ROY SHACKEL
FIREFIGHTER EXTRAORDINAIRE
Roy Shackel , a paramedic , came to Gilroy in 1979 as field supervisor for Medevac . While here , he found himself growing fond not only of the people that he worked with but the community in general . So , in 1990 , when a part-time position in the Gilroy Fire Department opened up , Roy jumped on board and he ’ s never looked back . In 1996 he became a full-time firefighter with the city and today he serves as the Administrative Captain at the Fire Department ’ s headquarters on Chestnut Street .
Being able to carry on a strong tradition of excellence in the city ’ s Emergency Management Organization ( EMO ), which is one of the finest in Santa Clara County , is a source of pride for Shackel . Some of the areas that the EMO deals with include Earthquake Preparedness Training and an Outreach Program for community based and non-profit organizations . Shackel mentions St . Joseph ’ s Family Center as the primary provider of food assistance in the entire South County and notes how important their role is in the event of a major disaster . Helping them remain resilent is one of the main goals of the EMO .
When asked what he likes about his job , he notes “ the people I get to work with — the fire , police and city staffs . We have some of the greatest people and I consider myself extremely lucky ; the relationships are so good .”
W I N T E R / H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 2 G I L R O Y T O D A Y 31