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Crime & Safety

VIDEO: Eagle Rock Paramedic of the Year

Fire Station 42 honors LAFD veteran Ruben Terrazas in high-profile, emotional ceremony.

At Eagle Rock's Fire Station 42, next to City Hall, Ruben Terrazas is known as the jovial guy who's never short of a smile or a joke. But to his LAFD colleagues, Terrazas is the paramedic who has spent the past 31 years responding to medical emergencies at the oddest hours, particularly after midnight. Nicknamed "pee-wee" by his fire station buddies—for his relatively short height—Terrazas received the LAFD's Paramedic of The Year award on Thursday, Nov. 18, at a ceremony in Fire Station 42 that was attended by and LAFD Chief Millage Peaks.

"This isn't anything I expected," said Terrazas in an occasionally tear-filled speech that, he later remarked, caught him off guard. "It's awesome to be honored—I still love what I do." Referring to his parents, who were present at the ceremony along with other members of Terrazas's family, the paramedic said, "My parents came to California a long time ago—as farmers." After pausing as if to reflect back on those years, Terrazas, who serves as Santa Claus in the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade, caught his breath and pointed to his father. Then, fighting back tears, he continued: "He's the reason for everything that I do—for my passion.

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