Everyday Heroes 2020
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EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 1
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2
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
This publication is in honor of
our dedicated heroes.
We thank you all.
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EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 3
Centerville Fire
Department
Firefighter JOSEPH LAIMANA
By KENDRA NORMAN HOLMES
With Firefighter Joseph Laimana being a fairly new addition to his
central Georgia unit, he finds himself especially honored to serve
alongside other, more seasoned peers who consider him to be an
outstanding member of the team. It was just about a year and a half
ago that Laimana began his career at Centerville Fire Department,
and to know that he is admired by many of his colleagues is quite
humbling for him.
“This is a very big honor,” Laimana said of being selected as Firefighter
of the Year. “This is a great team, and there are so many other guys
here who deserve it. I’m just honored by all this. I wasn’t expecting it
at all.”
Laimana who currently lives in High Falls, got his start in Monroe
County as a volunteer firefighter, and he continues to serve there,
when possible. “I started there in 2016, so I have a total of four
years in firefighting,” he explained. “I’m full-time on the staff here in
Centerville, but I work part-time and on a volunteer basis in Monroe
County.”
Born and raised in south metro Atlanta, Laimana said that becoming a
firefighter is something that he put off for a long time before actually
pursuing it. “I’d wanted to do it for a while,” he said. “Eventually, I
put my best foot forward and decided to go for it.” He received his
Firefighter 1 accreditation in Monroe County where he has resided
for the past 13 years.
“When I first started doing this, I wasn’t looking at it as a career
choice,” Laimana admitted. “I was totally looking at it as something
to do on a voluntary basis. It was just about finding a way to help out
the community. The community up there [Monroe County] had done
so much for me, that I just wanted to give back.”
Laimana stated that the decision to pursue life as a firefighter was
inspired by his desire to be a good role model for his son, who is
now 13 years old. “I wanted to show him ways to help other people.
I wanted to show him that if he tried hard enough, he could achieve
anything he wanted to. I wanted to be somebody my son could look
up to.” Laimana said that he’s been told that his son now shows
signs of wanting to follow in his
footsteps. “He shows it to other
people, but not so much to me,”
he said, laughing.
Being a good example to his son is
important to Laimana. That’s largely
due to his own deep respect for
the woman who raised him. “My
mom raised me and my brother,
and she’s always been a big motivation
to me.” Laimana admires
the fact that his mother effectively
raised her sons as a single parent.
Her determination and fortitude
are large driving forces behind
Laimana’s desire to succeed. “She
most definitely gets a lot of credit
for who I am today,” he stressed.
Another female member of his
family also played a role in Laimana
making his career choice as a
fireman. “My cousin, Renee used
to be a firefighter in Gainesville,”
Laimana shared. “She just does
transports now with an ambulance
service, but she was a big encouragement
to me as well.”
Being a firefighter is not for the faint at heart, and Laimana has the
stories to prove it. In the time span that he’s been working as a firefighter,
Laimana said that the very first call he went on is still the one
that stands out most in his mind. “It was a call to the interstate that
turned out to be a fatal accident,” he said. “That’s when I knew that
this was what I wanted to do. The victims were younger,” he went on
to explain. “There were children involved, and dealing with incidents
like that—the ones that involved children—was the one thing that I
wondered if I’d really be able to handle, and it turned out to be my
first call.” Laimana said it all became real to him at that moment.
“That’s the kind of moment that makes you or breaks you,” he stated.
And from that moment, he knew that helping people and doing
everything he could to help save their lives—whether the efforts
were successful or not—was what he wanted to do.
Laimana said that even though firefighters have to face really tough
realities like that one, the calls with happy endings outnumber that
sad ones. “It makes you feel good to be able to put out a fire before it
gets bad, or when you pull somebody from a fire and are able to save
his or her life even if you can’t save the car or the house,” he pointed
out. “Or, even those times when houses gets burned badly, but we’re
able to eventually put out the fire and go in and save some of the
items that belong to people. To see their faces when we’re able to
give them back some of the little things that they cherish and save
some of their memories; that’s something that makes me feel good.
It may not mean much to most, but when somebody thinks they’ve
lost everything, and you’re able to give them that little bit back—
that’s really awesome.”
Retiring as a firefighter would be a wish come true for Laimana, who
is now 35 years old. “That’s most definitely what I want to do,” he
confirmed, further mentioning that he also has interest in functioning
in ministry. “I’m thinking of going to chaplain school at some point.
There is a place for a chaplain within the fire department, but I don’t
know if that’s where my role in ministry would be. All I know is that
God put me here,” Laimana said of his placement at Centerville Fire
Department. “I’m working toward my license in ministry through
Rock Springs Church,” he continued. “Right now I go to the jails and
minister to the inmates there. If my chaplaincy puts me in a role at
the fire department, I’ll minister as a part of my assignment here
too.”
4
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
Centerville police
Department
CAPTAIN BILLY BONEY
By KRISTIN MORIARTY
Billy Boney was born and raised in
Macon, Georgia. After high school,
he signed up to join the Army and
served three years. He then went
on to become a diesel mechanic
for seven years, but always had in
the back of his mind that he wanted
to be a police officer. One thing
led to another, and Boney has now
completed a 40-year career in law
enforcement.
Boney first went to work at the
Bibb County Law Enforcement
Center. While there, he was a
jailer, radio operator and a drug
dog handler. Boney was also a part
of the Macon-Bibb Drug Task Force
Squad.
“I’d argue that I had the best drug
dog in the state back then,” Boney
said. “His name was Bloo. A lot
of people remember him. I spent five years with Bibb County, and
then I went on to the Macon Police Department in 1985. I worked my
way through the ranks, and then one day Chief Jim Brooks and the
mayor called me in and asked if I wanted to start a drug interdiction
unit, and so I did. I then went to the Perry Georgia State Patrol Post
and was the number three guy. I did drug interdiction for 10 years. It
was hard work, but it was very rewarding in getting it (drugs) off the
streets.”
There was one call that still sticks with Boney to this day. Back then, it
made him take a step back to reevaluate his career.
“Back in 1996, I stopped a guy on Interstate 75 south at Eisenhower
US 80, for a traffic violation,” Boney said. “He got out of the car and
was acting kind of crazy and started walking toward me, and then he
started to charge at me. So I sprayed a whole can of pepper spray on
him. I forgot about the guardrail, and after I sprayed him, he hit me,
and I went over the guardrail. He and I fought for our lives on the side
of the road. Fortunately, I wrestled in high school, so I was able to get
on top of him. He was strong because at one point he went to reach
for my gun and ended up ripping off my pepper spray holder that was
on my belt. I was able to get up and secure my position to draw my
weapon on him, but as I did that, he got back in his car and took off.”
Boney called for back up, and the six units that responded were able
to box the suspect in and arrest him. It took a toll on Boney because
he said just before and after his incident, he had two police officer
friends that were killed on the interstate from a similar situation like
his.
“It shook me up, and so much so, that I had to revaluate my career
in drug interdiction,” Boney said. “I decided to then start applying
for chief of police jobs. I got hired as the chief of the Gray Police
Department in 1999, and worked there for two years. Then I went
back to Macon Police for another three years, and was then hired as
the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy. I spent 10 years with
Twiggs County.”
