GUERNSEY – Guernsey VFW Post 4471 recognized Platte County Deputy Roy Orr as winner of a VFW Public Servant Award in law enforcement during a recently ceremony.

Each year, VFW posts select emergency medical technicians, law enforcement and firefighter personnel to receive VFW public servant awards. 

Orr has served in law enforcement in Platte County for 33 years.  

He first became involved in law enforcement as a reserve officer for the Guernsey Police Department in 1988 and became certified as a Wyoming peace officer in 1989.  

Orr had only one word to describe his feelings about earning the honor.

“Surprising,” he said.

After serving with the Guernsey Police Department for several years, Orr moved on in 2007 to employment with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.

Throughout his career, Orr has served as police officer, sergeant, assistant chief of police, chief of police and road deputy.  

Orr has also worked as a part-time law enforcement officer for state parks at Guernsey and Glendo. 

As a police officer with the Guernsey Police Department, Orr was awarded the Guernsey Fire Department Award of Valor in 1997 for saving the lives of a Guernsey family whose home was on fire.

He has also participated on several search and rescue missions and was instrumental in rescuing a pair of lost hunters in the Laramie Peak area.

“We want to recognize these guys,” said Steve Keigley, commander of VFW Post 4471. “They do a good job while putting their lives on the line for us every day. It’s an opportunity to say thank you for doing a job well done.”

VFW officials have also announced that David Warner, chief of the Guernsey Rural Fire Department, has been selected as Wyoming VFW Firefighter of the Year.

Bob Holloway, a retired firefighter and EMT, included in his nomination letter of Warner that, “David has dedicated his life to that of a volunteer firefighter in both the Guernsey Fire Department and the Guernsey Rural Fire Department. Warner has dedicated his life to firefighting.” 

Warner has been an active volunteer firefighter since he graduated from high school in 1995. 

Throughout his volunteer firefighting career, Warner has driven the ambulance and worked closely with the EMTs and also assisted with search and rescue/recovery efforts in the Guernsey area. 

He has been involved in the fighting of many structure and grassland fires in and around Guernsey.
He has served as a fire board member of the Guernsey Rural Fire Department and has served as chief for several years.
Warner has been recognized with Certificates of Achievement and Certificates of Accomplishment from the Emergency Management Institute, the Wyoming State Forestry Division and the Department of Homeland Security FEMA.

He was named firefighter of the year by the Guernsey VFW post in 2018.

Criteria for the VFW public service awards includes: recognition by their colleagues or those they serve, consistent excellence in the performance of their duties and dedication to their official responsibilities over a period of years and continuous growth in responsibilities and skills within their profession.