Three VFD Staff Members Honored as July 2016 Employees of the Month

IN PHOTO

L-R: Lt. Jeff Talley, Firefighter Brandon Matheny, Fire Chief Freddie Broome and Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Payton, Jr. (Not present in photo is Sgt. Wade Briggs.)

Valdosta Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Payton, Jr. and Fire Chief Freddie Broome honored VFD Lt. Jeff Talley, Sgt. Wade Briggs and Firefighter Brandon Matheny as the July 2016 Employees of the Month at the July 7 City Council meeting. The employees each received a framed certificate and a check for $200, and their names appear on a plaque displayed in City Hall.

Lt. Talley manages the daily operations at the company level, supervises up to three employees and leads emergency incidents. Sgt. Briggs is responsible for driving fire apparatus to and from emergency incidents, and both he and Firefighter Matheny respond to emergency incidents and provide fire, rescue and haz-mat services.

In early May of this year, these three fire service professions were part of the Fire and EMS units dispatched to Lowe's Home Improvement regarding a patient in possible cardiac arrest. On arrival with EMS, it was determined that the patient was pulseless. Lt. Talley, Sgt. Briggs, and Firefighter Matheny quickly assisted EMS with advanced life support and CPR resulting in the patient having a return of spontaneous circulation and breathing on scene.

The late FDNY Chief Edward F. Croker, once said, "I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman. The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the fireman has to do believe that his is a noble calling. Our proudest moment is to save lives."

The City of Valdosta applauds Lt. Jeff Talley, Sgt. Wade Briggs and Firefighter Brandon Matheny as the July 2016 Employees of the Month, an award they each received for demonstrating sincere compassion and skill in protecting the community and saving lives.