Dalton Public Safety Commission Adds New Member, Honors First Responders

  • Tuesday, January 22, 2019

The Dalton Public Safety Commission’s first meeting of 2019 began with the addition of a new commission member. Anthony Walker, a manager with Engineered Floors in Dalton, was sworn in to replace departed commission member Carlos Calderin whose term expired last year.

Mr. Walker is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., and a graduate of Auburn University where he studied accounting. Walker moved to Dalton to work with the flooring industry 15 years ago.

He is a manager in the sample division for Engineered Floors.

“As [my wife and I] got settled into the community we figured, well, we’re going to stay for a while and we ought to do community service to help with the community and better where our children are going to be,” Mr. Walker said when explaining why he wanted to join the Public Safety Commission which oversees the operation of both Dalton’s police and fire departments as well as alcoholic beverage licensing in the city.

Mr. Walker says that he came to the commission with a positive impression of Dalton’s public safety agencies.

“My impression before was that they seem like they have a lot of things that they’re doing and a lot of things that they’re doing correctly,” Mr. Walker said after Tuesday morning’s meeting. “As I get involved and see a lot more… I think that they’re going to be if not already one of the best units out here in the state of Georgia and hopefully nationally, then we can move forward nationally to be nationally ranked as a better unit where people can look at Dalton and say, ‘we can use their guidelines for our neighborhoods and our communities.’”

 

Firefighter of the Year Recognized

 

Dalton Fire Chief Todd Pangle presented Engineer Dale Reed for recognition as the DFD’s Firefighter of the Year. Engineer Reed received the honor thanks to a vote by his fellow firefighters.

 

During his remarks to the Public Safety Commission, Chief Pangle noted that Engineer Reed was involved in two incidents in 2018 that led to his unit being recognized with unit citations. In one case, Engineer Reed was part of a team of firefighters responding to a large fire at the Park Canyon apartment complex and helped to rescue a woman who was stranded by the blaze on her second floor balcony. In the second, the company worked together to rescue a man who was caught in flash flood waters in a Dalton creek.

 

Officer Honored For Life Saving Effort

 

Also at Tuesday morning’s meeting, Officer Caleb Morang was presented the Dalton Police Department’s Life Saving Award. Chief Cliff Cason gave Morang the award for his response to a car crash in September 2018.

Officer Morang was on his way home from his shift when he heard a call dispatched of a crash on the Dalton bypass near Cleveland Highway. Morang responded and was the first officer on scene. When he arrived he found a car with several injured children. He immediately began to provide first aid and CPR to a six year old boy who was the most severely hurt. While providing life-saving care to the child, Officer Morang also relayed information about the scene to other responding officers and helped to coordinate the response to the scene. The six year old victim spent the next months in critical condition but was later removed from life support and was able to be taken home with his family in late December.

New Officer Joins DPD

Chief Cason also presented the DPD’s newest officer to the commission for confirmation. Officer Timothy Cameron McCarver joined the police department earlier this month after completing the police academy in December.

Officer McCarver is a 2012 graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School. Officer McCarver previously worked for the Murray County Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer in the jail. He is now taking part in the department’s field training program in which he will ride with and be trained and evaluated by experienced officers before earning his solo status.

Latest Headlines
Happenings
Michael Gerard Receives American Police Hall Of Fame Civilian Medal Of Appreciation
Michael Gerard Receives American Police Hall Of Fame Civilian Medal Of Appreciation
  • 3/18/2024

Collegedale officers responded to Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove on Sept. 21, 2023, after receiving a report of a missing elderly resident with dementia. The patient had left the facility approximately ... more

New Hamilton County Marriage Licenses
  • 3/18/2024

Here are the new marriage licenses from the County Clerk's office: SCOTT EDWARD KELLEY JAIMIE LYNN PASTORI 2205 JAMES AVE 4203 TENNESSEE AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374156511 CHATTANOOGA, ... more

Chief John Ross DAR Presents Gold ROTC Medal
Chief John Ross DAR Presents Gold ROTC Medal
  • 3/18/2024

Chief John Ross Chapter, NSDAR had their March meeting on the 13th, and the meeting theme was Women’s History Month. Officials said, "Chapter member, Kay Sencabaugh, presented an entertaining ... more