Editor’s note: Chief Adam K. Thiel compliments the Gwinnett County firefighters for keeping their cool under pressure during last week’s hostage situation.
I know many of us were closely watching this situation as it unfolded last week and we are all thankful that it ended without serious injury to any of the involved firefighters and law enforcement officers.
It’s a gross understatement to say that I’m impressed by the way the “hostage” firefighters dealt with this unexpected turn of events. They stayed calm from the very start and made a number of decisions that undoubtedly helped lead to a positive outcome — versus the unspeakable alternatives.
While I’ve certainly encountered armed individuals on calls before, I can’t imagine being on a “routine” EMS run and then being held hostage!
I’ve been thinking a lot about how we in the fire and emergency services can proactively identify and address such incidents, as rarely as they occur. Although I haven’t come up with any new ideas about how to avoid becoming part of a hostage scenario, I think our colleagues from Gwinnett County have provided a textbook case about how to handle one.
Stay safe!
