Submitted by: Philly Ricketts

My story tells of an event that took place many years ago. My father was a policeman in New York City when I was very young. He rarely talks about the experience, and he would never answer my questions about saving people’s lives or dangerous situations he was in. He retired from the police force when I was 5, after 20 years’ service. A little over a decade later, after numerous attempts to find out about his time as a policeman, I found some papers in a box in our garage. They included a report that my father had typed after an incident in 1975. He and his partner responded to a call stating that a convenience store was being robbed. My father went to the back, while the other officer stayed near the front of the store. One of the men robbing the store pulled out a gun when my father confronted him. My father also had his gun out, and there was a stand off near the cashier. The man robbing the store soon grabbed the person nearest to him, who happened to be a little girl of about 3, and he shouted at my father to drop his gun or he would shoot the girl. My father had told me that one of the most important rules he learned was that a policeman should never drop his gun. So it was with trepidation and a pounding heart that I continued reading, not knowing what had occurred. Would my father put his gun down and risk his own life and that of his partner? Or would be continue to tell the robber to put his gun down and risk the life of the little girl?

In the end, my father’s report said that he dropped his gun. The robber then clung onto the money he had taken from the till and ran out of the store with his accomplice. But on the way, he shot the other officer in the chest when he tried to stop him. After reading the report, I asked my father about it, and this time he did talk to me. I asked him why, if he was forbidden to put down his gun, he did. He said that when the robber grabbed the little girl, all he could think of was me, since I was about the same age at the time. He said that he just couldn’t risk the girl being killed as a result of refusing to put his own life in danger. He said he’d never be able to face the little girl’s parents if she died. Of course, it can be argued that my father risked the lives of all the people in the store, including his own and his partner’s, and that the robber could still have shot the little girl, which is probably why the rule for a policeman not to drop his gun was made. And he should have been disciplined for his actions, although he never told me if he was. But I can’t help thinking how brave my father was to make the split-second decision he did, despite the rule. As a mother myself now, I can fully understand his decision, and if I was the mother of a little girl facing the same situation, I would be forever grateful to anyone who did the same for me and my child. The robber wanted more than anything to get away, and as soon as my father put down his gun, the robber pushed the girl away and ran off. It was only when he was confronted at the door by another officer that he pulled the trigger. Unfortunately for that officer, he was on the receiving end of that shot. He spent a long time in hospital, and his recovery was very tough. But thankfully he survived. I believe that my father still feels responsible for the pain his partner suffered, and I often wonder if he wishes he’d done anything differently.

My hero is my father. He always has been, and I wish I was half as brave as he is. I felt compelled to tell this story not only as a small tribute to my father, but also to make others stop and think just how difficult it is to work as a first responder. Obviously, many of these brave men and women risk their lives to save others. But it’s more than that. In certain circumstances, every choice, no matter how small and no matter which job as a first responder it applies to, could have potentially life-changing consequences for the first responder as well as for those they seek to help, and those choices often have to be made without any time for reflection. Thank you to all first responders who not only care enough to do these kinds of jobs and who risk their lives for strangers, but who also inevitably open themselves up to feelings of guilt and ‘what ifs’ when things go wrong.

Submitted by: Dave Xander

Jeff Lorson is the hero in my story. Jeff is a Lt. with the Orrville, Ohio Fire Department and has been a firefighter for over 35 years. I’m proud to say that I worked with Jeff in the late ’70s and early 80’s, but it is what he has accomplished since then that puts him in a class by himself. As firefighters, we often see people in need and wish there was more we could do to help. Jeff Lorson saw a need and took action. Twenty years ago, Jeff organized the first Orrville Fire Department food drive so that no family in the community would be without a special holiday meal. The effort has grown over the years and now serves over 200 families. Jeff’s enthusiasm is contagious and spills over to the community where people donate to fill the fireboots in local businesses and schools, or volunteer to help the firefighters deliver all of the food baskets. Recently, the Orrville Fire Department partnered with the Salvation Army so that the program could reach even more people. The Salvation Army is responsible for identify families in need and the Orrville Fire Department makes sure the need is filled.

