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

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."