Our Public Safety personnel are the most professional and competent I have had the pleasure of dealing with. I have lived or worked in Rome, GA, Wellington, AL, Jacksonville, AL, Mt. Pine, AR, and St. Louis, MO. I have witnessed police and firefighters in all of these communities. I can say unequivocally that Rainbow Cities are the best.
My job as a council member is to make sure they are provided with all of the resources, training, and compensation they need to keep this status. I will never forget April 27th, 2011, when my home and pretty much everything in my community were destroyed by a massive tornado that hit a large part of Alabama. A firefighter from Rainbow City helped me get to my neighbor's house, who had been injured. The night of the tornado was extremely stormy afterward. There were live power lines down on the road, and visibility was limited. I was so impressed with him and his crew’s professionalism and compassion. The next day, he was out in the community in his personal vehicle giving assistance. After this experience, we moved to Rainbow City. This firefighter was a great ambassador to this community.
5 years later, my car was stolen from my driveway. The Rainbow City Police Department not only pursued the thief but also apprehended her and what was left of my vehicle, which was wrecked during the chase. It was 2 am, and these officers were extremely professional and understanding. They deserve our total support as they serve our community.
I pledge to not only continue to support the Rainbow City Police Department and the Rainbow City Fire Department, but also to be their biggest supporter. I will work with the Chief of Police and the Fire Chief to ensure they receive all the resources they need, which can be provided. I also believe that our wages and benefits for first responders must be competitive to the degree that they will not transfer to other jurisdictions after we have invested in their training. As a Council, we have worked with the Mayor to achieve this goal.