Jim Fair
Det. Dale Arterburn brought his daughter, Morgan, to the Public Safety Appreciation dinner Thursday at the Cannon Centre.
Jim Fair
The third annual dinner gave the business community an opportunity to say 'Thank You' for making Greer a safe community.
Jim Fair
Some of the first responders got to enjoy an evening in their honor in casual attire.
Jim Fair
Some prizes were paid forward by public safety officers such as a gas grill and a $500 "Keep the Green in Greer" gift card.
The third annual Greer Public Safety Appreciation Dinner on Thursday was an occasion for the business community to celebrate and say “Thank you” to first responders.
The dinner, organized by the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, offers all full- and part-time public safety officials a dinner in their honor and thousands of dollars of gifts contributed by the business community.
“Our safety is something we often take for granted,” said Allen Smith, President/CEO of the chamber. “We never think about it because the public safety professionals in Greer are always thinking about it. Our community has thrived because people feel safe as they live, work and play here.”
There were no speeches, although Sen. Lindsey Graham showed up briefly when his plane had a two-hour delay, to thank the first-responders. Graham recalled his pleasure seeing the first responders at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport when a flight he was on took off from the airport and was re-directed to return five minutes into the flight when the engine reportedly was making a strange sound and an oil indicator light was on. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to see the first responders as we landed.”
Graham told the first responders, “All I can say for the chamber is that I think it is really neat to honor you.”
Mayor Rick Danner said the cost of public safety is immeasurable. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to put the blue light on and pull over a vehicle late at night, a mile and a half down a side road off the main highway. What is the cost?”
Fire Chief Chris Harvey and Police Chief Dan Reynolds added humor and enjoyed handing envelopes with gift cards and awarding prizes donated by businesses.
Harvey described the difference between the chiefs. “Dan (Reynolds) is still working on kicking down doors and getting sued. I kick them in and people love me.”
Reynolds' name was pulled from a bowl for the top prize – $500 Keep the Green in Greer gift card – but paid it forward to the Greer police officer to make the most DUI arrests in March.