(Metro Wire photo)

Plover police win major grant for replacement AEDs

By Brandi Makuski

PLOVER — The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awarded a little over $20,500 to the Plover Police Department earlier this month, providing crucial funds for lifesaving equipment.

The PPD used the funds to purchase about a dozen automated external defibrillators (AEDs) earlier this month, upgrading long-outdated equipment officers had been carrying in some of their vehicles.

“These are extremely expensive; we could never afford to buy these on our own,” said Police Chief Ryan Fox.

Fox said they’re the same AEDs carried in local ambulances and fire department vehicles, so they’re all interchangeable. Everyone in his department is trained to use them, he added.

“Every department-owned vehicle will have an AED now. We’re all out and about, so if we can help with a medical emergency we want to,” Fox said. “The few we have are way out of life. We have such great first responders, they’re there so fast anyway, but if we’re in a position to be there first, we want to.”

Firehouse Subs, founded in 1994 by a pair of Florida firefighters, dedicates a portion of every purchase to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has donated over $67 million to first responders.

Matt and Jodi Berndt, a husband-wife duo from Weston, opened the area’s first Firehouse Subs in Portage County a year ago next to District 1 Brewing at 200 Division St. Matt Berndt, a firefighter for Kronenwetter, said the cause is especially meaningful to their family.

Business has been thriving, prompting the couple to plan another location in Weston.

Jodi Berndt explained that the Foundation dollars come from customers rounding up during purchases, sales of pickle buckets, and donation drives in October. Additionally, a percentage of every sale contributes to the Foundation.

Plover is the fourth local department to be honored by the Stevens Point Firehouse Subs in the past year, following grants awarded to the Stevens Point Fire Department and fire departments in Stockton and Waupaca.