GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Gwinnett Chamber has awarded Medals of Valor to the first responders who handled last year's Gwinnett County firefighter hostage situation.
The awards were announced during a ceremony on Wednesday.
On April 11, 2013, firefighters from Station 10 were called to a man having chest pains at a house on Walnut Grove Way. Firefighters said everything seemed normal until about 10 minutes after they arrived, when the man pulled a gun and held all five men hostage for several hours.
Ultimately, Gwinnett County Police SWAT team members rushed the house, shot the suspect dead and rescued the firefighters.
"Basically your life changes forever after that day," said firefighter and hostage Sidney Garner as he thought back on that day with Channel 2's Gwinnett Bureau Chief Tony Thomas.
"You think about the events of the day probably most every day; you try to take the good out of the day and suppress the bad," said firefighter Tim Hollingsworth.
The firefighters were all back together for the awards announcement, along with the lead police negotiator and three SWAT team members who entered the house. Special recognition was given to Sgt. Jason Teague who was shot in the wrist during the gun battle.
"To get recognized for something that you sign up to do every day, it's a little odd," Teague said.
The April 2013 incident was the first time firefighters had ever been taken hostage. It's being studied by fire departments and police agencies across the country. SWAT team members reacted on the fly, setting off a distraction device before storming the house.
"The only thing I saw during the whole thing was Jason's silhouette, and he'd taken a knee and he was down on my left and when he said, 'I'm hit,' and I saw both of his hands go over his chest," said Sgt. Jeff Johnston.
While he thought his friend had been wounded in the chest, he continued to clear the situation with officer Nick Boney. It would be another 30 minutes before they would be told Teague would survive.
Thomas asked firefighter Jason Schuon what he remembered most about that day nearly a year ago.
"We were there and had no choice in the matter but those guys had a choice to step in the fire like that and to save us all. They are the real heroes," Schuon said.
The two 911 communications officers who worked the radios that day were also honored by the Gwinnett Chamber. Lauren Sullins and Natosha Etheridge were honored as Communications Officers of the Year.
Others receiving awards included: Duluth police Sgt. Stephen Daniels for the Community Oriented Police Unit. Gwinnett Police officers Jeff Madsen and Joshua Bowie received the Lifesaving Award. Lilburn police Department's Crime Suppression Unit was named the Public Safety Unit of the year. Snellville Officer Jennifer Nieddu was named the Public Safety Person of the Year. Sheriff Butch Conway received the Public Safety Leadership Award.
Two civilians also received awards. Jerry Anderson and Matthew Anderson were given the first ever Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award.