NHGA came about because “there just wasn’t any training for public safety honor guards,” said Doug Swartz, the academy’s founder and commanding officer.
“Traditions were being missed or misrepresented and our fallen just weren’t being honored the way we wanted them to, so we put a training program together.”
The 45-hour course offered a mix of classroom and hands-on learning. Materials covered basic drills, church and casket protocols, proper casket handling, precise movements and flag etiquette. It culminated with a full, mock line-of-duty funeral procession to give participants a chance to practice all they learned.
Instructors are retired or active public safety officers, with both civilian and military experience. Continue reading With discipline and precision, National Honor Guard Academy shares expertise with local units
Located at 5618 Nine Mile Road, Firehouse 23 is named after its surrounding neighborhood of modest bungalow houses dating to the 1920s. “It’s tight-knit and resilient – a thriving community to this day,” Varina Supervisor Tyrone Nelson said of Bungalow City. “So, the name has deep roots, and it’s appropriate the fire station’s title reflects the community which it serves.” Continue reading Community celebrates opening of Bungalow City Firehouse 23
Henrico’s mental health response expands, evolves with empathy, coordination
The 911 call came in just after noon: A woman reported that her 27-year-old friend had a serious drinking problem and might be suicidal.
A dispatcher marked the call as Level 4 – the most serious – under the Marcus Alert system, which is designed to help responders manage behavioral health emergencies so individuals in crisis can get the treatment and resources they need.
Continue reading ‘You don’t have to do it by yourself’
Officials on Tuesday addressed the increase in pedestrian-related crashes and fatalities in Henrico and reiterated the county’s commitment to safety efforts, which includes $1.5 million in new funding for street lighting, planned projects to enhance pedestrian accommodations, and public safety messages.
Continue reading Pedestrian Safety Month is winding down, but Henrico’s focus on awareness and infrastructure isn’t letting up
More than 50 middle school girls participated in the Henrico County Division of Fire’s inaugural Girls on Fire camp designed to break barriers in firefighting, a field traditionally dominated by men.
Continue reading Henrico Fire’s inaugural Girls on Fire camp empowers middle school girls to become firefighters