In 2015 Boney retired from the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office, but became
bored and tried another job in insurance. Boney couldn’t really
stay away from law enforcement so when an opportunity presented
itself with the Centerville Police Department, he accepted.
“I got a call from a friend of mine, Roger Hayes, and he told me about
the captain’s position open at Centerville Police Department and
asked if I was interested,” Boney said. “I very much was because I had
missed law enforcement a lot. So I got in touch with Chief (Chuck)
Hadden, had great conversations, I interviewed, and was hired.”
Earlier this year in February, Boney had eye surgery that was successful,
but not long after the surgery, he suffered a stroke. Boney said
it was a scary experience, and although he had to learn how to walk
again, he has recovered well. At the end of April, Boney was cleared
by his doctors, and is doing so well that he is able to drive again.
“Everyone was so supportive during that difficult time,” Boney said. “I
love Centerville and the people of this city. The mayor and city council
actually care about the police department, and it’s been an enjoyable
working environment. It’s been a true blessing. My whole career
has been a blessing. None of my family was in law enforcement, but I
always had a feeling that it was a calling on my life. Once I began my
career, it consumed me. Every time I was promoted through the ranks
or different divisions, I wanted to keep learning and progressing. I’ve
done everything you can think of, and I even was an instructor for the
DEA (drug enforcement administration), traveling everywhere, and
training others.”
Boney expressed his appreciation to Hadden, all of Centerville Police
Department, as well as the other local agencies: Houston County
Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, and Warner Robins Police
Department. He also shared some advice.
“Be careful, watch each other’s backs, be friendly, and treat others
the way you would want to be treated,” Boney said. “Show compassion
and empathy for others’ situations because the more you do, the
more respect you’ll earn.”
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 5
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR
FRONTLINE WORKERS AND
FIRST RESPONDERS
FOR YOUR DEDICATION
AND HARD WORK.
6
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
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Warner Robins, GA
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 7
Houston County
Fire Department
Firefighter/PARAMEDIC SCOTT HAYSMAN
By KENDRA NORMAN HOLMES
Firefighter-Paramedic Scott Haysman is a young man of just 25 years,
and he has only been with Houston County Fire Department (HCFD)
since 2016, but his journey to becoming a firefighter started at an
age when many youngsters have no clue as to their life’s purpose.
Haysman, on the other hand, said this is something he was born to
do, and he believes he was born to do it here, in Houston County.
“Although I’ve been a firefighter elsewhere, Houston County is the
place where I initially got my start,” Haysman explained. He was still
a student at Houston County High School when he got his first taste
of what being a firefighter would entail. “I was a member of what is
called the Junior Firefighter Explorers. It’s a program for people ages
14 to 20 years old, and I was in the 10th grade at the time I joined.”
Upon graduating high school, Haysman said he relocated to Savannah,
where he went to EMT school (Rescue Training Inc.) and firefighters
school (at Southside Fire Department; now Chatham Emergency
Services). “I got my EMT credentials in 2013 and my firefighter
credentials in 2014,” Haysman shared. He went on to work in Savannah
as a firefighter until 2016, which is when he came back home to
his roots: Warner Robins. Currently, Haysman works as a firefighter at
HCFD on both a part-time and a volunteer basis, while simultaneously
being employed as a full-time emergency room nurse at Coliseum
Medical Center in Macon.
“As far back as I can remember, I always knew I’d be doing this,” said
Haysman, adding that his father not only encouraged him to pursue
life as a firefighter, but was also the inspiration behind his decision
to go to nursing school. “My dad was a fireman when I was growing
up,” Haysman revealed. “He worked at Savannah Fire as a firefighter,
and he also worked as an EMT. So I guess you can say who I am—I got
it from him.” Haysman added that his father worked in law enforcement
as well.
The versatility of having a medical background comes in quite handy
in his job as a fireman. “As most people know, the fire department
responds to medical emergencies as well,” Haysman reported. “It’s
good to have that [medical] experience because if necessary, I’m able
8
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
to treat a patient accordingly. The
ambulance doesn’t always arrive
as quickly as the fire department,”
he further stated. “A lot of times,
we’re on the scene a few minutes
ahead of them; so, if the need is
there, it’s good to have that medical
background to be able to lend
a hand until the medics arrive.”
The challenges that come with being
a firefighter are numerous. For
Haysman, wrecks on the roadways
rank high on the list. “You have to
have hypervigilance on the interstate,”
he said. “Others sometimes
drive right next to you or zoom
past you while you’re trying to get
to your destination. People don’t
always slow down or clear the way
for emergency vehicles like they
should. That’s a time when we
have to have a heightened sense
of caution. A lot of times, we have to try to avoid getting in an accident
while we’re on our way to an accident site.” Haysman said that
once they arrive at sites where wrecks have taken place, what they
face is sometimes gruesome. Fires ignited by vehicle collisions and
those that happen on worksites, he noted, are typically the ones with
the highest potential to be deadly.
To date in his career, Haysman said, “I think the most worried I’ve
been was when we were called to the scene of an industrial fire at
one of the concrete plants in Clinchfield.” Thankfully, according to
Haysman, there was no loss of life from that incident, but he added,
“There was the report of an explosion, so we didn’t know what to
expect because in cases like that, there’s always a high potential of
danger.”
With Haysman getting his start so early in life as a firefighter, his
profession is something that he said his mother had to eventually
get used to. “When I was younger and still living at home, and I
would tell her that I was headed to a fire, she’d always say, ‘Please be
careful.’ But overtime, she’s gotten used to it. My mom’s been around
it enough,” he said, alluding to his father’s involvement in the same
profession. “She knows this is what I love to do, but if she calls me,
and I’m at the fire station on my part-time shift, she still always ends
the call with, ‘Be careful’ because she knows there’s always a risk.”
Haysman said he couldn’t imagine ever leaving the firefighter profession.
He has no regrets of his life choice. It’s something he’d like to do
until retirement age. At age 25, he has a lot of years to go, but he said
he’s looking forward to the future. Haysman encourages others to
consider the profession as well; even if it’s just on a volunteer basis.
“We’re always accepting volunteers, whether people are already
certified or not,” he said. “We have a rookie class that is put on once
a year where people who want to volunteer are trained. Volunteers
are not paid, of course, but there are other incentives that come
along with it.” For Houston County kids in high school who feel that
firefighting is what they want to do, Haysman strongly recommends
the Junior Firefighter Explorers program. “It’s a great place to start,”
he said.
houston county
sheriff’s office
DEPUTY JUSTIN ANDREWS
By KRISTIN MORIARTY
Deputy Justin Andrews has been
with the Houston County Sheriff’s
Office now for four years, and
while he has only been on the
patrol unit for one year, Andrews
said this will be a lifelong career
for him.
Andrews was born in Macon and
raised in Crawford County, Ga.
After high school, he went on to
Central Georgia Technical College
to become a mechanic, which he
did and spent 14 years working
as a mechanic. He then went on
to work at a gun range in Macon,
where he also got involved in
shooting competitions. Through
those competitions, he met several
law enforcement officers, one of
which was from Houston County
Sheriff’s Office who sparked Andrews’
interest in becoming an officer.
“I never thought about law enforcement growing up,” Andrews said.
