Valdosta Mayor John Gayle and Fire Chief Freddie Broome honored Lt. Justin Ply, Sgt. Douglas Bennett and Sgt. Caron Wright of the Valdosta Fire Department as the October 2015 Employees of the Month at the Oct. 8 City Council meeting. Lt. Ply, Sgt. Bennett and Sgt. Wright each received a framed certificate and a check for $200, and their names appear on a plaque displayed in City Hall.
 
While on duty recently, Lt. Ply and Sgt. Wright noticed an open window at Station #1's pump house that had been closed earlier that day. The pump house is where the VFD stores the bicycles they repair for their Christmas “Give a Child a Bike” Program. When the men entered the building to investigate, they discovered people running and escaping out of the windows. They proceeded to chase the individuals, with Sgt. Bennett and Firefighter Lamar Berrian joining in the chase that eventually led to all the suspects being captured.
 
After investigating the pump house, the VFD personnel found bold cutters used to cut the pump house lock, a back pack full of tools used to remove bike parts and at least eight bikes that the suspects had prepared to steal. Because of the observant skills and excellent teamwork of these VFD members, the bicycles were saved and will be given to children in our community in time for the Christmas holidays.
 
Since Firefighter Berrian is a new hire on a six-month probationary period, he is ineligible for the Employee of the Month award. However, the City and VFD recognized him along with his peers at the Oct. 8 meeting for the important role he played in catching the suspects.
 
The City of Valdosta applauds these Valdosta Fire Department personnel for being named the October 2015 Employees of the Month, an award they received for their ability to act quickly and appropriately in a high-pressure situation, thereby protecting the City and its assets.