Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR) Fire Chief Otto Drozd said his department seeks to hire people who serve the community with compassion and that is what led the department to honor one of the victims killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
OCFR named Cory Connell an honorary firefighter at his funeral on Saturday. A scholarship was also announced in his memory.
Connell was killed after pushing his girlfriend, Paula Blanco, out of the way of the gunman during the shooting. She was hospitalized with a gunshot wound.
Connell, 21, had recently graduated Valencia College and was set to begin training at the Central Florida Fire Academy, which is a precursor to obtaining state fire certifications in the Orlando region. His ultimate goal, family members said, was to enter the fire service.
Orange County Firefighter/Paramedic Lori Clay was a personal friend of Connell, who she met while he worked at a Publix supermarket.
"She had some interactions with him and he came across as someone who is very genuine and was always about service above self and putting others first," Drozd said. "That is what we look for when we hire firefighters. We look for people who are going to treat the public with respect and kindness."
When Drozd and his staff learned about Connell and his goal, they knew that they could honor him. He said Connell's family was really appreciative of the offer to name Cory an honorary Orange County firefighter.
On Saturday, 50 Orange County firefighters in full uniforms lined the walls of the church as friends and family gathered to say goodbye. Outside, several pumpers and a rescue truck were parked out front while the Orlando Fire Department pipe band played.
Both Drozd and Clay spoke during the service. Clay told a story about Connell, and how his personality was the perfect fit for OCFR. They then presented Connell's family with a plaque, badge and a firefighter's helmet with the shield marked for Rescue 50.
"Rescue 50 was one of the first units at the scene and made several transports that night, taking many injured to the hospital," Drozd said. "It was really an honor to have Rescue 50 included on the helmet."
During the funeral it was announced that First Response Training Group in Orlando would be awarding an annual scholarship in Cory Connell's name. The scholarship will be used to help educate future EMS providers.
"The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of carrying on Cory's sincerity and caring," Drozd said. "His story will be told as part of the scholarship and that will allow him to live on through everyone’s memory. His story will be told for years."
Drozd spoke about the commitment that firefighters make to their community when they take the job and that when a firefighter dies in the line of duty, that firefighter is called home.
“We said that Cory was being called home and that he would always live on in our hearts," Drozd said. "We thought it was one more way which we can, as the fire service, help the community heal."
He said his hope was that firefighters who attended the funeral used it as part of their healing process.
"We’re there with you…it’s affecting us just like it affects them and this helps our own members—many of whom are dealing with what they witnessed," Drozd said. “I’m certainly proud of the things they did that night.
The department's focus is now on trying to help responders with the healing process.
