Firefighter, Police Officer Of The Year Honored By Tulsa Rotary

Rotary of Tulsa honors a police officer and firefighter every year for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Wednesday, they recognized Firefighter Craig Deeringwater and Police Officer Greg Comfort.

"These are my streets, these are the streets I grew up seeing as a kid," Comfort said.

He has been patrolling the Tulsa streets for more than 30 years. Comfort became a cop until he could figure out what he wanted to do with his life, but, he found his passion behind the same badge his dad wore as a Tulsa police officer.

Comfort has become known as the officer who spends countless hours talking to kids, either about police work or his Native American culture.

"As you hit the twilight of your career, you start to realize helping people was the important thing you did here. I was able to help that kid, help that elderly person. Those are the things you remember," he said.

Most firefighters are also eager to help when they go on calls, but Deeringwater goes beyond that. He goes back to people's homes and checks on them to see how they're doing after their medical issue or fire.

"I think it's just putting myself in their spot, what would I want from a firefighter to do for me," he said.

Deeringwater is also an accomplished artist and has painted murals for the fire department, designed T-shirts for fundraisers, helped design a statute in Tulsa and has now begun painting portraits.

"Go home, everyone is at work or school. I set up in the kitchen where I have the best light and sit there all day with music and just paint away," he said.

Both Deeringwater and Comfort said they were surprised by the honor and believe others deserve it more. They said helping the community is just something they do to make a difference, not to get recognition.