everything he has into making us successful,” Simon said.

Chris Costigan, assistant chief of the Tri-Township Fire District, introduced Cheyne. Costigan praised Cheyne for helping keep both the police and fire departments at “near full strength”.

Cheyne said he was not only surprised, but “overwhelmed” when his name was called. He said he “feels good” about the position the police and fire departments are currently in and the work they are performing.

“We have a lot of talent (in those departments), and I am quite impressed by the work they do,” he said. “We have a lot of solid individuals involved.”

Cheyne has been a member of the Fire and Police Commission for 10 years, six as chairman.

Rob Copley, who spent 18 years as chief of police in Quincy before announcing his retirement in December 2021, also addressed the crowd. “This was always one of my favorite days of the year,” Copley said of the Service Club’s annual awards ceremony.

Harry Cramer provided the invocation and closing benediction.