Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Paid, Law Enforcement

Job Function

Firefighter, First Responder, Driver / Engineer

Years in Fire/EMS:

24

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Sikeston Department of Public Safety

Years With Department/Agency

11

Dept. Web Site:

http://stevep@sikeston.org

My Training:

FF I&II, Haz Mat, Law Enforcement specializing in Type II BA as the department lead instructor, Former Special Operations Team Leader in Hostage Negotiations, Line Supervisor, and numerous other areas.

About Me:

53 years old married for 25 years with four children. My oldest son is a police officer and fire fighter (like me) in Jackson , Mo and has made me a grandfather. My mom and dad, three brothers, and one sister all live in the Cape Girardeau and nearby Jackson , Mo area. I am an ordained minister currently serving my local church as pastor and ride a Harley with the Christian Motorcyclists Assn. I also have a second job as a vendor. My life is full and I enjoy my opportunites to serve.

Day Job:

Sikeston Department of Public Safety

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I like serving others. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that I couldn't get punching a clock serving a corporation. When I was very young in Monett, I used to visit my grandmother at Hatchers Cafe. Just out the back door was a fire house with all of those big shiny trucks sitting inside. I also watched Santa riding on top of one in a Christmas parade every year and decided early on that is what I wanted to do. I was hooked but didn't get the opportunity until much later. Now, I do fire and police and am nearing retirement. If I had it to do all over I would have started earlier and made more of my opportunity.

Why I Love Fire/EMS

My sense of meanigful service and belonging to something important.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Despite all efforts to the contrary, there remains a slow local response in some jurisdictions to the changing environment and evolvement in the Public Safety field creating an inconsistency in training standards and skills from one agency to the next. This is exposed when we see how local shortfalls in this area hampers the growing call for mutual aide and Homeland Security responses to emergencies in the last few years. When we join together in common cause we find that we are only as strong as our weakest link. (ever heard that before?) We must make sure that we are also educating the right people, our chosen community leaders who are tasked with directing these vital community activities.