SAVANNAH, GA – January 20, 2022 – Two of Savannah’s exceptional first responders will be honored Thursday, Feb. 10, by the Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire. While one is a firefighter and the other a police officer, they both heroically risked their lives with no reluctance to keep others safe
During the annual Tak Argentinis Valor Awards ceremony at the Charles H. Morris Center in downtown Savannah, the club and its supporters will recognize Fire Engineer Jeremy Kemp of the Savannah Fire Department and Officer Peter Suppa of the Savannah Police Department.
Kemp was nominated by Fire Chief Derik Minard for his actions during a house fire that was set by a man in the midst of a psychotic episode who then refused to exit the burning structure. While crews worked to extinguish the blaze, Kemp made his way through thick smoke and found a despondent man sitting on a bed, rambling and seemingly confused.
Despite the unpredictability of the situation, Kemp stayed and eventually convinced the man to leave the room with him. As they crawled through flames and stifling black smoke, though, the man collapsed and Kemp carried him the rest of the way. Once outside, Kemp tended to the medical needs of the man, who survived.
Suppa was nominated by Police Chief Roy W. Minter for his actions during a March 2021 domestic violence incident in which a child and his grandmother were in danger. A 12-year-old child had called police and reported that he and his grandmother had barricaded themselves in a room because his grandfather was shooting at them and threatening to kill them. Suppa arrives on the scene first and took immediate action, fearing it would be too late if he waited for specialized units to arrive.
He entered the home to find the child and his grandmother peeking out from behind a door riddled with bullet holes. He instructed them to stay in the room as he continued on in search of the suspect. Suppa and another officer who had arrived by then found the man lying in another bedroom and took him into custody. He had a gun under his pillow and a live round in his pocket. Police later learned the man is a convicted felon who previously was incarcerated for shooting his wife. The child and his grandmother were unharmed.
The honorees were selected for the awards by a committee of law enforcement and fire command officers, according to Club President Mark Dana. Nominations were received from the 20 counties that comprise the Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire’s support area. The award recipients each will receive a plaque and a medal of valor.
“The 200 Club’s main mission is to support first responders and their families in case of death or critical injuries in the line of duty. Everything we do as an organization is to serve these local heroes who make sacrifices to keep our community safe,” Dana said. “That is why we must recognize first responders who display great acts of valor in the face of danger and put others’ safety before themselves. We hope this award is a symbol of our sincere appreciation for these brave individuals’ service.”
Tickets to the Valor Awards are $25 and include entry to the awards ceremony and heavy appetizers. To reserve your seat, please visit https://twohundredclub.org/club-events/#.
The Two Hundred Club is a 501(c) (3) organization who “cares for those who care for us” by providing for the surviving spouses and dependents of first responders who have lost their lives or sustained critical injuries in the line of duty. The organization serves a 20-county area within Georgia and South Carolina. All proceeds from this event will directly support the families of fallen heroes. The Two Hundred Club provides a significant one-time financial contribution to the surviving family members and provides a fully paid college education – including tuition, room and board, textbooks, and a computer – to a fallen first responder’s children and spouse. To date, the organization has given over $3.5 million to families and have become a respected voice of the community’s appreciation for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. For more information, go to www.twohundredclub.org, call 912-721-4418 or email info@twohundredclub.org
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