LETTER: Yearwood supports local firemen, paramedics

You look for anything that might jump out and harm you. If there are no hazards, you then proceed on to do your job. One may be on the outside looking in and think that our department is about to self destruct.

As a matter of fact, as a Fire/EMS/911 department employee, we have not missed a beat when it comes to providing a service to the citizens of Barrow County. We have been asked to do a lot with little. Many people within our organization have stepped up to keep everything running smooth.

It has not been the effort of one particular person, but a combined effort from each and every employee.

One may read your paper and think that we are micromanaged by chairman Danny Yearwood. That is far from the truth. The truth is that chairman Yearwood has been very supportive of our department.

In October 2009, chief Skinner and I pretty much had the department dumped in our laps after the departure of the previous chief and deputy chief. Ever since then, we have had the chairman’s full support in everything we did to keep the department moving forward.

Instead of pointing fingers, I think everyone should remember one important verse from the Bible. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We all have made mistakes along the way. Chairman Yearwood has certainly made some mistakes along the way, but haven’t we all?

In closing, I just wanted everyone to hear things from the fire department’s point of view. Since chief Skinner and I have been in charge of Barrow County Emergency Services, chairman Yearwood has never micromanaged us nor has he ever tried to tell us how to run the department. I am sure that the next fire chief will receive the same support that Chief Skinner and I have.

Sincerely,
Bryan Bullock
Deputy chief training officer
Barrow County
Emergency Services