The Tallahassee City Commission and Mayor Andrew Gillum have given the Keys to the City to its first responders. Local law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel received the honor Wednesday.
Gillum says it’s a good time to reintroduce a tradition—the Keys to the City program. And he says the city’s first responders deserve the honor. Late last year, two high-profile shootings shook Tallahassee. An armed gunman opened fire at Florida State University’s Strozier Library, injuring three students—one severely. Two days later, Leon County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a house fire, only to be ambushed by a gunman who was later killed in a shootout.
“It’s my hope that we’ll, on an annual basis recognize citizens who show and demonstrate extraordinary service, extraordinary courage in the duty in their jobs and service to the community," Gillum says. "And there’s no better way to kick off this tradition—the reintroduction of this tradition, than by this recognition today.”
Leon County Sheriffs Deputy Chris Smith was killed in the shootout on Caracas Court. FSU Student Ronnie Ahmed, who was paralyzed from the waist down in the shooting at Strozier Library, recently returned to the university to complete his degree.