“No one in my family was a police officer, but my dad and brothers
served in the military. So growing up, I kind of had that discipline
there and respect for authority. Now, I wasn’t the best teenager, but
I eventually came around. Not long after becoming friends with the
police officers I met at the gun range, I became more interested in
the field. So, I began that journey in 2014 and was hired onto the
Houston County Sheriff’s Office in 2016, beginning working at the
jail.”
Andrews worked at the Houston County Detention Center for two
and half years. While there, he was promoted to transport unit for
the jail, spending nine months in that role. He then graduated from
mandate and was assigned to the patrol unit in March of 2019. In
March of this year, 2020, Andrews experienced a traumatic call that
he said he still, from time to time, struggles with processing.
“I was on nightshift at the time, and was actually working overtime
on that Saturday night,” Andrews said. “I was down at the south end
of the county. Around 3:30 a.m., I was sitting on Highway 41 and
South Perry Parkway near the fairgrounds, when the call came out.
Initially, dispatch said it was an 18-wheeler versus car accident. I
drove as fast as I could, and when I stopped, it wasn’t the 18-wheeler
that was involved. In fact, the one that was involved was a quarter
mile past where the vehicle was. I got out, and the men who stopped
were telling me that the people in the van were not moving.”
Andrews said around that time, it had been raining almost everyday.
It had been raining the night of this call, but it had stopped.
“One part of the van was in the ditch and the water came to about
mid calf of my legs,” Andrews said. “As I went to the front, I saw that
the female driver was slumped over, and when I called for her, she
didn’t respond. I couldn’t open her door, so I was going to bust the
window out, but I wanted to make sure it was clear before I did that.
So, I shined my flashlight, and I saw a car seat turned over in the
back. My adrenaline kicked in even more. Given the fact the driver
wasn’t responding I immediately pried opened the passenger door
and when I did I saw a little boy under the dash.”
The little boy was about three to four years old, and Andrews discovered
he had no pulse. He began CPR on him.
“I wasn’t having any luck and just kept going until EMS arrived on
scene,” Andrews said. “Well, a Dooly County Sheriff’s deputy arrived
before EMS, and he took over because I was getting tired from
conducting CPR. But I went back to the van because something told
me there had to be another child in there. There was. It was another
little boy, but he was in the car seat turned over. He was crying, but
he was OK. We then shut down the interstate for the helicopter to
come in and transport them to the hospital. Sadly, the mother and
the first little boy I found didn’t make it.”
Andrews said if it wasn’t for his faith in God, that call would have
consumed him.
“I became a Christian early on in life, and I take my faith very serious,”
Andrews said. “I am very grateful for God’s love and guidance.
Of course, calls like that will shake you up, but if you give it to God,
He will get you through it. This profession comes with both sacrifice
and reward. You always hope for the better outcome, but you take it
in stride and keep going.”
Andrews’ goals are to explore different paths in the sheriff’s office
with the different divisions. He said his knack is patrol and hopes to
be in a lieutenant or captain’s position one day.
“I like this job a lot because it’s something different everyday,” Andrews
said. “I especially enjoy the Houston County Sheriff’s Office.
We are well-respected throughout the state, and we have the best
sheriff in the state. He lets us do our job and he trusts us. I can’t wait
to see what the future has in store for me in my career.”
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 9
houston county 911 center
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
MANAGER TIM EALER
By LAUREN HARRIS
Tim Ealer said that he has
been with the Houston County
911 Center since 2004. As
the Communications Systems
Manager, Ealer shared that
he is responsible for pretty
much anything that has to do
with IT, including the 911-call
system and managing the
radio system, as well as the
laptops in the field.
Ealer divulged that when
someone calls 911, the
phone system is answered,
the call is dispatched, and
then it is responded to as
quickly as possible. Ealer
said that the fulfilling part is
when you are trying to help
the public and everything
works in the way that it
should, and people get the
help that they need.
Ealer said that he takes pride in the center because he manages the
equipment and makes sure that it functions properly. He explained
the ultimate goal is to have the system work the way that it should
every time.
“In the end, we work for the people out there, and if they don’t get
the help they need in a timely manner, that could really be a problem,”
Ealer stressed.
Though not a dispatcher on the phone interfacing directly with the
public requesting help, Ealer said that he is ultimately responsible to
make sure that happens.
According to Ealer, he joined the United States Air Force at the age
of 18 and was involved in electronics; officially, ground radio repair.
Ealer said that he served 15 years, most of which, he explained, was
in combat communications. Following that, he worked in a local radio
shop, after which he came to work for the county.
Ealer said that though he is no longer in the military, it is still important
in his life.
“My military time really shaped me and shaped my personality in
some ways. It helped me, because the Air Force gave structure and
helped me find purpose,” said Ealer, also explaining that he has
served the public and the country his entire life.
“My career has been all over the place. I have traveled all over the
world,” Ealer shared, listing countries including Saudi Arabia, Israel,
Greece, Belgium and Peru, among others. Ealer also informed that
his career has taken him across the United States, including working
White House Communications and time at Camp David.
“White House Communications really introduced me to different
things that you wouldn’t see in a regular military organization. [We]
worked with a lot of commercial products rather than what you
would see in a strictly military operation. I learned a lot,” Ealer said.
He further shared that he is currently studying to be a meteorologist
when he retires.
Ealer said that around the time of his hire, the county had installed
a new radio system, and they needed someone to manage it. He
said that he had installed the system, and knew it inside and out.
Ealer already had all the knowledge and technical expertise, and was
hired to do the job. He said that his role has expanded from then to
include other forms of IT.
“I really enjoy doing stuff with the radio system more than anything
… but that’s a small part of my job to be honest,” Ealer said, further
noting that the radio system is very reliable and they have reliable
vendors.
A lot of his time, Ealer said, is spent managing the laptops used by
deputies in the field—making sure that they are working properly,
updating them, and working out any problems that may arise. Ealer
explained that when he started out, this wasn’t the case, but over
the years, as technology evolved, this aspect of his job has become
more involved.
There is satisfaction to be found in being presented with a problem,
finding the solution, and figuring things out. Also responsible for
interfacing with vendors in reference to IT, Ealer explained that he is
responsible for working with them to solve issues as well.
Ealer also noted that he enjoys being able to help deputies and officers
who come to him with questions.
“For me, it’s something I have done a million times, so I know how to
fix it, and to be able to pass that on and make people’s jobs easier is
important,” Ealer expressed.
The 911 Center, according to Ealer, is a great place to work. He noted
that the team there, during the COVID-19 pandemic, has become like
a family, helping to care of each other and ensuring that everyone is
all right.
“For me, this experience with COVID-19 is nothing like I’ve ever seen
before in my life, and we have a responsibility to maintain the level
of service that we have with it going on or not,” Ealer said.
10
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
Houston Healthcare
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
EMT JOSHUA SELIGMAN
By LAUREN HARRIS
Emergency Medical Technician Joshua Seligman, with Houston
Healthcare, joined the United States Marine Corps prior to the terror
attacks of September 11, 2001. According to Seligman, after the Iraqi
invasion, there was a gross shortage of medics in the Marines and
Navy corpsmen, so he used tuition assistance to go through the EMT
training program.
“I wanted to be a police officer initially, but when I joined the Marines,
I was too young to be an MP, so I ended up going [into] the infantry,
and going over to the military fire department to go to school
to get into fire and EMS,” Seligman shared.
