NEGRIL, Hanover — For more than 14 years, Emergency medical services (EMS) technician Sergeant Rian Crooks has served the Westmoreland branch of the Jamaica Fire Brigade with distinction. Now he has the awards to prove it.

He has been lauded for being the most dedicated firefighter and named firefighter of the year for the parish.

“It is a very rewarding and fulfilling feeling for me to be awarded as the most disciplined firefighter, and also firefighter of the year. It has been 14 years and many months of dedicated service and I have never been recognised in this fashion. Yes, I have been recognised for my hard work and I have been commended on numerous occasions, but I have never been awarded tangibly,” Sergeant Crooks told the Jamaica Observer during a ceremony on December 21.

The awards were presented during an end-of-year banquet and awards function put on by the Westmoreland Fire Department.

The selection process started out with Crooks being nominated by watch commanders and district officers. An interview and other assessment tools, such as an appraisal, followed.

“It is somewhat tedious and also nerve-racking because I know that I went up against very good candidates just the same, who are knowledgeable about the job and what they are about,” said Crooks.

As an EMS technician, he responds to medical and traumatic emergencies. The memories of a few of them have remained with him.

“One of the scariest moments as an EMT… is during the COVID-19 pandemic where if you hear people cough or [saw] any sign of flu-like symptoms, you think it is COVID because people were dying worldwide. However, there are many unique calls. I have gone to mass casualty incidents and fatalities. You name it. I also went on calls where it is like a counselling session — hearing what the patients have to say and offering your services to them,” stated Crooks.

It has all been worth it. Still basking in the glow of his awards, he took some time to ruminate on what comes next for him.

“Now that I am awarded firefighter of the year, and most disciplined firefighter of the year, it is just to continue to fulfil the mandate of the Jamaica Fire Brigade service — saving lives and protecting property — and still upholding the rules and regulations of the organisation, still carrying out my role and function as a sergeant, still trying to motivate those who are beneath me, and still trying to emulate those who are above me who displayed the right attitude,” stated Crooks.

The EMS technician is encouraging younger firefighters to value themselves and what they do and to work within the rules of the JFB.

Crooks is also encouraging those just leaving high school who want to join the JFB to pursue their dream.

“I can tell them that it is a very, very good job, you understand? Every job has its own uniqueness, but I don’t regret being a firefighter and it is not just because I won the firefighter of the year. I don’t regret being in a firefight,” said Crooks.

Another outstanding awardee was retired District Officer Roger Williams, who served the brigade for more than 30 years.

A total of 30 people were awarded.

While the awards functions have been in existence for more than a decade, this is the first staging since a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Divisional commander for Westmoreland Fire Department, Superintendent Rudolph Seaton said his team looks forward to the event each year.

“It keeps them highly motivated because you have persons who perform above standards, and this is our form of recognition to them,” he said.