Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht was honored Tuesday afternoon on the floor of the Wisconsin State Capitol as the First Assembly District's First Responder of the Year.

As a member of the fire department and Door County Emergency Services, Hecht has served his community as a first responder for over 30 years. He doubled down on his commitment during the height of the pandemic as he helped organize the volunteer efforts of the Door County Fire Chiefs' Association. “Chief Hecht is an incredible public servant,” First District Assembly Rep. Joel Kitchens said, “He goes above and beyond for his communities, provides great leadership, and is respected by everyone.” A humbled Hecht says it is an honor to be recognized by Kitchens and the rest of the Wisconsin State Legislature for his efforts.

Past recipients of the recognition from the Assembly First District include Mike Neal of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Al Tlachac of Luxemburg Fire Department. Along with providing each award recipient with a legislative citation recognizing their achievement, the state Assembly also passed a resolution declaring October 17, 2023, as “First Responders Appreciation Day.”