Eight outstanding

Fayette County police, fire and emergency service personnel were honored

American Legion Post 105 Public Safety Recognition Awards.

The dinner

and awards presentation by Legion members honors individuals selected

officers, others by their superiors.

Greg Dunn,

Fayette County Commission chairman and sergeant-at-arms for Post 105,

again chaired and emceed the event. During his opening comments he noted,

"The number one contributing factor to our quality of life is the

outstanding public safety services in Fayette County and our cities. No

matter how beautiful a house you live in or how well your children perform

in our top quality schools, if you do not feel safe in that home or feel

your children are safe in their schools, your quality of life is simply

not the best."

Sgt. Tom Brenna

with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and Sgt. Ron Wyatt with the Jail

Division of the Sheriff's Office were selected for the award by their

peers. Brenna began working for the office in 1989. In 1990 he transferred

from the Jail Division to the Crime Scene Unit.

He continued

his education, graduating from the Police Academy in 1991, attaining his

state certification as an Identification Technician in 1992, as a Field

Training Officer in 1994 and finally, in 1998 he returned to college,

earning an associates degree in criminal justice from Georgia Military

College. He was promoted to corporal in 1994, the same year he was appointed

to the Special Enforcement Team. In 1995 he was promoted to sergeant,

and has served as division coordinator for the Field Training Program

since 1996.

He noted, "I

intend to stay within the Uniform Patrol Division, as I truly enjoy working

within the county, interacting with our citizens. I hope to one day retire

from this agency after a long career here in Fayette County."

Wyatt joined

the department in 1989. Originally from West Virginia, he served three

years in the U.S. Army, then worked as a cable man for 22 years. During

the past year, Wyatt responded to three separate emergencies within the

jail, performing CPR in two cases. In each incident, after a review, it

was found that Wyatt's actions were "textbook" and that he had

"performed his duties to a high degree," according to documentation

provided by the Sheriff's Office.

Detective Bob

Bautista was selected to receive the award by the Fayetteville Police

Department. Bautista served in the U.S. Army for 16 years, retiring in

1993 as a major. He received numerous medals to include the National Defense

Service medal, expert infantryman badge, Vietnam Service medal with two

Bronze Service Stars, Air Assault Badge and Parachutist Badge. During

his five years with the Fayetteville Police Department he has been given

commendations for his outstanding performance and dedication.

Chief Johnny

Roberts noted in the award documentation that, "Detective Bautista

projects a high level of enthusiasm and initiative in all aspects of his

career." He was also commended for his impeccable work ethic, and

his total commitment and loyalty to the organization. Roberts also said,

"His integrity and honesty never fails in gaining the respect of

all whom he comes in contact with."

The city of

Fayetteville Fire Department selected Lt. Keith Harris to receive the

award. Harris has been with the Fire Department for 11 years. During his

career he has obtained numerous training certifications including Emergency

Medical Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician, fire officer level

II and in-service training instructor.

Fire Chief

Alan Jones spoke highly of Harris. He shared that, "Like most firefighters

working a 24-hour shift, Lt. Harris worked a second job to supplement

his income and support his family. When the department needed a new training

officer, he was immediately identified as the first choice. Lt. Harris

chose to come off his 24-hour shift to fulfill this role." Harris

took the position knowing the change in duties and his work schedule would

significantly reduce the amount of time he was able to devote to his business.

The Fayette

County Department of Fire and Emergency Services recommended rookie firefighter

Kenneth Doyal for the distinctive honor. Department director Chief Jack

Krakeel noted, "In spite of his brief tenure, he represents those

characteristics and commitment to his chosen profession that our nation

has come to expect of those who dedicate their lives to saving the lives

of those in need."

Doyal, employed

training along with 15 other new recruits. The day after his graduation,

while going home with his fiancé to Henry County, Doyal saw what

appeared to be a house fire from I-75. He turned off, arriving at the

scene before fire fighting crews arrived, and learned that an older person

was trapped inside. He entered the burning building at great risk to himself,

located an elderly man and brought him out of the home. "Kenneth's

unselfish actions represent every firefighter's commitment to the protection

of life," said Krakeel.

Dunn quipped

to Deputy Chief Tom Bartlett, on-hand to present Doyal's award, that Doyal

was definitely a "keeper!"

Deputy Marshal

Warren Chamberlin was chosen for the honor by the Fayette County Marshal's

Office. Chamberlin has worked in public safety for ten years and has been

with the Marshal's Office for three years. In addition to his duties he

is a member of the Fayette County Safe Kids Coalition, the Fayette County

Risk Watch Team and is a Georgia hunter safety education instructor. Chief

Marshal Butch Hall stated, "Warren Chamberlin will go out of his

way to help someone in need. He is very active in preventing child-related

injuries. He volunteers his personal time in teaching at elementary schools

on child safety issues."

Chamberlin

is a Civil War re-enactor and was the 2000 Deputy Marshal of the Year.

Volunteer firefighter

Eddie Ferguson has been working with the Peachtree City Fire Department

for 18 years. He is a nationally certified Firefighter II, Apparatus Engineer,

a rescue and Jaws of Life instructor, a boat master on the Water Rescue

Team, and a member of the Hazardous Materials Response Team. Chief Stony

Lohr spoke highly of Ferguson. Lohr, the 2000 Legion Award recipient,

noted, "Eddie is a person who shies away from the limelight. He just

continues to work to make sure the right things get done at the right

place at the right time."

Ferguson founded

Fire and Rescue Explorer Post 209. The post has grown from 12 members

to 20 members under his guidance and has earned the BSA Quality Unit Award

every year since 1988, a first place Award Ribbon at every Scout show

since 1989 and the Best Explorer Post of the 1995 Fayette District Scout

Show.

Ferguson lists

"Web site designer" as one of his hobbies. The Explorer Post

Web site he designed earned the Public Safety Net Award of Excellence,

the 1998 Emergency Concepts Award of Excellence and the Poudre EMS Award

of Excellence.

He serves as

the District Exploring Committee chairman, Fayette County coordinator

for the Amateur Radio Emergency Services, and the Fayette County coordinator

for the National Weather Service Storm Watchers. Many Fridays and Saturdays,

Ferguson can be found providing on-site first responder coverage for the

football team at McIntosh High School.

The Peachtree

City Police Department nominated Cpl. Heather Horne to be its award recipient.

Horne has been with the department for three years, graduating from the

Police Academy in 1997. She has earned numerous certifications including

School Resource Officer certification and Child Seat Specialist certification.

In 1998 she

was named employee of the month for outstanding service when responding

to a call involving a heart attack victim. She received the 1999 PTC Police

Department Community Service Achievement Award and is an instructor for

the Fayette County SUPER Program.

The program

is a requirement for students who have been charged with drug or alcohol

offenses. She developed the emergency management plan for Booth Middle

School and the Junior Police Academy after-school program in 2000. The

Junior Police Academy was the second in Georgia at the time it was begun.

The program consists of 10-week sessions that include activities such

as radar operation, conflict resolution, search and seizure, drug and

alcohol awareness and fingerprinting.

Horne is the

coordinator and the instructor for the program and has devoted many after-work

hours to make the program a success.

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