Clear Creek County is proud to announce that Clear Creek EMS Director Aaron Crawley has been awarded the prestigious First Responder of the Year Congressional Service Award from Congressman Joe Neguse. This award recognizes first responders across the Second Congressional District who exhibit an outstanding devotion to their profession, community protection, and heroic, lifesaving work.
Director Crawley was selected for his transformative leadership, dedication to medical excellence, and unwavering commitment to his team and the citizens of Clear Creek County. Since his promotion to Director in June 2023, and as an EMS Captain before that, Director Crawley has overseen numerous innovations that have yielded stunning medical outcomes for the county. Clear Creek EMS operates at the highest level of care, training all paramedics to the Critical Care threshold, carrying whole blood, offering community paramedicine, and running a co-responder team. This focus on cutting-edge care and compassion, combined with a meticulous review of past emergency calls, has resulted in a remarkable cardiac arrest save rate of 24 percent—more than triple the national average—a figure the agency consistently maintains. Director Crawley further ensures the latest medical practices are brought to the county by volunteering his time as a Flight Paramedic for UCHealth Lifeline, actively bringing critical care innovations from air transport directly to the ground level in Clear Creek.
The recognition is especially significant given the challenges faced by the agency in 2024. Despite significant budget constraints and the justified need for a third ambulance, Clear Creek County was unable to provide additional funding for the year due to budget constraints. Director Crawley demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment by rallying his team to manage an extreme increase in call volume, running an average of 800 calls per ambulance compared to a peer county average of nearly half of that. He supported his teams by often running calls himself, maintaining morale and commitment throughout a year of duress, while ensuring the high standards and programs—such as the fall-prevention "Mugs for Rugs" program—were not just maintained, but excelled.
Crawley was nominated for this award by Clear Creek County Commissioner George Marlin.
“I’m grateful to Congressman Neguse for making the effort to recognize folks in the Second Congressional District who are doing great work,” Commissioner Marlin said. “It was a pleasure to nominate Aaron Crawley for the First Responder of the Year award. Aaron’s leadership skill was reinforced as he used this moment to lift up all the people on his team that contributed to their success.”
Director Crawley’s success is attributed not just to his own initiatives, but to the environment of curiosity and dedication he fosters. He is a leader who consistently places his team members in positions to excel, sharing the glory and opportunity for innovation and giving consistent credit to the people on his team. His dedication also helped secure the necessary voter-approved funding for 2025 with the passing of Ballot Issue 1A, but the agency will not forget the extraordinary lengths to which Aaron and his team went in 2024 to keep responding, innovating, and saving lives.
Clear Creek EMS is honored to have Director Crawley lead their team and thanks Congressman Neguse for recognizing his profound dedication and heroic service to the community.
