Barney Fife had the Greer City Hall event laughing and enjoying the inaugural City of Greer Public Safety Appreciation Dinner tonight. He mugged for his fans at the end of the dinner.
Fire Chief Chris Harvey took home gift cards worth $375 for fire department personnel who could not attend tonight's dinner honoring public safety officials.
Fife was the featured entertainment at the inaugural City of Greer Public Safety Appreciation Dinner at Greer City. Police, fire and emergency medical responders were honored with a free dinner and all the ridicule from Fife they could handle, in good-natured fun.
Greer businesses were table or individual sponsors. Prizes were awarded for public safety personnel in attendance and others who couldn’t. MD360 was the presenting sponsor.
“The fire department live with each other and create family,” Ed Driggers, City Administrator, said. “The police create trust. When you work with people like that it creates some great bonds. Tonight was our opportunity to say ‘Thank you’ for serving us and keeping us safe.”
Allen Smith, President of the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, has introduced Abe Lincoln and now Fife to community events. Fife, who did some stints on the Andy Griffith Show tours as the Don Knotts character made famous for his comedic lead.
The Fife imitator poked fun at Police Chief Dan Reynolds and Fire Chief Chris Harvey but didn’t spare other public safety officials and their wives. The room frequently broke out in raucous laughter at Fife’s jokes and humor.
“This created a release for our public safety employees and for them to have a good time. Let’s face it, if people don’t feel safe in Greer they won’t come here. Our public safety departments do a great job.”