06/13/2026
I was not able to attend the going-away party for JJ, but I wanted to say a few words about him. I actually taught him in high school and got to know him and his mom as she also worked there with me. As soon as he took my class, he told me he wanted to be on the fire department and I told him what he had to do to join and shortly after turning 18, he met the requirements and joined.
During his relatively short time on the department, he made a big impact by doing what every Chief wants a new member to do, be there and ask questions! It was a running joke near the end that JJ was going to ask a question!" He learned a lot about the fire service and what to do by asking those questions. He was eager to learn and enjoyed serving the community.
I can tell you a story about JJ, we had a structure fire, and him and I were the first ones at the station, I jumped up front and was trying to get one radio on fire dispatch, one radio on the ops channel, and gearing up at the same time. JJ.....was in the back seat asking question after question, "whats the ops channel?" "are we waiting on anyone else?" "do you want me to pack out?" I had to finally say "JJ, chill, give me a minute!!" And you didnt hear another word out of him, he wasn't upset, wasn't mad, just sat back there and continued to gear up. He knew it was potentially a stressfull situation and I knew then he understood that sometimes in stressfull situations you have to take some things with a grain of salt. I talked to him later and told him I was not getting on him, I just had to have a minute to get situated and he said he completely understood. That told me he was a mature young man.
I hated to hear he was leaving us, but I am glad that he is moving on to bigger and better things. I know his mom is proud and we are proud at Roseboro Fire Department of what he has done and will do in the future. I told him if he came home there would be a place for him here, and we wish him luck in the military!
