Each year, the members of the Shawnee Heights Fire District nominate members for the firefighter of the year. They then vote on the nominee. James Dodds was chosen as the 2019 Firefighter of the year.  James was a relief firefighter and EMT and has served the patrons of Shawnee Heights Fire District since 2017. James is from the Topeka area and graduated from Hayden High school.  He  attended Fort Scott Community College and obtained a Utility Maintenance Certificate in 2008.  James is a mechanical genius and  has played a large role in maintenance of our apparatus and stations.  If it is broken he will find a way to repair it. He has responded on many calls and attended several training classes and drills during the year. James worked extra hard to become one of our relief qualified part time members and in January of 2020 he became a full time member of the department and is in charge of all maintenance.  James and his wife Lisa have two children Hunter and Bryson.  He always displays a positive attitude and is a great representative of our fire department.