That, he said, is how he gained his passion for Emergency Medical
Services. From the Marines, Seligman shared, he moved to the Army,
to further his medical career and education, and is now in the civilian
world. He said he has been in the field for almost 17 years.
Seligman said that the most important thing that EMTs do has nothing
to do with schooling, explaining, “You have to have compassion
for other people.”
Seligman said that he may pick up a patient in respiratory or cardiac
arrest, where they are keeping those people alive, transport them to
the hospital, and then go back out, and be called to a back injury or
twisted knee.
“That is an emergency to that person…” Seligman said, and further
explaining that the biggest part of the job is that sometimes people
just want someone to be compassionate and listen to them.
“The best pain medication out there isn’t in a drug box—it’s laughter
and listening. Listen to that person’s story; tell them a joke. I once
brought a pregnant woman out of eclampsia by getting her to talk
about her favorite ice cream—it was moose tracks, by the way,” Seligman
informed.
Seligman also recalled one of his first calls, as a young EMT, which he
now can look back on with humor.
“A lady was absolutely horrified—she got her toe stuck in the down
spout of her bath tub,” Seligman said.
He explained further that the woman
had tried to wait for her husband to
arrive home and avoid calling for help,
but they were in the Mohave Desert
where it gets down to freezing at night.
Seligman said that the woman started to
enter hypothermia, which prompted her
to put in the call. The woman was embarrassed
to have called, Seligman said.
“We were like, ‘Ma’am, no, this is okay.
You’re turning blue, you’re fine [to call
us].” Seligman shared. The woman, he
explained, was all right in the end.
Ironically, the worst call that Seligman
said he could recall was also what he
considered the best. Seligman stated
that there had been a bad car accident
involving a vehicle rollover. An elderly
couple in their 90s had sustained severe
injuries and required transportation to
the hospital. He divulged that the couple
had been transported together, because
they were keeping each other stable. Seligman said the husband
informed them that they had been married for 56 years.
“Them talking to each other and being around each other kept them
stable long enough for us to get them to the trauma center and get
them the treatment they needed,” Seligman recalled, reporting that
both the husband and wife are fine now.
Seligman shared that the most fulfilling part about his profession is
the chance to change someone’s day.
“Someone has called us because they are having what could be the
worst day of their life, and we get the chance to take what could be
the worst day of their life and maybe not save the day, but make it
a little better or easier to deal with. Sometimes we do save the day,
sometimes we don’t, but we get the opportunity to help them in
what could be their darkest hour,” Seligman said.
Seligman said that there are the fair-share of good and bad days, but
he doesn’t want to bring that home to his four children.
“I tell myself on the drive home: I did everything I could today. I did
everything to the best of my ability. I helped the patient in whatever
way I could. And sometimes, you do have a bad one, and that’s when
we EMS rely on each other,” Seligman said.
Most of the EMT’s, Seligman explained, are friends and acquaintances
outside of work, and if they have a particularly bad call, they
have someone they can reach out to. Seligman said that his group is
famous for grabbing a burger after work, and sometimes, Seligman
noted, they talk about work, and other times they don’t. Everyone,
Seligman shared, finds their own way to cope.
Seligman said that though it is nice when someone recognizes him,
he doesn’t do it for awards and accolades.
“We do it because somewhere inside of us, we have to help people.
We can’t help it,” Seligman shared, explaining that even when he is
off duty, he will still stop for a car wreck and provide assistance until a
fire engine or ambulance arrives.
“It’s a part of who we are.” Seligman said.
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 11
houston HEALTHCARE
LEAD CRITICAL CARE TECHNICIAN
BOBBY CARROLL
By LAUREN HARRIS
Bobby Carroll said the inspiration for this entrance to the field of
emergency services was twofold. Carroll explained that growing up,
he was exposed to different first responders and law enforcement,
and that he had always felt admiration for those in the field. For
him, he said, it was not about basketball players and football players;
it was about first responders.
The other factor, Carroll shared, was the popular 70s TV show,
“Emergency,” starring Randolph Mantooth as paramedic John Gage
and Kevin Tighe, as paramedic Roy DeSoto.
“Any responder out there knows that show—Johnny Gage and Roy
Desoto. Not only did it influence me, but it influenced an entire
generation to get into this line of work,” Carroll shared.
As the Lead Critical Care Technician, Carroll said that he is like a
jack-of-all-trades. Carroll shared that in addition to training the staff
nurses and technicians, he also handles emergency preparedness
for the emergency room, as well as the entire hospital and all of
the outlying facilities of Houston Healthcare. Carroll also said he is
involved with the police officers that serve and assist at the hospital.
Carroll explained that he has had a 19-year career at the hospital,
but has been in the field of emergency services for over 20 years.
A part of what makes his job fulfilling, Carroll said, is something he
has witnessed with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Right now, what I really love to see is, we’re having a national
emergency right now, and to see the community come together,
and all the boundaries that we would normally have are broken.
People that would not normally get along are all coming together,”
Carroll explained. He further noted that he hasn’t seen the likes of
the current coming together since 9/11.
“The way we have all come together when we have an emergency,
the way that we all drop those boundaries; I think that is awesome,”
Carroll noted.
Carroll said that in his career, he has never seen anything like the
current situation.
“I am confident that we are going to get through this. If we continue
to stick together and continue the partnership and cooperation and
the comradery that we have now, we are going to be fine. We are going
to get through this,” Carroll said, further clarifying that the road
to other side would be rough, and there was no denying that, but he
maintained that we would make it through.
In addition, Carroll also said that there were hard aspects to the job.
“Anything that involves pediatrics, not only for myself, but I think
for all responders, is hard to handle.” Carroll shared that there have
been some horrific cases, and that he believes it is hardest when
something involves a child.
When it comes to going home, Carroll explained that it’s more about
distraction than “turning it off.” He said the belief that there is a
“switch” that gets turned off when responders leave work is not
accurate.
“That switch is never fully off. Do we have distractions? Of course we
do. Mine would have to be my kids. I love to fish, I love photography—so
it’s a distraction, but something is always there,” Carroll said,
explaining that the “switch” idea doesn’t work for him.
“Some of these people, we are never going to forget, and some of
the cases, we are never going to forget,” he said.
Carroll said there are also funny things that happen on the job, and
that a patient can change the mood.
“[The patients] can be in a critical situation and they will show that
sense of humor, and sometimes I wonder if they are not taking care
of us, instead of us taking care of them,” Carroll divulged.
Carroll explained that he has been in situations in which his demeanor
had been very serious and somber, and the patient will make light
with a joke or do something Carroll described as “off the wall.” This,
he said, makes the entire mood change.
In recalling a fun time, Carroll shared a story about a yearly competition
in which the departments of the hospital compete against
each other, using a medical theme, to show what they were working
on that time. He shared that during one particular competition, his
department’s theme was “triage,” so the department’s choice in exhibition
was modeled after the television show, “MASH.”
“We had all the characters from “MASH,” and this massive triage set
up… and I ended up being ‘Klinger,’” Carroll said.
Carroll recalled that he dressed in the full ensemble: “I had the
gloves, the dress, the high heels; the whole nine yards.” Carroll said
that he paraded that way the entire night, and the department received
first place that year.
