2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 114
BY SENATOR NEVERS
A RESOLUTION
To commend Fire Chief Bruce E. Cutrer of the Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District
No. 1 in Amite, Louisiana, for his many accomplishments as an outstanding
firefighter and conscientious public servant.
WHEREAS, it is with great respect and admiration that Fire Chief Bruce Cutrer is
recognized for his selfless acts of heroism and service to his community and state in the
realm of fire protection; he has demonstrated a noble commitment to the reduction of loss
associated with fire events and other hazards through progressive leadership, dedication, and
invaluable contributions to the field of fire prevention; and
WHEREAS, in 1966, as a novice firefighter, Bruce Cutrer joined the Amite
Volunteer Fire Department at the tender age of eighteen; he also served with the Hammond
Fire Department and with the Hammond Fire Prevention Bureau as a fire investigator; and
WHEREAS, after joining Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1, Chief
Cutrer continued to earn frequent and well-deserved promotions, and in 1984, he became the
first career fire chief named to the district; and
WHEREAS, Fire Chief Cutrer maintains the proud tradition of a career firefighter
who provides prompt and highly skilled assistance to victims of fire, emergencies, and other
disasters; and
WHEREAS, Chief Cutrer has been credited with citations for bravery that include
receipt of the Heroism and Community Service Award from Firehouse Magazine, the
Outstanding Service Award for Protection of Lives and Property from Governor Charles
"Buddy" Roemer, a Proclamation of Appreciation from the city of Armond Beach, Florida,
the Award for Valor from the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association, and in 2013,
the prestigious honor of being named Fire Chief of the Year by State Fire Marshal Butch
Browning; and
WHEREAS, with countless hours of training and extraordinary expertise in fire
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protection, Chief Cutrer has been appointed to specialty committees and associations to
advance fire safety, including service as president of the Tangipahoa Parish Fire Chiefs
Association and appointment as representative for the charter committee to implement the
parish 911 Communications District, local fire service on the PMAC Committee, the Urban
Search and Rescue Commission named by Governor Kathleen Blanco, the Louisiana State
University Fire and Emergency Training Institute guidance committee, the Louisiana Fire
Prevention Board of Review and Safety Regulations named by Governor Bobby Jindal, and
the North Shore (Parishes) Coalition Committee; and
WHEREAS, with the area of Tangipahoa Parish primarily composed of tracts of
farmlands and forests and traversed by interstate highways, I-12 from east to west and I-55
and the Central Gulf Railway from north to south, Fire Chief Cutrer is well aware of the
increased incidence of environmental and man-made emergencies; during his tenure he has
promoted completion of three fire stations throughout the district and successful passage of
an incremental local sales tax to increase district fire protection funding; and
WHEREAS, Chief Cutrer plays a primary role in encouraging public safety through
local programs and the use of social media to inform the public about avoidance of fire and
safety hazards; each year the district staffs a "Halloween Haunted House" for youth, and
posts household tips for Christmas tree safety, burning ordinances, and year-round bulletins
that note the potential for forest and brush fires; and
WHEREAS, Fire Chief Cutrer and his peers are familiar with the occupational
hazards of their chosen profession and the heartfelt sense of loss of fire personnel in the line
of duty; each September, a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony is held to recall the sacrifice of
those of the firefighter brotherhood from (FDNY) Fire Departments of New York City who
fell on September 11, 2001, and also to remember those local firefighters who have passed
away during the year; and
WHEREAS, Chief Bruce Cutrer is dedicated to the promotion of community causes
with participation in local charitable events like "Battle of the Badges" flag football games
among neighborhood firefighters to collect funds for the Relay For Life campaign; and
WHEREAS, Chief Cutrer adheres to the following noteworthy motto that reflects his
vocation and commitment to public safety, "This is not my job - it is my calling"; and
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WHEREAS, Fire Chief Bruce Cutrer merits a special measure of commendation as
a firefighter, a first responder, and one of the finest public servants in Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Fire Chief Bruce E. Cutrer of the Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection
District No. 1 for his many accomplishments in fire protection, prevention, and safety
regulation, and for his exceptional level of community service rendered to those he serves.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 Fire Chief Bruce E. Cutrer.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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