Wednesday, October 31, 2001
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Wednesday, October 31, 2001 |
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Governor hand-picks local county fire chief for special award By JOHN
MUNFORD
Chief Jack Krakeel of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services was one of 19 public safety professionals in Georgia honored by Gov. Roy Barnes last week at a special ceremony at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. Krakeel, who has been with the department since 1984, was honored for making an "outstanding contribution which enhances the profession." He and the other winners received medals recognizing their work, and their names will be enscribed to the granite monument there where they will be permanently displayed. Each award winner was personally selected by Gov. Barnes after nominations were approved by various agencies. In Krakeel's case, the nomination was forwarded by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. Recently, the department became the first fire department in Georgia to gain national accreditation from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The department also developed and implemented the state's first approved school violence plan. The county has also been awarded the "Storm Ready" designation from the National Weather Service and the Georgia Emergency Management Association for its storm disaster plans. Krakeel said he was proud of the award because it recognized the entire department. "I am so proud of our firefighters, EMTs, our administrators and our staff here at headquarters," Krakeel said. "... You've got to have good people and dedicated professionals working with you." The chief added that he appreciated being nominated for the award and being selected by the governor to receive it. Krakeel was nominated for the award by county Commission Chairman Greg Dunn. Krakeel said the community's growth since he signed on in 1984 has presented one of the biggest challenges to the department: to maintain and improve the level of services provided by the department. Present and future challenges include "preparing to deal with the unexpected" particularly in light of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. Sept. 11 that killed thousands. "From the emergency management side, we are dealing with a whole new set of issues. Our mission has changed forever since Sept. 11."
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