First responders like police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service workers spend every day making sure their communities are safe and community members are healthy. These individuals do their job without expecting reward or gratitude. They are driven to serve, and so that is what they do. Yet, the community of Charleston, South Carolina, found a way to make sure these first responders knew they were appreciated.
On Oct. 20, the Charleston Public Safety Council, a non-profit organization that supports local safety initiatives, hosted its annual first responder event. The "Salute to Public Safety" luncheon was a time for the first responders in the area to gather at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in downtown Charleston for lunch and an award ceremony, as reported by the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
As the first responders dined together, awards were given to those that had gone above and beyond the call of duty. The news source wrote that Detective Jarl Taylor was named Charleston Police Officer of the Year and Capt. David Basham was honored as Charleston Firefighter of the Year.
Awards for Telecommunicator of the Year and Firefighter EMS of the Year were also given.