Emery County Sheriff’s Office Captain Kyle Ekker, received the President’s Award on January 10 at the Utah Emergency Management Association (UEMA) Annual Conference. Cody Barton, Sevier County Emergency Manager and UEMA Past President, presented the award.

Captain Ekker has worked for the Emery County Sheriff’s Office for the past 33 years. In addition to his many duties as Captain over the Detective Division, Jail, Dispatch and office staff, he is also the Emery County Emergency Manager and Floodplain Administrator. On the emergency management side of things, he is the leader of the HazMat Team and Dive Team, and a member of the High Angle Rope Rescue Team.

He has been the lead in numerous emergency management incidents over the years, most notably the Crandall Canyon Mine Disaster, the floods of 2011, the Seeley Fire of 2012 and the Trail Mountain Fire this past summer. He is also the lead in obtaining funding and managing multi-million-dollar projects to recover from these disasters and to protect critical infrastructure in Emery County.

With just the right mix of law enforcement and emergency management experience, Captain Ekker has planned and executed numerous exercises – – everything from tabletop exercises to multi-day full-scale exercises – – that involve and benefit community leaders, private industry, public works, Search and Rescue, local schools, the military and first responders.

Community members who see Captain Ekker are asked to congratulate him on being recognized for his outstanding efforts.