Perry Township Trustee

In 2007 Gary S. Coons began his term as Perry Township Trustee. While this is his first elected position, he has been quite active in public service throughout his career. Recognized for his professional and community service, he has received numerous awards and acknowledgements.

In 1991 Coons joined the fire service in Marion County as a firefighter where his leadership qualities were soon recognized. He was promoted almost immediately to Lieutenant of Operations for the Franklin Township Fire Department. As a dedicated professional firefighter, he continued to improve his leadership and organizational skills. In 1993 he joined the Indiana Task Force and became a rescue specialist, as well as team leader and program manager which continued throughout the next ten years. Meanwhile, in 1998 he left Franklin Township to fill the role of Public Information & Injury Prevention Officer for his hometown and joined the City of Beech Grove Fire Department. While at Beech

Emergency Management Agency and Indiana Department of Homeland Security under the direction of Task Force Leader Mark Rapp, where he received special training in terrorism preparedness and emergency management.

In 2003, Coons served on the executive board for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Association where he negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement for the City of Beech Grove Fire Department and communication employees. In addition, he was awarded the City of Beech Grove Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year in both 2002 and 2003. He was then selected for the Executive Fire Officer Program with the Department of Homeland Security – National Fire Academy in 2004. Additional awards received throughout his career include Extraordinary Personal Action Award from the American Red Cross, Presidential Academic Fitness Award, State of Indiana Community Service Award and Beech Grove Community Service Award. In 2005 he received the Governor’s Workplace Safety Award, and in both 2007 and 2008 he was selected as a top 10 finalist for Indy’s Best and Brightest Award.

As a result of a line-of-duty injury in 2006, Coons was forced to retire from the fire service. This inconvenience provided an opportunity for Coons to serve the community in yet another capacity. The firefighters within Perry Township were familiar with his work ethics and his concern for safety and integrity and asked him to run for the Office of Perry Township Trustee, which he won with a record setting majority of 68%.

Since entering office, Trustee Coons has not rested. He has continued to serve the community and the firefighters with unending diligence. For the first time in 20 years, the township did not have to take out an emergency loan (borrowing funds above the levy) for the fire department. This was possible even after providing the department with new, fire apparatus as well as new protective fire gear, EMS gear and uniforms. In addition, a reduction in payroll costs due to attrition and improved accountability has assisted in the reduction of overhead, without losing quality of services provided. Updates within information technology have helped bring the township into the 21^st century. Creation of a community liaison office in 2008 provided constituent services to our neighborhoods and offered centralized assistance during the floods.

While in office, Trustee Coons has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It has certainly been an interesting test of his abilities. Like everything else in his life, he has approached the illness confidently through the support of his family and friends. He constantly investigates contributing factors for the disease and has found a support system within the healthcare industry to help prepare him for situations that may surface as he continues his journey with this illness. He attends Rock Steady Boxing to overcome symptoms. As a result of his ongoing research of the disease, he has found several authorities who believe there is a significant connection between Parkinson’s and career firefighters. Currently, he is working with Senator Jim Merritt to add Parkinson’s disease to the firefighters’ presumptive law, which is a process that links fire fighting with a disease or condition that has been shown to be a hazard associated with that occupation. Coons also developed a website to provide education to protect and possibly prevent Parkinson’s for other firefighters at www.firefighterswithparkinsons.org.

Intermingled with all this, Trustee Coons is happily married with three children. In spite of his demanding schedule, he still manages to plan time to actively participate in family programs and special events. Trustee Coons is a member of Servants Heart, National Fire Protection Association, National Fire Academy Alumni Association, Indianapolis Retired Firefighters Association, and Lincoln Roundtable.

Trustee Coons certainly enjoys staying active in the public arena and will probably remain politically active for many years to come.