Allentown paramedics honored for service including response to 1982 shooting

May 26--Allentown officials celebrated National EMS Week on Thursday with a ceremony honoring several city paramedics and other Allentown first responders.

Jeffrey Baker, a 35-year veteran of the department, was recognized for his lengthy service to the city which included decades as a paramedic and also work as a registered nurse for several area medical facilities.

Gina Hausman, patient care director at Sacred Heart Hospital, highlighted several achievements in Baker's career including his response to an April 1982 incident when an Allentown man shot and critically wounded his wife before barricading himself in his basement apartment and threatening to blow it up.

The man, who was later shot and killed by police, fired at Baker's ambulance which was called to assist the man's wife. An Allentown Police officer was shot during the altercation.

Baker was presented with a framed copy of a Morning Call story detailing the 1982 incident at Thursday's ceremony.

Several other groups of city first responders were also honored. Among them was a crew that responded to various incidents during winter storm Jonas in January 2016. Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard drove some members of the crew through the snow in a Humvee to reach patients.

A crew that worked during winter storm Stella this year were also recognized as were several first responders who saved the life of a man who had a heart attack in May 2016.

eopilo@mcall.com

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