The Murrell Family of Flint llistens to first response agency leaders at the inagural First Responders Day at the North Tenneha Church of Christ on Saturday April, 8 in Tyler. (LouAnna Campbell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Anthony Timms holds several titles at Dogan Middle School. Timms is not only an English and language arts teacher, he’s a coach, and a Boys 2 Men sponsor. Saturday afternoon, Timms brought four of his students to the North Tenneha Church of Christ for some fellowship and community engagement with local law enforcement and first responders.

“This is a way for them to have a better relationship with law enforcement,” Timms said. “It’s a way for me to teach them to become more involved in their community and church.”

The inaugural First Responders Day was the vision of North Tenneha Church of Christ pastor Kennon D. Olison Sr.

“We’re really trying to reach out to the community to support the city,” the Rev. Olison said. “I keep hearing that tensions are high with first responders and we wanted to ease those tensions for patrol officers that protect us.”

Over 200 people gathered in the gym of the church to hear about from first response agencies in Tyler and Smith County. EMS Director Neal Franklin, Tyler Police Chief Jimmy Toler, Constable Precinct 1 Henry Jackson, Councilman Ed Moore, Sheriff Larry Smith and Tyler City Fire Chief David Coble were on hand to speak to the crowd.

Each agency leader spoke about their role in the community, how the agency is staffed and what the agency does to support the communities they work for. Chief Coble introduced firemen from Fire Station 4, the station closest to North Tenneha Church of Christ.

“We don’t look for accolades,” Chief Coble said. “I’ll also be speaking with Tyler ISD and working with them to get young people interested in being civil servants and preparing them for life as a first responder if that’s what they want to do.”

The Rev. Olison tied a red, white and blue ribbon on the fence of the church parking to represent the church’s love and care for the first responders who work in the community.

Response vehicles to include the Smith County armored response vehicle and the ETMC helicopter were in the parking lot. Kids and adults took their turns sitting in the vehicles and talking with officers, paramedics and firemen about their vehicles and jobs.

“Events like this help the community understand our roles and what we go through to do our jobs,” Tyler Police Officer B. Steinmiller said. “It’s a way to educate the public and it puts them in our shoes for a little while.”