Ozark Profile : CEMS assistant chief has service in his blood
Posted on Monday, June 9, 2008
Steve Harrison has grown accustomed to life on the go.
Prior to becoming assistant chief for Central Emergency Medical Service, the 44-year-old served in almost every capacity of emergency services available. The adrenaline rush, coupled with the satisfaction of helping others, was enough keep Harrison hooked for life.
“ A lot of times in the emergency response field, you see people at their worst, ” he said. “ Then, sometimes down the road, you see them again and they’ve recovered. It makes you realize that you’ve made a difference in that person’s life. That’s the rewarding part about it. ”
The West Fork native was raised on hard work and responsibility. His parents instilled a work ethic in him and his two younger brothers through their own example. His father worked as a carpenter / cabinet builder, while his mom worked in retail. Harrison started his first job at the age of 12, working on a chicken farm by choice. By the time he could drive, he went to work for longtime West Fork fire Chief Mitch McCorkle. He and several other public service figures, including Fayetteville police Chief Greg Tabor and Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder and Chief Deputy Jay Cantrell, spent their afternoons shoveling hay, milking cows and performing routine chores. At 16, Harrison went to work as a volunteer firefighter for the West Fork Fire Department. “ Back then, the only way we were notified was by phone, ” he recalled. “ I remember my mom used to always wake me up in the middle of the night so I could go fight fires. I’m sure it made her nervous, but both of my parents were always very supportive and proud. ” After high school, Harrison worked as an electrician’s assistant while attend ing emergency medical technician school. He also worked as a jailer, dispatcher and part-time patrol officer for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to developing his occupational strengths, Harrison said, his vast work experience helped shape his future. “ Every person I’ve worked for has taught me about work ethic, ” he said. “ They’ve taught me how to be a good employee, how to conduct business and how to be a good person. Some of the supervisory traits I learned back then probably make me easier to get along with now. ”
Central EMS Dispatch Supervisor / Capt. Samantha Paul said Harrison’s priorities have always been clearly defined. “ He has a wonderful sense of humor, but when it’s time to work it’s time to work, ” she said. “ He’s demanding but fair and clear. You always know where you stand with him. I know I can come to him with anything, anytime, because he’s very approachable. ”
Harrison initially went to work for Central EMS part time in 1983. Three years later, he signed on to a fulltime position.
“ I really enjoyed being a paramedic, ” he said. “ I like the atmosphere and I like the people. I also like interacting with the community. That’s probably one of my favorite things about this job. I’ve never been one who wants to sit behind a desk all day. ”
Though he’s witnessed numerous crises, Harrison recalls one experience that will stick with him forever.
“ It was in the early ’ 90 s, and I was one of the tactical rescue team leaders, ” he said. “ We had a patient stuck in a cave at Devil’s Den. It took us several hours to extricate him. There were times when we weren’t sure if he’d lose consciousness. ”
Harrison said the victim — a football player at Springdale High School — was stuck in an awkward position, forcing emergency responders to improvise.
“ Because of the way he was stuck and the close working conditions, we had to use a device not normally used for people. It’s normally used on large trucks, ” he said. “ We used it to form a makeshift pulley to keep him from sliding back down. I know he was terrified at times because we weren’t getting anywhere. It was a very time-consuming rescue. ”
In the end, Harrison said, the teenage victim walked away without injury.
The incident added another notch to Harrison’s already broad range of experiences at Central EMS.
Rising to the position of assistant chief, however, didn’t happen overnight. Prior to his current position, Harrison served as an EMT, shift lieutenant, fleet manager, captain, dispatch supervisor and operations supervisor.
“ He has a knowledge for everything, ” Paul said. “ We’ve worked together for 15 years, and during that time he’s taught me so much. ”
Both Paul and other coworkers describe Harrison as loyal.
“ He definitely provides stability and direction, ” Central EMS Chief Becky Stewart said. “ He’s been at Central for over 20 years. He’s certainly been a part of every phase. He’s very loyal but has a pretty tough outer shell. Above all, he cares about his employees and the organization. ”
Though his work is his passion, Harrison admits that his biggest priority is his family.
He and his wife, Janice, started dating in high school. The childhood sweethearts married before the age of 20 and went on to have two children and two grandchildren.
“ My wife has dealt with pagers from the very beginning, ” Harrison said. “ We started dating when I worked for the West Fork Fire Department. There’s been a radio on my bedside table ever since. ”
Despite the long hours and late-night emergencies, Harrison said, his family has always been supportive of his career.
“ My wife is used to me jumping out of bed in the middle of the night to respond to calls, ” he said. “ There have been nights when I spend more time going in and out of the house than I spend at home. ”
Harrison admits that his busy work schedule didn’t stop him from coaching his kids’ softball and baseball teams, though he wishes he could have spent even more time with them growing up.
“ I was gone a lot when they were young because I was working 24-hour shifts, ” he said. “ As you grow older, you look back and see the things you would have done differently. ”
As assistant chief, Harrison’s work schedule is slightly more accommodating to his family.
When he’s not managing employees, he spends time doing the things he enjoys — being with family, riding his Harley-Davidson, building houses, driving four-wheelers, hunting and fishing.
“ I live on the same piece of property that I grew up on, and the rest of my family lives about one or two stone’s throws away, ” he said. “ We see each other almost every day. During the summer, we cook out together all the time. The kids are always at the house, so I spend as much time with my two grandkids as possible. We all have fun together. ”
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