12
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
FLINT ENERGIES
LINEMAN
TONY GRAHAM
By JOSHUA MILLER
Born and raised in Warner Robins, Georgia, Tony Graham hasn’t left
his beloved hometown.
Playing sports and being outdoors is what Graham lived for growing
up. Whether it was football, baseball, golf, hunting or fishing; it was
about all he did.
After graduating from Houston County High School, Graham first
picked up a career as a welder, but it didn’t last.
“I was welding at this shop and kind of realized I wasn’t going to
make the kind of career I wanted out of it, and be able to stay
home,” said Graham. “So, one of the guys I worked with brought up
(working as an electrical lineman); I didn’t know anything about it
at that time, but I started looking into it and got interested. I looked
more into it and decided to leave my welding job and go to school
to be a lineman.”
To make the transition, Graham went out on a limb by completely
leaving his welding job to enroll into lineman class. The classes he
took were full time, eight hours a day, every day, for eight weeks,
and the classes were not even required in order to become a
lineman. Graham took it upon himself to take the classes and learn
about the job.
Being a pedestrian, watching linemen casually work elevated high in
a bucket, it seems like they simply fix what’s wrong, but it’s not as
simple as they can make it seem. The job can be demanding, risky
and tough to endure. So, having knowledge of the job made it much
easier for Graham.
After completing his courses, Graham was employed as a lineman.
He’s coming up on his fourth year working at Flint Energies and has
been a lineman for seven
years.
Once Graham worked on
calls, he realized his knowledge
wasn’t as important
as the teamwork it took to
complete a job. With his
sports playing background,
being a team player is second
nature to Graham.
“When you’re up in the
bucket or dealing with
any hot wiring, you have
someone else up there
working with you too,” said
Graham. “The decision you
make might not only affect
you, but it might affect him
too. So, you have to pay
attention to what they’re
doing and let them know
what you’re going to do.”
While in the bucket,
Graham is also exposed to
the elements, and weather
conditions can change the difficulty of a job significantly. His most
memorable call was repairing lines after an ice storm hit Oklahoma.
“We went out to Oklahoma, worked a big ice storm and kind of
worked our way back home,” Graham remembered. “We were
gone for a couple of weeks, met a lot of people and saw a whole
different part of the country. They had a big ice storm there and
had some tornadoes on top of that, so they had a lot of damage.”
Working as a team under harsh and potentially dangerous circumstances
builds camaraderie. For Graham, his favorite part of the job
are the bonds he’s built with coworkers.
“My favorite part hands down is the camaraderie between all the
guys I work with,” said Graham. “I see them more than I see my
family. We can joke, cut up and still do our job; that’s definitely my
favorite part.”
While fixing a line is a very risky job, workers like Graham are
generally in a completely safe environment when everything is
done correctly. The number one risk is getting shocked by the high
voltage, but Graham will tell you he’s “100% safe” while working.
Graham’s assignments aren’t just fixing the big power lines though.
Linemen can vary from changing out a pole, to giving new service
to a new house, or rebuilding a whole sectional line; those are just
a few of many tasks Graham must be ready for everyday.
Come October of 2020, Graham will be employed at Flint for four
years, and his apprenticeship will be completed. Graham will soon
get the official lineman title at Flint and plans to keep moving up.
After two more years of being a lineman at Flint, Graham can test
to become a journeyman, the highest rank of a lineman. Next step
is crew leader or service lineman, if everything permits.
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 13
“We Support Our
First Responders!”
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478-987-7311
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14
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
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EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 15
perry Fire
Department
Firefighter CALEB WOODS
By KENDRA NORMAN HOLMES
With the actions and sacrifices that his job requires, 28-year-old
Caleb Woods of Perry Fire Department said he truly feels like hero.
“It’s rewarding. Sometimes we see stuff that we don’t want to see,
and sometimes we see stuff that we don’t want to talk about, but
every morning that we wake up, we have to be ready for whatever.
It’s my job, and I understand that, ” Woods continued, “but it’s
rewarding when it all pays off.”
Going out and helping people is what’s most gratifying for Woods. He
said although firefighters don’t take an official oath to be there whenever
the public needs them, it’s a personal oath that he takes within
his heart, and he believes most firefighters do the same. “Whatever
we need to do,” he said, “we try our best to do it.”
Woods joined Perry Fire Department on November 30, 2016. “I
kind of like numbers,” he said of why he recalls the exact date so
effortlessly. His career as a whole began two years earlier in Peach
County. “I finished rookie school in 2014 and started out as a volunteer
in Peach County, but my very first shift with the city of Perry
was November 30, 2016.” Woods is a full time firefighter with Perry
Fire Department but said he still picks up shifts in Peach County as a
part-time firefighter there. “I lived in Peach County for a while,” he
explained, “but I live in Unadilla now.”
When it comes to his career as a firefighter, Woods said that his
father is still his greatest influencer and mentor. “My dad and I are
real close,” he acknowledged. “He was a fireman for years with Peach
County when I was growing up.” Woods stated that at one time his
father served as a volunteer station chief in Peach County and even
today, he is a part of the unit there on a part-time/volunteer basis.
Woods recalled the day that following in his father’s footsteps settled
in his heart. “I actually woke up one day and had a conversation with
my fiancé. I told her, ‘I think I’m going to go to rookie school with
Peach because they’re about to
open it up.’” Woods said that he
started the schooling and found
so much enjoyment in the adrenalin
rush that he got during the
entire process.
He had already received his
Firefighter 1 credentials and was
in the process of completing the
requirements for his Firefighter 2
credentials when he learned that
Perry Fire was hiring. By this time,
Woods had gotten married, and
his wife was among the first that
he told of his intent to pursue the
position. “I applied, did my interview
and completed everything
that was required. A little after
that, I got an email from Chief
Crumpton asking me if I’d be willing
to take the job at Perry.”
Woods shared that he got both
his Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2
credentials, as well as his Vehicle
Extrication credentials through Peach County. He completed his
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training through Houston
County while volunteering with Peach County. All other credentials
and trainings that he’s received have come through Perry Fire.
Saving people’s lives and their property have been the highlights of
Woods’ career to date. “We’re often the first ones at the site,” he
said. “Being able to get there early and get the situation under control
is always the best case scenario. I’ve been able to do that both
here and in Peach County.” Woods said that his experiences at both
stations have been great, but he admits that working at the station
with his team members at Perry Fire has better met his desire to
want to interact with a larger crew in a more active environment.
As one who approaches every emergency as if it involves someone
who is dear to him, Woods encourages the general public to do the
same. “When a fire vehicle is seen coming with lights flashing, it
would be great if everybody thought of it like, ‘maybe they’re headed
to save someone in my family.’ Nobody wants anything bad to
happen to anyone that they love,” Wood pointed out, “so if drivers
always thought like that, they’d pull over and let us by so we can get
to where we need to be quickly and safely.”
Making firefighting a lifelong career is Woods’ intent. “I’ve heard my
dad say that if he could go back in time, he would make a career as a
full-time firefighter instead of taking on other jobs and just volunteering
and working part-time as a fireman.” From his father’s words
of wisdom, Woods has taken notes. “I plan to retire as a full-time
firefighter, and it makes me feel good that folks thought enough of
me to choose me,” he said of his selection as an everyday hero. “It’s
like they’ve seen me work hard and seen that I’m doing what I’m
supposed to do and that I’m getting the job done. It’s an honor. It
doesn’t just make me look good. It makes my department look good.
