Mesquite, TX – May 18, 2021 – At the May 17 City Council meeting, the City of Mesquite and the Mesquite Elks Lodge No. 2404 announced during a video presentation of their 2020-2021 awards Debbie Anderson as Citizen of the Year, Brad Meyer as Police Officer of the Year and Driver-Engineer/Paramedic Vance Lay as Firefighter of the Year.
Debbie Anderson has been a leader in crime watch groups and is seen as an ambassador in the Creek Crossing neighborhood. She has been an active participant in the City of Mesquite’s annual Neighborhood Summit and a huge supporter of the Mesquite Police Department’s Santa Cop Program.
Mayor Bruce Archer said, “Debbie was the Chair of our 2020 Complete Count Committee for the Census, supports our annual National Night Out event and served as President of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. She is a long time, very active, hard-working, dedicated citizen.”
During the surprise presentation, Anderson said, “This has been a privilege and an honor to serve this city. I love it. I will continue to love it. Someday I have to learn to say ‘no’, but it is hard to say ‘no’ when you are asked to do something that you feel in your heart that needs to be done.”
Police Officer of the Year Brad Meyer joined the Mesquite Police Department in 2000. He was assigned to Patrol where served as a Field Training Officer and Criminal Investigations as a Robbery/Homicide Investigator. Meyer was promoted in 2009 where he served as a Patrol Sergeant. Since 2017, Sergeant Meyer currently oversees the department’s K-9 Unit. Police Chief David Faaborg said, “He’s a cop’s cop. He looks out for his officers. He looks out for the department. He is a critical part of the department.”
Firefighter of the Year Vance Lay is a Driver-Engineer/Paramedic for the Mesquite Fire Department. Lay started his career with the department in 1992, receiving his paramedic certification in 1994 and was promoted to Driver-Engineer in 2000. Fire Chief Russell Wilson said, “He is a leader on and off duty. He is someone that fellow firefighters and the teams that he works with look up to and respect.”
In addition to the awards, the Elks Lodge and the Ladies Auxiliary both made financial contributions to numerous city quality of life programs and services.