The Roanoke Rapids Fire Department honored the retirement of Lieutenant Gordon Pearson and also honored firefighters who helped revive people who had gone into cardiac arrest.

Chief Jason Patrick presented the certificates during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Pearson served the fire department for 16 years. “He worked hard and was diligent,” Patrick said.

Much of Pearson’s training came through the volunteer ranks and working with the former International Paper’s emergency response team, Patrick said.

Pearson told the council, “I’d like to thank the city and Jason Patrick. I thank God for the opportunity to work to help people. What I did here I knew I could make a difference.”

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Lieutenant Chad Turner and Engineer Darrell Sanders were twice honored with life saving certificates for calls which Patrick said occurred within three shifts.

They were called on December 21 and December 30, Patrick said, and both involved patients who had gone into cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile, Sanders, Ramah Long and Hunter Whitmire were honored for a July 15 call in which a patient had gone into cardiac arrest. The patient was revived.

The certificates read that during these medical emergencies firefighters “showed empathy and care for the subject as well as their family members. Without hesitation you and your co-workers from the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department along with Halifax County Emergency Medical Services showed outstanding determination and professionalism working as a team to help revive,” the patients.

“I thank the guys for the jobs they do day in and day out,” Mayor Emery Doughtie said. “It’s a small part of what they do.”