WMFD and WMPD awards ceremony

West Memphis’ ‘finest’ and ‘bravest’ receive 2022 awards at City Hall

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

It has been an extra busy winter for West Memphis _re_ghters, with large _res breaking out nearly every week and at least two just this this past week at the Days Inn of West Memphis which resulted in minimal damage and another, a residential _re, that unfortunately resulted in heavy damage and even _reworks being set off during the blaze, however, luckily no residents were injured.

Several West Memphis _re_ghters were presented with awards this week at City by Fire Chief Barry Ealy including Fire_ghter of the Year Being Awarded to Captain Richard Brown and Fire Crew of the Year Award for 2022 for their rescue actions performed on September 28, 2022. Arriving at the scene, crews found an upside down, partially submerged vehicle, with a male victim trapped inside. The victim was oating with only a portion of his face above the waterline to allow him to breathe. All hands

See AWARDS, page A2

West Memphis Fire Chief Barry Ealy and Mayor Marco McClendon with award recipients at a special ceremony at City Hall Last Thursday.

Photos courtesy of the City of West Memphis AWARDS

From page A1

were required to successfully winch, crib, spread and cut the vehicle and extricate the victim. The victim survived the incident and has returned to normal daily life because of the actions of the crews that responded. The firefighters honored with the award were: Battalion Chief Mark Miller, Captain Brian Bedinger, Captain James Allensworth, Lieutenant Garrett Taylor, Firefighter Adam Fields, Firefighter Alvin Sharp, Jr., Paramedic Willie Thomas, EMT Jewel Zukosky.

Chief Early went on to award Staff Member of the Year Award to Division Chief Chuck Brackenzie saying it is always “the most difficult award because I could make a case for each and everyone one of my my staff because I honestly thik I have the best staff in the state of Arkansas. They have stood shoulder to shoulder to me with every incident that I’ve had to encounter”.

In addition, West Memphis Police Lieutenant Darrell Hayes was also awarded The Life Saving Bar and Ribbon for his action performed during a fire at The Courtyard Apartments on Christmas in which Officer Hayes “led from the front and entered the apartment of a handicapped man who needed assistance. Lt. Hayes pushed his way through the smoked filled structure and carried the large man out on his back.”

West Memphis Police Lieutenant Darrell Hayes was also awarded The Life Saving Bar and Ribbon for his action performed during a fire at The Courtyard Apartments on Christmas.

Photo Courtesy of WMPD