Pauls Valley city officials and representatives from the Pauls Valley school district took time during Tuesday’s city council meeting to recognize first responders for their actions during an active shooter sit-uation at Pauls Valley High School last week.
The Pauls Valley City Council presented Police Chief Don May and Fire Chief Scott Woods with formal commendations for their professionalism and leadership during the event and in the days after.
The commendations, read aloud by Mayor Jocelyn Rushing as they were presented, expressed gratitude on behalf of the city and recognized May, Woods and their departments for their “bravery, professionalism and unwavering dedication to duty” as they responded to the situation on April 7.
Members of the Pauls Valley school board and Superintendent Brett Knight were also in attendance to offer their gratitude. Knight said the collaboration between the police department, the fire department and the school district has been exemplary.
“From the bottom of my heart, thanks to the city and to the first responders that were there that day. For the last eight years, Pauls Valley has been my home. Knowing everything that went into this incident and what took place from the staff, from the first responders, from the community afterwards and the response that we received, there is no other place I would want my kids than right here in Pauls Valley,” said Knight. “There’s no other place for my kids than this community. Thank you, City. Thank you to our first responders.
We love you guys and look forward to continuing to work together.”
As May stood to recognize the officers in his department who were on-scene April 7, he echoed Knight’s sentiments. May said he has had opportunities over the years, while working for other employers, to relocate, but chose not to.
“I don’t want to go anywhere else. I grew up here. I went to school here my entire school career.
Teachers had a huge impact on my life, and they continue to have a huge impact on the youth in this community. What Kirk Moore did was an example of what you do in a community like this,” May said, referring to High School Principal Kirk Moore, who responded to last week’s threat by tackling the gunman and disarming him with the help of Assistant Principal Chad Chronister, while teacher and coach Mark Green made sure law enforcement and first responders were enroute. Moore was the only one injured in the altercation.
“We responded to an incident. Kirk Moore took care of an incident,” May said Tuesday. “It is amazing, and I will tell anyone who asks, I don’t want my kids to go to any other school than this one right here. And the teachers and staff of this school district are why.”
May also presented letters of commendation to Assistant Police Chief Brittany McGehee, Sgt.
Heath Chappell and Officer Zachary Mackey, who were all dispatched to the school April 7, arriving within two to three minutes of receiving the call and helping secure the scene and render emergency aid to Moore.
As students returned to school for the first time Friday, law enforcement officers from around the area made sure they were visible on all of Pauls Valley’s campuses. May said students told him and school staff, separately, “Everything’s going to be good because the cops are here.”
“That means the world to me,” May said, “especially in the environment that cops live in these days. They are in our community, and they know where our hearts are at. And that means the world to me.”
Fire Chief Woods similarly recognized his department for their response, saying: “That day is one our community will never forget. It was chaotic, emotional, and heavy. … But I watched our firefighters do what they are trained to do, and more importantly I watched them take care of people when it mattered the most. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t back away. They stepped forward. I saw men comforting students, helping them reunite with their families, securing the scene, doing whatever needed to be done, no matter how difficult it was.
They carried themselves with professionalism, courage and compassion in a moment that demanded all three,” Woods said. “What makes that even more powerful, is that many of these men were wearing more than just a fire helmet that day. They were fathers wanting to know where their children were.
They were uncles looking for their nieces and nephews. One of them serves the community as a school board member. And some of us were just trying to help look for other firefighter’s children who weren’t able to be there. … Despite all that they stayed focused, they stayed steady and they did their job.”
Those recognized by Woods were Capt. Trevor Felan, Lt. JR Jackson, Lt. JD May, Lt. Stephen Wilkerson, Cpl. Tyler Jolley, and firefighters Chris Matthews, Dalton Morse, Beau Seabolt, Josh Cottrell, JD Pogue, Marvin Blood, Drake O’Bryant, Jason Selman and Mark Norman.
At the close of the council meeting, Mayor Rushing, who is also employed by the school district, read her own statement thanking the men and women who responded to the school on April 7.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the first responders who came to our aid during the school shooting. In an unthinkably painful moment for our community, you showed unwavering courage, compassion and professionalism. Your presence brought comfort when we needed it most and we are profoundly grateful for the care you showed to every student, family and staff member.
Thank you for standing with us, and for everything you do to protect our community.”
Tuesday’s city council meeting can be found online on the Garvin County News Star’s YouTube page. A link to the video is also available on our website at gcnewsstar.com.
