Saying thank you to Harrison County’s first responders

The annual Harrison County First Responders Appreciation Dinner saluted the Biloxi Fire Department for its response to the fatal train/bus collision earlier this year and first responders throughout the county.

More than 800 people attended the dinner at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, many of them first responders in their dress uniforms. Keesler Federal Credit Union and the Beau Rivage sponsored the event, which will be repeated for first responders in Hancock and Jackson counties.

“It was awesome,” said Biloxi Fire Chief Joe Boney, who accepted the award on behalf of the entire department. A winner was chosen by every police and fire department in the county for the work they did throughout the year or on a single incident or investigation, such as breaking up a car theft ring or helping solve a pharmacy break-in that led to solving 14 break-ins across the Gulf Coast.

Andy Swoger, president of Keesler Federal Credit Union, said the scenes from Texas after Hurricane Harvey are reminders of the courage of first responders. “In every branch of public safety — law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel — these unselfish men and women put their lives at risk to protect us, and Keesler Federal and Beau Rivage are proud honor these everyday heroes,” he said.

This story was originally published September 1, 2017 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Saying thank you to Harrison County’s first responders."