Idaho Falls Post Register (Idaho)
MADISON COUNTY, Idaho — After a 35-year career of service to the community as a Madison County sheriff’s deputy, EMT and emergency dispatcher, Jeff Hill has retired.
While everyone else was running away from disaster, Hill, 58, said he always enjoyed running toward it.
Hill started his career as an emergency dispatcher, which he called “the toughest job” in law enforcement. After a year, Hill said, he realized the job wasn’t for him and that he wanted to be a deputy.
Hill also served as a part-time EMT for 27 years while working as a deputy.
His co-workers had only positive things to say about him.
“How much of an effect he’s had on the community is amazing,” Madison County Sheriff Roy Klingler said. “There’s a lot of people who will remember how he helped them. It’s been a great honor to work with him.”
Tears came to Suzanne Bagley’s eyes as she reflected on her memories with Hill. Bagley’s sister, 21-year-old Anne Laguna, died six years ago in a car accident. Hill responded to the accident scene.
“I took comfort in knowing he was with her when she died,” said Bagley, a Madison County civil deputy. “I know she was in good hands.”
One of Hill’s most memorable moments as an officer came during the 1976 Teton Dam disaster. He recalled talking to an elderly couple, who didn’t want to move until they had all of their possessions out of their house.
""I told them that ‘the water is less than half a mile away and I don’t know about you, but I’m too young to die,’"" he said.
The couple then agreed to move, Hill said, who still can remember the “wall of water” that came with the flood.
Not all of his memories are happy, however,
Dealing with abused and hurt children always was a challenge, Hill said. He also had to tell several people their loved ones had died - a task he always found difficult.
Hill plans to spend his retirement with his four children, ages 5, 8, 10 and 12. In addition, he may work as a reserve officer and is considering going back to school.
“Being Mr. Mom to my kids is a full-time job,” he said.
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