It makes my profession look good.”
16
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
perry police
Department
Detective SERGEANT JASON JONES
By KRISTIN MORIARTY
“We’re out here to protect and
serve the public, and do so in a
compassionate and understanding
way,” – Perry Police Department
Detective Sergeant Jason Jones.
Public safety is a way of life for
Jones. He started out as a volunteer
firefighter at the age of 16, to later
on entering the law enforcement
side. Jones was born and raised in
Triune, Tennessee. No one in his
family had a career in public safety.
What sparked his interest were
the stories from working at a local
grocery store when he was 16.
“The man who ran the grocery
store was also a volunteer firefighter,”
Jones said. “He had this
“special” phone, which basically,
when it rang, it was either for a fire
or accident. He would drop what he
was doing and take off. So I thought
it was really cool and hearing his
stories, I became even more interested.”
Jones works other cases as well, such as armed robberies, homicides,
it’s a great resource and partnership.”
After high school, Jones worked his way up through the ranks of the etc. For the first time in eight years, the city of Perry had its first
Franklin Fire Department in Tennessee becoming assistant fire marshal.
As the assistant fire marshal there, he helped start the William-
murdered. Jones is accredited for the confession of the case, and said
homicide case in 2016, where a young man named Sam Poss was
son County Task Force that focused on arson cases. The chief that he while it has been four years since it happened; it still sticks with him
worked for then took a chief’s position in Clearwater, Florida, where to this day.
he offered Jones a logistics chief position.
“That was such a difficult case to process especially since there was
Jones was in Clearwater for three years, and in 2007, moved to Perry, no reason for it, there was no sense in it,” Jones said. “It bothered
Georgia. Former Perry Fire Chief Joel Gray knew Jones when he was me even more because my son was the same age as Sam, and all I
in Florida. Gray heard Jones was looking to go back home, but Gray could think was that could have happened to him. Seeing him (Poss)
suggested that Jones try out Perry.
after we found him, it took me a while to process that. Everybody
“When I was in Franklin, I had gotten the law enforcement “bug” thinks we (law enforcement officers) are these machines and have no
with conducting arson investigations,” Jones said. “So when I moved feelings or compassion. But that is far from the truth.”
to Perry, I met Chief (George) Potter, and he knew I was going out for When asked how does one cope with matters of the job, Jones said
the fire department, and he said, ‘You’d be a better police officer than his faith and learning to put it (the job) away.
a firefighter, boy. You’re a big ol’ boy; you’ll work perfect,’” Jones said “With what we see and deal with in this job, you can’t just forget
laughing. “And so he hired me that day. My wife, Angela, who is my things,” Jones said. “So I look at as you have these boxes in your
high school sweetheart, and I really liked Perry. It reminded us a lot of mind, and you put all the different stuff away because if you don’t it
home, and our children were just barely at the age of starting school, will tear and wear you down. And of course, the more you experience
so we decided to move to Perry, and it’s been home ever since.” different matters, the easier it is to deal with. I think it’s the biggest
Jones was first hired on to the Perry Police Department in 2007. He thing in knowing how to separate the two because you can’t take it
spent almost four years on patrol and was then promoted to detective
sergeant working in the criminal investigations division. Jones is tremely hard to have that conversation with them because they don’t
home; they don’t have a clue what you’re dealing with. And it’s ex-
currently finishing his bachelor’s degree in homeland security, and is understand.”
also a member of the Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force. Even though the job can be tough at times, Jones said he truly enjoys
The task force is an initiative that was started by the FBI (Federal what he does.
Bureau of Investigation), through which the FBI partners with law “I do,” Jones said. “I really enjoy getting to know the people. You interact
with all different walks of life, and you’re constantly learning.”
enforcement agencies in supplying resources and equipment.
“That has been a huge asset for our department with me being on Jones’ advice to his fellow law enforcement officers is make it home
the task force,” Jones said. “It allows us (Perry Police Department) to their families at the end of each shift, but always be understanding
to work bigger cases with more resources, and gives me national as well.
jurisdiction where normally we would have to call in others to help “No matter who you’re dealing with, always be understanding and
us. Currently, I am the only narcotics detective at the department, but compassionate because you don’t know what they’re truly going
I never work alone. Most of the time I work with the Houston County through or what they have gone through,” Jones said. “Treat everyone
with respect because not everybody always deserves to go to
Sheriff’s Office because they have investigators who are also members
of the Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force. All around jail. There are other avenues we can take to impact a person’s life in a
positive way.”
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 17
warner robins Fire
Department
ENGINEER ANDRE GRACE
By: KENDRA NORMAN HOLMES
Engineer Andre Grace joined the Warner Robins Fire Department 17
years ago in 2003, but he’s known for most of his life that serving his
community wearing the garb of a firefighter was what he wanted to
do. He was a young child when the desire hit him, and it remained
with him as he grew into adulthood.
“We used to go on field trips to the fire station when I was a kid,”
Grace said. “Just the sight of the action and the dedication that the
people had was what inspired me.” Grace said he could hear the
passion in the voices of the firemen when they spoke about how they
helped people, and that played a big part in igniting a desire in him to
want to grow up to do the same.
Warner Robins Fire Department Fire Chief Ross Moulton didn’t hesitate
to sing Grace’s praises. “He just got selected Firefighter of the
Year for Warner Robins, so that in itself speaks volumes,” Moulton
said. “He’s just an outstanding employee; a dedicated employee.
He’s just a fabulous guy,” the chief went on to say. “That’s not just my
opinion; any of the folks here will say the same. When you’re selected
as Firefighter of the Year, that’s not something that’s done by me,”
Moulton explained. “That’s done by peers, so that tells you just how
much they think of him.”
One submission by a colleague outlined several reasons why Grace
was deserving of the honor. The unnamed writer mentioned phrases
like: “He is a selfless individual on and off duty” and “Andre is a
passionate, persistent, and persuasive leader.” Another comment
was, “His overall attitude is known to be one of the best in the entire
department,” followed by, “Andre has helped me to become a better
officer and friend.” A particular noteworthy statement made was, “Attitude
is contagious, and Andre’s attitude is spreading over the entire
department.”
Grace said he just tries to be the best Andre Grace that he came be.
When it comes to his work ethics, he gave credit where he says that
credit is due. He says his drive
to do what he does on the
Warner Robins Fire Department
team is largely fueled by
a man that he sees as one of
his greatest mentors. “Scotty
Durham,” he said, calling the
name of one of the department’s
Assistant Chiefs. “Chief
Durham has definitely been a
great role model in my career.
I want to grow up to be like
him,” Grace said.
“Andre is one of the best of
the best,” Chief Durham said
of Grace. “I look beyond the
surface when I hire for this
department. It’s not about
white, black, Latino, or Asian.
None of that matters. It’s
not even about who has the
most experience,” Durham
revealed. “The duties, they
can be trained to do. But I
can’t train them how to have
good hearts and strong values
and good ethics. That’s got to
be on the inside already, and
that’s what I want my folks to have. The other stuff can be taught.
