Ryan Cronin, Peter Robinson Receive Public Safety Awards

Santa Clara County Fire Capt. Ryan Cronin and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Robinson received Cupertino’s Public Safety Officer of the Year awards at the .

Cronin’s long list of public service rattled off by Steve Staump, assistant fire chief, goes beyond Cupertino’s borders. In addition to his service at the Seven Springs Station, Cronin is a volunteer for the Disaster Area Response Team, a reserve police officer in Los Gatos, and is an emergency responder for Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

Cronin is “passionate about public service,” and “began serving his community over 25 yeas ago as a Boy Scout,” Staump said.

Cronin also participates as a SWAT medic with the Campbell Police Department. He has training and experience in hazardous materials, and teaches life-safety and life-saving skills to emergency service providers and community members.

“The dedication shown by Ryan is vital for the successful delivery of fire and life safety services to the citizens of our community,” Staump said.

Unaccustomed to such attention, Cronin later said he was “nervous” about accepting the award.

Of Robinson Sgt. Don Morrissey of Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department shared an equally impressive inventory of service including serving as the school resource officer for more than four years and working 10 teen academies; more than enough time to become fluent in teen speak, Morrissey said.

“He came back referring to us as ‘dude’ and ‘dog’,” Morrissey said.

Robinson spent five years in the U.S. Navy, most of the time devoted to service in the military police.

Growing up in Saratoga, Robinson attended Hyde Middle School and Cupertino High School. It was years later, while working as a school resource officer, that he met his wife, Paula, who worked at Homestead High School. As the couple became better acquainted, they learned they had gone to elementary school together, Morrissey said.