Orrville is a “paid on call” department, so firefighters have regular jobs to support their families. In Jeff’s case, he also operates an auto detailing business on the side in addition to his full time job. Still, Jeff finds time to meet with the leaders of local businesses to solicit their support in the annual food drive. Jeff’s work was recognized in 2008 when he was named Orrville’s “Citizen of the Year.”

Firefighters like Jeff Lorson recognize that fighting fires is not enough. Jeff saw a need and rallied his fellow firefighters to support the cause. Jeff is the type of firefighter you want by your side battling a fire, but his passion is also a key to battling hunger in the community.

Submitted by: Graham Johnston

I caught your excellent show at the deCoste Centre in Pictou, Nova Scotia last night and your 911 Song touched a nerve. It had special meaning for me. I lost a teen brother, two young sons, and all three of my baby grandchildren in three separate highway crashes, none of whom made it alive from the scene to the hospital.

There were no family or friends with them in their final moments on the highway; no one familiar to reassure and comfort them. So I like to think that maybe, in their final moments, some found comfort in a friendly face, perhaps a gentle touch or reassuring words from a first responder.

Thank you for a very moving song saluting first responders- those nameless, faceless unsung heroes and angels such as 911 dispatchers, police, ambulance, and firefighters (especially volunteers). Let’s not forget the physicians and nurses who work their magic in hospital Emerg / ICU / CCU units who, all too often, are among those we take for granted in times of tragedy and crisis.

Please don’t enter me in the contest, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thanks for the great song, and to personally pay a long-overdue tribute to all those who are there when we need them in times of crisis.

Submitted by: Ryland McNutt

This song definitely touches my family as we are a list of first responders. My grandfather was one of the founding members of the Bible Hill Fire Brigade in 1946. Then once my father was of age he joined the same brigade before joining the DND Fire Service to serve the Station in Debert. My other grandfather was also a fire fighter in Brooklyn Hants County. Once my mother met my father and they moved to Debert NS they both joined the Debert Fire Brigade. Once the base closed and we moved back to Bible Hill my father and mother both joined Bible Hill. Once I was 19 I also started my fire service time with Bible Hill therefore keeping it a family thing. After I returned from college studying Police Foundations in Ottawa I joined the Special Hazards Response Unit. A group that does Haz Mat calls as well as Water rescue, Confined Space and High Angle rescue. I am soon Hoping to join the ranks of the RCMP. As you can tell helping people is very much a family thing,

Submitted by: Shaun

Sorry folks, to protect the identity of fellow officers, no names or places in this story.

It is not often that people recognize police/fire/EMS for the work they do. It is true, we have all sworn an oath to protect Life, property and peace.

Just last week I was sent to a gun call involving a male walking across the parking lot of a local restaurant with a rifle. My Sgt was the first on scene. He had stopped a vehicle (while on foot) fleeing the parking lot of the restaurant, believing it to be the suspect with the rifle. I was on scene approximately 30 seconds later. Being the first patrol car on scene I blocked the suspect vehicle with my van. As I proceeded to exit my van and took position with the Sgt behind the vehicle I drew my pistol. I walked behind my van and made my way next to the Sgt where we performed a high risk take down. The driver turned out not to be the suspect with the rifle.

At the time of the incident I was running on instinct/training. I had no emotion or fear (all that comes after you got the guy in cuffs, while you are sitting in your patrol car. That’s when you get the shakes). After the fact I got the holy shit moment when I realized the magnitude of the call. I had driven my van directly in front of a suspect car whom I believed to be in the possession of a rifle. I then stood behind the car with my Sgt, exposed to any rounds coming from the vehicle. Having thought about the matter for a few days now I have come to realize a few things. It is only a few who have the courage (may be it is stupidity, and most likely is) to stand between a gunman the hundreds of innocent citizens who were driving on (a nameless street) that day. Also, despite all else, I placed my faith, my life in the hands of the man next to me. He did not let me down. I would walk with him through any door, anytime, anywhere.

Not many understand this way of thinking, the sense of duty an officer has to his teammates and the public. I thought you captured that way of thinking quite well. Good job!