Andre had what was needed on the inside already, and who he has
become as a firefighter is a result of what was already there. I’ve
been with the fire department over 30 years, and I’ve trained a lot of
people,” Durham further stated, “and I can honestly say that he’s in
the top five of all time. And that’s counting everybody.”
According to Grace, although he enjoys what he does, being a firefighter
is a serious, and sometimes dangerous, job that comes with
its highs and lows. “Some days you want to laugh, and some days you
want to cry,” Grace stated. “Anything dealing with children—whether
they’re in danger or been hurt or even worse—that’s the saddest
part of all.” He further admitted, “The job can actually become frightening
in that moment, because children are helpless. Like with the
bus accident that happened last year—the one that killed the little
girl. When children are casualties, it’s not just sad; it’s devastating. It
just breaks your heart.”
On a much lighter note, in a memory recall that brought him laugher,
Grace said, “I remember one time being called to somebody’s house
just because they had a common headache. That’s one of the oddest
calls I can remember ever going on.” Grace admitted that calls like
that are rare, but he said they do happen. “When it comes to those
types of calls,” he said, “all you can really do once you’re there is stay
professional and try not to laugh while you ask questions like, ‘How
long have you had this headache?’” Jokingly, Grace commended, “I
guess folks like that—the ones who catch headaches at 3:00 in the
morning and decide to call us—think we carry emergency medicine
cabinets in our fire trucks or something.”
Grace says despite the unpleasant experiences that are a part of his
job, he wouldn’t change professions with anyone else. “I’m a part
of the community. I’m helping the community. I’m a servant for the
community,” he said. “Just knowing that and being able to take part
in the day-to-day excitement is what makes me love this job. This is
what I want to do until I retire,” Grace said. “One day, I’d like to retire
as a shift commander—just like Scotty Durham.”
18
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
WARNER ROBINS police
Department
NarcOTICs invest. KEENAN HENDERSON
By KRISTIN MORIARTY
Keenan Henderson was born
into a law enforcement family.
His grandfather, father
and mother all worked in
law enforcement, and so it
was instilled in him at a very
young age to become a part
of the profession.
Henderson was born in Baldwin
County but was raised in
Coffee County until he was
in the 10th grade. His family
then moved to Warner Robins,
and it has been home for
Henderson ever since. For a
time period, right after high
school, Henderson attended
college, but ultimately, he
began working in civil service
at Robins Air Force Base.
“I was in civil service for 10
years, but to be honest, I was unhappy,” Henderson said. “When
you’re young and getting to be on your own for the first time, it’s
about how much money you can make. But I had a calling on my
life and ignored it until I could no more. It was that one-day that
I decided I wanted to make a difference in my community, so I
began my journey to becoming a law enforcement officer. Here I
am seven years in, and enjoying it everyday.”
Henderson was hired to the Warner Robins Police Department in
2014. He started out in the patrol division and worked there for
three years. He was then promoted to the narcotics unit. Since his
promotion, Henderson has also been a part of the department’s
SWAT team for five years, and is also a task force officer for the
DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).
“I have experienced quite a lot during my seven years, and so
much has changed since I first started,” Henderson said. “But
growing up and now being in the field, one thing that has not
changed is the impact you can have on the community. Watching
my family go that extra mile past the shifts they worked, to make
a difference, is really what stuck with me. And now, being in law
enforcement, I’ve learned the community does rely on us and we
rely on them. We’re here to protect and serve. I love this community
and everyday, I work hard to do a good job, especially for the
ones who can’t stand up for themselves.”
One call that sticks with Henderson to this day was the tragic fatal
bus accident in 2018 where six-year-old Arlana Haynes lost her
life.
“I was the second person on scene that day, and I don’t want to
describe what I saw, but it was more than what I was prepared
to see,” Henderson said. “It was a call for a lot of us here at the
Warner Robins Police Department that was really difficult to pro-
cess, and in the midst of the call that day, you know our adrenaline
was pumping, but we had to remain focused and make sure
everyone was safe. I have children myself, so that made it even
harder to process.”
When asked how does one cope with incidents such as the loss of
life, Henderson said for him, it’s spending time with his children.
“Focusing on my children and spending time with them helps a
lot,” Henderson said. “I also like to get away to the beach and just
recharge and not think about work. But also that bond between
us here at the department helps. It’s a bond that you really can’t
explain; we’re a family. One of the more fun times I’ve had here
at the department is when we had a kickball league last year.
Our team was the “One Kick Wonders.” We were actually doing
badly in the beginning,” he said laughing, “but we made it to the
championship. So family, having that bond with fellow officers,
and separating work from home, definitely helps.”
While the job can be tough most times, Henderson said he truly
enjoys his work and finds it very rewarding.
“Being that positive light and bringing justice to each person’s
case is where I get my motivation and where my passion comes
from,” Henderson said. “You never know what kind of impact
you’ll have until times when you’re off work and go to the grocery
store, and someone walks up to you and thanks you. I truly enjoy
what I do. To my fellow officers… always pay attention. Something
so small and minor can turn out to be huge. When you feel something’s
not right, pay attention because usually, your gut is right.
Work hard, but be safe and make sound decisions. Again, you
never know the impact you will have on someone’s life. I feel that
the Warner Robins Police Department is very professional, and we
have strong community relations.”
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 19
GEORGIA
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
SPECIAL AGENT TODD CROSBY
By LAUREN HARRIS
As of April 1, Todd Crosby has
assumed the role of Special Agent
in charge over the Region 15 field
office of the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation, which involves overseeing
day to day operations.
Crosby has been with the Bureau
since 2001, and said that it has
been a long road to get where he
is now. Crosby shared that he has
had several relatives in and associated
with the law enforcement
field.
“When I decided to go into law
enforcement, it was to help people
and to help society as far as locking
up bad guys, and that’s what
I wanted to do. It’s about helping
people and getting bad guys off
the street. I’ve always been of the
mindset that it doesn’t matter who
locks them up, it doesn’t matter
who gets them off the street, as long as they get off the street. I
wanted to be a part of that. I think that’s what inspired me to get into
law enforcement.” Crosby said.
Crosby shared, he started his career in law enforcement at Georgia
College in 1991, and then began working with the Milledgeville Police
department as a patrol officer in 1993. Crosby later joined the Baldwin
County Sheriff’s Office in 1995 (until he joined the GBI), where he
said that he worked his way up the ranks to become a lieutenant over
his shift and was also promoted to a detective’s position.
Since joining the bureau, Crosby said he has been an instructor since
2003 and is also the coordinator of the GBI Crime Scene Program.
Before coming into his role as SAC, he was assistant special agent in
charge of Region 15.
Crosby shared that the most rewarding part of his career is all the
people that he has taught as an instructor, and watching where they
are going.
“The most rewarding thing that I’ve seen is the growth of people, I
like seeing that because the closer I get to retirement, the more I see
that we’re in good hands, and that it’s going to be in good shape,”
Crosby explained.
Crosby said that you always have to find humor in the job, recalling
an incident in which an agency requested his assistance in processing
a crime scene. Crosby informed that on his way to the scene, he
received a phone call from the requesting agency telling him, “Never
mind, he got up and walked away.” Crosby said he thought, “He got
up and walked away?” The scene, according to Crosby, had been one
wherein an individual had gotten intoxicated and rolled off into a
ravine, and had been mistaken for a dead body. Crosby said that the
requesting agency had taped off the scene and was walking the perimeter
to ensure no one entered, at which time the man sat up and
said, “What are you doing?”
