Beyond The Call of Duty

By Jackson Blaze Staff

JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. — Three heroes were honored by the Scottsboro City Council, Police Chief Ralph Dawe, and Fire Chief Gene Necklaus, for their actions above and beyond the call of duty.
Lt. Landon Baker of the Scottsboro Fire Department, Robert Shook of the Jackson County Rescue Squad and Sgt. Brian Eakin of the Scottsboro Police Department received Life Saving Awards tonight.
Sgt. Brian Eakin is an 18 year veteran of the Scottsboro Police Department. He started working for the Hollywood Police Department and joined the Scottsboro Police Department in 2002. He was promoted to Sergeant in the Patrol Division in 2014.
On the night of January 27, 2020, Sgt. Eakin was responding to an alarm call at Scottsboro Gun and Pawn, which is owned by Mr. Shook. While on the scene, the call came out about a large fire at the County Park Marina. It was reported that multiple people were in the water. Sgt. Eakin and Mr. Shook immediately went to the Rescue Squad headquarters and loaded one of the rescue boats. They traveled to Jackson County Park and put the boat in the water and began rescue operations. At the time, they were in and around the engulfed marina and other boats on fire floating in the water. They saved 7 lives that night. A little known fact about that night is that when the rescue boat they were using was returned to the bay, the Rescue Squad captain found that the seats were partially melted from the intense heat that Mr. Shook and Sgt. Eakin was so close to. 
The actions of Sgt. Eakin and Mr. Shook, as well as Lt. Baker, who braved the frigid waters to save lives as well, exemplifies everything that is good about public service. Their actions have made them heroes, and deserve our respect.