City firefighters can now bear an emblem for mental health on their helmets after the department’s first officer suicide.
It’s a way for firefighters to keep the fallen officer close to them; it’s a reminder for them to take care of themselves, said Shawn Weeks, president of Local 1891, which represents Boynton’s paramedics and firefighters.
“We look at him as guiding us ... there’s a bigger picture,” said Weeks, who noted the symbol represents mental health as a whole, not only suicide. “It should be a constant awareness, of, this is real.”
The city’s interim fire chief, Matt Petty, signed off Jan. 7 on the emblem. If they choose, firefighters can put the sticker on their helmets - the symbol includes the fallen officer’s last name and a green ribbon supporting open dialogue about mental health.