Officers

Chief James Sprecher, III

Chief Sprecher is currently certified through the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) as a Fire Officer IV and is a Maryland state certified Emergency Services Instructor Level III. Chief Sprecher works full time for the City of Hagerstown Fire Department and teaches part time at the High School Fire and Rescue Program for Washington County.

Chief Sprecher began as a volunteer in Fire & EMS services in 1996. Obtaining Firefighter I and II certification in 1997 and EMT-B certification in 2000. Chief Sprecher joined Community Rescue Service as a volunteer in March 2001.

Positions held at CRS

Lieutenant – 2003
Captain – 2004
Deputy Chief – 2005 – 2010
Chief of Operations – 2011 – present

Chief Sprecher is married to Jessica Sprecher and has two beautiful children; Aurora and Beau.

Deputy Chief Robert Buck, II

Deputy Chief Buck is a Nationally Registered Paramedic. The Deputy Chief began his career in Fire & EMS in 1996 in rural West Virginia, obtaining his Paramedic training through West Virginia University. After moving to the tristate area in 2002, he began his career with Community Rescue Service.

Positions held at CRS

Lieutenant – 2004
Captain – 2005 – 2018
Assistant Chief of Operations – 2018 - 2021
Deputy Chief of Operations – 2021 – present

Assistant Chief Randy Spies

Assistant Chief Spies began as a volunteer in Fire & EMS services in 1978 with the Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company, obtaining his EMT-A in 1979. In July of 1980, Assistant Chief Spies began volunteering with Community Rescue Service. Assistant Chief Spies became a Cardiac Rescue Technician (CRT) in 1984 and a Paramedic in 1988.

Assistant Chief Spies retired in 2013 as a Firefighter/Paramedic with Anne Arundel County Fire Department. From 2005 – 2020, Assistant Chief Spies was the Program Director for Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (Blue Ridge CTC) before becoming the Assistant Chief of Operations for Community Rescue Service in 2021.

EDUCATION

B.A. Regents Bachelor of Arts - Shepherd University
A.A.S. Paramedic Emergency Sercives - Hagerstown Community College

Captain Joanna Bingaman

Captain Bingaman began in Fire & EMS as a volunteer with Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department. Captain Bingaman obtained her EMT certification in 2005 while still in high school. She continued her education at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy in the evenings while attending the University of Maryland. Captain Bingaman began working at Community Rescue Service in 2010 as a Paramedic, promoted to Lieutenant in 2014, and into her current role as Captain in 2017.

Captain Bingaman teaches EMS courses through MFRI and serves as the co-coordinator for the Washington County High School Volunteer Fire and Rescue Academy. Captain Bingaman is currently working to obtain her RN and has recently completed her Associate of Science at Hagerstown Community College.

Education

B.S. Emergency Health Services – University of Maryland, Baltimore County
A.S. Paramedic to RN – Hagerstown Community College

Captain Dennis Browne

Captain Browne began serving as a volunteer with Community Rescue Service in 2001. He obtained his Paramedic, Firefighter I and II, Rescue Technician Site Ops, and Vehicle and Machinery certifications in 2004. In 2005, Captain Brown began working at Community Rescue Service as a Paramedic. In 2009, he was promoted to Lieutenant and then, in 2011, to Captain. Captain Browne earned his National Certification as a Compliance and Privacy Officer in 2013 through the National Academy of Ambulance Compliance.

Captain Justin Ruppenthal

Captain Ruppenthal began in Fire & EMS in 2009, where he obtained his EMT. Captain Ruppenthal began volunteering with Community Rescue Service in 2010 and became certified as a Firefight I and II, Hazmat, and Rescue Technician. Captain Ruppenthal attended Blue Ridge CTC and graduated in 2011 as a Paramedic. He began working at Community Rescue Service as a Paramedic in 2012, promoted to Lieutenant in 2017 and Captain in 2018.

Lieutenant Robert Follin

Lieutenant Follin began in Fire & EMS in 1989, working in Frederick County, Maryland. Lieutenant Follin obtained his Paramedic license in 1996 from the Frederick County Training Center. Through the years of volunteering in two Fire/EMS companies he obtained his Firefighter I and II, and Rescue Technician certifications, eventually obtaining his Fire Officer certification. Lieutenant Follin began working at Community Rescue Service in 2000 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2007.

Lieutenant Joseph Muller

Lieutenant Muller began in Fire & EMS in 2003 in Northern Frederick County, obtaining his EMT license in 2004. In 2005, he graduated from Catoctin High School where he obtained his EMT, Firefighter I and II, and Rescue Technician certifications. Lieutenant Muller has served in various roles to include: site EMT/Security at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD. Lieutenant Muller joined Community Rescue Service in 2013. Lieutenant Muller obtained his Paramedic license in 2017 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2021.

Lieutenant Brandon Neuenschwander, RN

Lieutenant Neuenschwander began in Fire & EMS 2008 in Ohio, acquiring his Paramedic certification in 2010. Lieutenant Neuenschwander has been a Paramedic in Ohio, Texas, and Maryland, spending the majority of his career with Community Rescue Service. Lieutenant Neuenschwander obtained his Firefighter I and Rescue Technician in 2015 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2021.