Tom Bock: Westchester County Legislator-8th District; Tom's Involvement in the Community Service

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Tom Bock Tom's Involvement
in the Community Service

★ Sacred Heart Church Parishoner ★

Tom and his family have attended Sacred Heart church since 1988, when they moved into their home on Old Kensico Road. Prior to that, Tom was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Elmsford; and as a youth, a member of Our Lady of Mary Magdeline of Pocantico Hills.

★ Elmsford Fire Department ★

Tom joined the fire department in 1973, after meeting an EFD member in class at Westchester Community College. Once he joined he was hooked. After taking the requisite fire courses, he took the EMT class when it first came out and contributed heavily as an advisor for the department's Explorer Post (junior fire department). In 1989 he became Chief of the Department, where he changed the departmental fund raising methods and set a record for the highest income. During his term as Chief in 1990, he created the Service Award Program which the Village adopted and later became a model for other fire departments in NYS. It is still in effect today. Now Tom devotes his firematic time to helping others learn, technical rescue and hazardous materials responses.

★ Westchester County Hazardous Material Response Team ★

After responding to a truck fire alarm on I-287, and found out how explosive the contents were, Tom realized his lack of knowledge with hazardous materials could put him at added risk and possibly risk others with him. To solve this, he took Hazardous Material Technician training and joined the County's all volunteer Hazardous Materials Response Team around 1975. He is currently still on this team and an active participant with it.

★ Westchester County Technical Rescue Team ★

Prior to the attack on America on September 11, 2001, Tom along with several other firematic colleagues (now friends), realized the gap in the emergency services of Westchester County, specifically for technical rescue. Along with these friends, Tom and they went to meetings and organizations throughout the fire service "pitching" the need for a team. They did the presentation to several county legislators and the county executive. With unrelenting conviction, after 8 years the county legislators decided to adopt this team. There are currently approximately 80 technician level members ready to respond to help the county's residents and it's guests if needed.

★ Westchester County W.M.D. Planning Committee ★

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Tom along with several other firematic groups were asked to join a task force created by the Department of Emergency Services to best plan how the county and it's personnel could best respond to and protect it's residents from a WMD attack. This is an ongoing effort.

★ Fire Chiefs ★

Tom joined the Association of Westchester County Fire Chiefs as a Director and was instrumental in organizing the Katrina Relief Weekend Fund Raising Drive the fire service of Westchester held shortly after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast Region of America. The drive was not only successful, raising over $180,000, but the Chiefs Association was able to donate approximately $35,000 worth of gifts during the holiday season shortly after to the remaining children at the only functioning school. Modells Sporting Goods donated their tractor trailer and driver to deliver the presents! Tom, accompanied by several other directors and the DES Deputy Fire Commissioner, flew down there to meet the truck, which had arrived, dropped off the presents and left. They distributed the gifts for grades Kindergarten through 5th, with many parents present. Truly one of the more rewarding things to participate in.

★ J.I.M.M.Y. Foundation—Board Director ★

Tom became involved after learning of a fellow fire fighters four year old son had a brain tumor. Unfortunately, the boy passed away after a two year struggle. The family, looking to give back to the community that helped them so much, asked Tom, amongst others, to help them create this foundation. Since their inception, they have helped many sick children and their families.