Crosby shared another story in which he was called to an area by an
old house to process a scene where skeletal remains had been found.
Crosby explained that upon arriving on the scene, he felt something
was not right, and when the remains were poked, they sunk in and
bounced back out. Crosby divulged that it had been revealed that
a few years prior the house the skeleton had been found near, had
been a haunted house, and the skeleton was made of rubber.
The worst thing that Crosby said he experienced was the death of
one of his best friends in the line of duty. Deputy Will Robinson, with
the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, died in December of 1995.
“That was the worst thing I think I’ve ever had to experience in my
law enforcement career,” Crosby said, further explaining that between
this and his own officer-involved shooting while he was at the
Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, he was inspired to become a crime
scene specialist.
Crosby informed that he had been a crime scene specialist for 15 1/2
years before becoming the head of the program.
“Just seeing how the GBI handled business, how they handled crime
scenes, the crime scene specialists—their knowledge and expertise—I
said that’s what I want to do,” Crosby said.
When it comes to going home and “turning off” what he experiences
in his career, Crosby said that everybody is different. In telling what
he referred to as “Todd’s way” of doing it, Crosby said, “I struggled
with that early on in my career, when I was younger, but the older
I’ve gotten, I’ve realized that there is more to Todd Crosby than being
the police.”
When he pulls up in his driveway, Crosby shared, and goes into his
bedroom and removes his badge and gun, he isn’t a GBI agent anymore.
“I’m Daddy, I’m husband, the honey-do list-doer. Once I take this
[badge] off, that [GBI] identity’s gone.” Crosby expanded, and explained
that even when it came to parenting his kids, he never did
it in uniform, because he didn’t want them to see a GBI agent, he
wanted them to see Daddy.
“This is not my only identity… What you have to realize is you have
more identity than just the police,” Crosby said.
20
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
GEORGIA
STATE PATROL
TFC MICHAEL STRICKLAND
By LAUREN HARRIS
“For me, I always wanted to be a trooper,” said Trooper First Class
Michael Strickland, with the Georgia State Patrol. He was born and
raised in Thomaston, Georgia, and is a graduate of Upson Lee High
School. Strickland shared that growing up, his stepfather had been
a lieutenant with the Thomaston Police Department, and he was
around law enforcement, and troopers, from a young age.
“It was just something about when I saw the troopers; the big hat,
the blue and gray car—I knew it was what I wanted to do,” Strickland
recalled. He further revealed that his destiny was to either become
a trooper or a history teacher, the latter of which, he pursued at the
University of Alabama, for a time.
“Some changes came along with college,” Strickland said, “and the
opportunity came for me to go to Trooper School.”
Strickland explained that after coming back home from school, he
worked a few years as a door-to-door salesman, and in July of 2013,
he began the application process to become a trooper, entering
schooling for the profession a year later. After schooling, Strickland
said, he was assigned to Post 15 in Perry.
“All I knew about Perry was the Georgia National Fair. They sent
me here, and I’m glad they did. I learned a lot, and I made a good
reputation for myself within the community and within local law
enforcement. I built relationships with a lot of those guys and know
them closely,” Strickland informed, noting that July will be his sixth
anniversary with the department.
Strickland said he was on patrol for the first five years of his career,
and as of January, has been promoted to the position of Recruiter for
Troop H, one of the nine troops within the Georgia State Patrol. As a
recruiter, Strickland shared that he goes to college and career fairs,
and makes television and radio appearances to recruit individuals
that want to get into the field.
Strickland divulged that his goal is to be the Colonel of the Georgia
State Patrol.
“I believe in being the best, and if I’m going to make a career out of
it, I want to go as far as I can go,” he explained. On the way to that
goal, Strickland mentioned that he
would like to become an instructor
in the training division.
“I believe in teaching. You have to
build them from the ground up,
and teach them the right way,” he
said.
In his profession, the thing Strickland
enjoys most is the people.
“When I was on the road everyday,
no day was ever the same. You
never know who you’ll run into.
You never know who you could
meet; you could make someone’s
day,” Strickland shared, further
noting that he has been involved
with interesting details, naming
current Secretary of Agriculture
Sonny Perdue, and ESPN during
the Superbowl. Strickland said
that he would like to have worked
on the detail for President Donald
Trump during his visit to Robins Air
Force Base, but he had been off
duty that day.
“It’s a fun job. It can be dangerous
at times, but there’s a lot of
freedom. I will never wake up not wanting to come to work, because
it doesn’t feel like work,” Strickland expressed.
Strickland said he has had to do some hard things, one of which, he
shared, that sticks out to him, was when he had to notify a father
of the death of his son. Strickland relayed that the son was off at
college out west, and doing an internship for that state’s department
of transportation. The son, Strickland said, was struck while standing
outside of a truck, and it was Strickland’s task to inform the boy’s
father of his passing.
“It was about 3 a.m. when I had to do it, and that one hits me hard
to this day, because when I told him, I saw his complexion, so I stayed
over there with him for a while,” Strickland shared.
But there are also good times. Strickland recalled a child whose parents’
car had broken down.
“He was obsessed with troopers and policemen, so I let him sit in the
car,” Strickland explained, noting that he still had the pictures. That
incident, he said, went viral.
Spending time with friends and working out is how Strickland copes
with his profession.
“Three months after I got here, I joined the gym. That’s what gives
me my time and release. It’s my meditation time to not think about
work,” said Strickland.
Strickland shared that he has many friends who are also in law
enforcement or in some area of public service, but when they are
together, they don’t like to talk about work.
For people that seek to come into the profession of a Georgia State
Trooper, Strickland advised that understanding the size of the role of
a trooper is essential.
“Everybody thinks it’s glitz and glamour, but it’s a very important
role… You have the ability to take someone’s life away, so it’s not just
a job, it’s a lifestyle, and you have to be in it for the right reasons; you
have to really be made for this job,” Strickland explained, adding that
there has to be a passion to do the job.
For those already in the field, Strickland encouraged them to continue
to be great, and know the job the best that they can.
“Be a role model to the people in your community, because people
look up to you whether you think it or not. Just hold yourself to a
higher standard; that’s what I try to do and that’s what I teach everybody,”
Strickland stressed.
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 21
We Salute Our Everyday Heroes in Houston County
Jeffrey Easom, DO; Jonathan Harris, MD; William Wiley, MD
Scott Malone, MD; Derrick Phillips, MD; David Wiley, MD; Daxes Banit, MD
22
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020
A Special
Thanks of
Gratitude and
Appreciation
Shaw Blackmon
State Representative
House District 146
The Houston Home Journal
appreciates your dedication
in protecting and serving
Houston County.
We thank you for
your service.
EVERYDAY HEROES 2020 23
WE’VE BEEN SERVING FIRST RESPONDERS
FOR OVER 50 YEARS
Faye Donald
Accounting Manager
Lisa Richardson
Teller
COMBINED
EMPLOYEE
CREDIT
UNION
Ashley Chapman
Member Services
Robby Glore
CEO
Jennifer Franklin
Member Services
Gladys Barfield
Teller
Hannah Bonney
Teller
TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
24