Each year, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce honors first responders serving in the 11 public safety agencies in Shelby County. Nominated by their supervisors for their dedication, hard-work, and sacrifice, this year’s Alabaster recipients were Officer Monique Bivins and Officer Bryan Stewart of the Alabaster Police Department and Apparatus Operator Jamada Green of the Alabaster Fire Department
Alabaster Fire Department
Jamada Green has served full-time with the Alabaster Fire Department (AFD) since 2005, and in that time has risen to the rank of Apparatus Operator driving AFD’s trademark yellow fire trucks. Green is also a paramedic and trained in rescue tactics.
On May 16, 2021, AFD crews responded to a call for two people who had fallen in a local rock quarry. When the crews arrived, they found two people—one injured and one uninjured—75 feet down the face of a cliff in the quarry. After assessing the situation, it became evident that a helicopter rescue was going to the best way to bring the two victims to safety.
With a tremendous fear of both heights and helicopters, Green volunteered to get on the Alabama State Trooper helicopter and descend a rope into the quarry to provide first aid to the injured victim and remove both victims from the cliff face. After stabilizing the first victim’s injury, Green secured both victims so they could be airlifted out of the quarry for further treatment.
In Lieutenant David Sprich’s firefighter of the year nomination letter, he said of Green, “For this incident, Jamada overcame one of his biggest fears to rescue an injured teen. He ignored his fear of heights and eagerly volunteered to be lowered over 75 feet into the quarry to rescue the citizen.” In his self-deprecating way, Green gives credit to his team for the rescue. “Courage will always overcome fear,” Green says. “But you trust the resources around you, and I have total confidence in our team. We give 100 percent in training so we’re always prepared for whatever we face.”
Green has demonstrated leadership throughout his AFD tenure, serving as a mentor for new members of the department and helping firefighters working toward advancement. “He is humble when he doesn’t have to be,” says Lieutenant Sprich. “He leads by example at all times, he maintains a positive attitude at all times, he has a strong understanding of his job, and he continues to educate himself through advanced training.”
A lifelong Alabaster resident, Green is thankful to serve his community: “My purpose is to serve and help others. Green lives in Alabaster with is wife, Africa, and their two children, Jackson and Jayla.
Alabaster Police Department
On April 14, 2021, Alabaster Police Department (APD) Officers Monique Bivins and Bryan Stewart arrived on the scene of an industrial accident to find an employee with a traumatic injury to his legs. Other employees had started first aid and called 911, and when the officers arrived on scene, they immediately assessed the injuries and took over first aid. Officers Bivins and Stewart applied trauma tourniquets to both injured legs to stop the bleeding. Bivins and Stewart had participated in specialized training on the application and use of tourniquets. The officers’ quick reaction provided immediate lifesaving measures, and victim survived the critical injury. The Alabaster Fire Department then responded to provide additional care and assisted in transporting the victim to the hospital for further treatment.
“Because of the efforts of Officer Bivins and Officer Stewart, the victim survived this horrendous incident,” says APD Captain Grant Humphries. “Officers Bivins’ and Stewart’s performance was outstanding in response, assessment, and action resulting in the preservation of life. I am truly blessed and honored to work alongside such professional, dedicated public servants. This award is well deserved, and we appreciate all that they do.”
Recognizing Retirees
On October 7th, Alabaster celebrated its employees and recent retirees during an Employee Appreciation Luncheon on the Alabaster Senior Center lawn. Hosted by the Alabaster City Council, the event was catered by Majestic Catering. Insite Engineering provided T-shirts to all employees, Brooklere Pharmacy set up a tent offering flu shots, and the Alabaster Teen Council helped throughout the luncheon.
The luncheon recognized recent retirees who had a combined 172 years of service to Alabaster:
- Mike Ellis, 40 years—Building/Engineering Department
- David Lash, 36 years (not pictured); Rick Benson, 24 years; and Michael Waits, 14 years— Alabaster Fire Department
- Bruce Holcombe, 25 years—Public Works
- Jim Phillips, 16 years—Parks and Recreation
- Steve Armstrong, 17 years—Alabaster Police Department (not pictured)
Mayor Scott Brakefield thanked all employees for their hard work and dedicated service to Alabaster’s residents. “I want to take an opportunity to thank each and every one of you for working day-in and day-out to ensure our city’s residents enjoy outstanding services and a high quality of life,” he said. “Everyone here has shown incredible dedication to serving our residents, and I appreciate everything you do.”