Coral Springs First Responders Honored During Chamber Breakfast

by David Volz February 13, 2026

by David Volz February 13, 2026 2 minutes read

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Coral Springs First Responders Honored During Chamber Breakfast

Frank Babinec receives the Heroes Among Us Award during the Wake-Up Breakfast {Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber}

Being a hero means seeing what needs to be done and then getting it done. It means choosing to put others before oneself, even when it would be easier to walk away.

That is how Frank Babinec, keynote speaker for the Heroes Among Us! ceremony, described it. He received the Heroes Among Us Award during the Wake-Up Breakfast, presented by the Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber, on Tuesday.

A former Coral Springs city manager and fire chief, Babinec, spoke about the challenges first responders often face when responding to calls and how they continue to work even under harsh conditions and in the face of criticism.

“What makes being a first responder challenging is that you face a wide range of situations when responding to a call. I love the Coral Springs community,” said Babinec.

Officer William Baron received the First Responder Excellence Award for Coral Springs. Since joining the department in 2022, he has earned a reputation as one of the agency’s most active officers. He has made many arrests for violent crimes, stolen property, and illegal drug activity.

The Life-Saving Award for Coral Springs went to officers Xavier Reinoso and Jessica Murphy. They were dispatched to a local park where an individual had suffered severe injuries involving a tractor aerator machine that included an amputation and leg wounds. Both officers took control of the scene and provided medical aid. They applied tourniquets to control bleeding and ensured the patient could be safely transported by air rescue for medical care.

The Military and Veterans Service Award went to Ed Zito, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He is the president of the Panther Warriors Hockey Club and brings military veterans together through hockey.

Glen Gordon received the Public Works/Utilities Hero Award for Coral Springs. He has served the city for more than 20 years. As a leader in the city’s streets and stormwater division, he plays a critical role in ensuring road safety.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.