Bethel Township’s Fire Department bid farewell to Assistant Fire Chief Jennifer Cotterman last week. Cotterman has served Bethel Township for nearly 17 years and is the highest-ranking female officer ever in the Department’s history.
A resident of Donnelsville, Cotterman’s family is relocating to join Cotterman’s husband, Lt. Chris Cotterman, a fellow firefighter, who has started a new job.
Cotterman started her tenure at the Fire Department after moving to the area from Hilliard in 1999. However, fighting fires was the last thing on her mind.
“I was a single mom when I began working here. I just thought it would be cool to work as an EMT, that’s how I first started.
The fire chief at the time asked Cotterman to attend fire school to help support another young lady who didn’t want to be the only female taking classes. However, the young lady Cotterman was there to support dropped out soon after starting, but Cotterman stuck with it. “That’s how I got into the fire business,” she explains.
Cotterman says she is community-oriented and it is her commitment to her community that eventually led her to a career in community service.
The most rewarding thing about Cotterman’s work has been the opportunities she had to deliver two babies, “It’s not like you see on TV. Getting to deliver babies is a very rare thing in this line of work. It’s a huge thing to get to do, and I’ve been blessed to do it twice!”
“Working this job is an emotional roller coaster,” continues Cotterman, “One minute you are witnessing the worst day of everyone’s life, the next you are able to save a life...it’s intense, but so worth it.”
Her family is supportive of her work at the fire department, but there have been times during her career when her children have been less than thrilled with her career choice, especially after 9/11.
“We live so close to Wright-Patterson, and on 9/11 my daughter was only seven years-old. She had spent the whole day watching the news coverage. I was a single mom, so we were still just ‘mom and daughter.’” When I came home later that day she came right up to me and said, ‘I want you to get a different job.’ Then we heard an advertisement for the medical massage therapist school and she said, ‘I want you to do that. I don’t want you to be a fireman anymore.’”
Cotterman admits there are some unique challenges that come with being a female firefighter and officer, “(Firefighting) is still such a male-dominated field. As a woman, you sometimes have to ‘prove yourself’ and be as good, and at times even better than the guys.
Regardless of any perceived differences, Cotterman explains that they take a back seat when the unit works a scene, especially on bad calls, “We work well together no matter what, that’s what I love about this place.”
There’s a good reason the unit is able to put differences behind them when they go on a call.
“When you are on a call, you literally have everyone else’s lives in your hands. That is especially true as an officer...that is something I think about all day, every day, and on every call. Eventually, you really become a family...these guys are my family. Like any family, we may not always like each other. But we do trust each other.”
Firefighter Jennica Stout and Bethel Township Fiscal Officer, Melanie Cochran, both comment that while Cotterman has never been a pushover, she cares deeply for the firefighters she works with.
“You know, if Jen is on duty you don’t have to worry about anything. She just digs in and does it. She’s not a pushover, but she takes care of the people she works with. She’s also down-to-earth and will laugh right along with you, she’s just a regular person. She is leaving some big shoes to fill.”
Cotterman says she has loved her job and will miss her co-workers, but will not be joining another fire department after she moves.
“I’m looking forward to being a full-time wife and mom...and just kickin’ it at the beach!”
