Jackson Fire Chief Darryl W. Samuels retired as Chief of the Jackson Fire Department, and Don Friddle was sworn in during a ceremony and reception at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, Wednesday.

Samuels, who joined the Jackson Fire Department in 1975, was appointed as interim fire chief by then-Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist, Sept. 1, 2018.

Gist left the hiring of a permanent chief to Scott Conger, who became Mayor of Jackson, July 1, 2019.

“One of the greatest personal achievements  I’ve had as Mayor,” Conger said, “It is my honor today, to recognize Chief Samuels for his many years of service to the Jackson Fire Department.

“He has devoted his entire life to public safety and firefighters who risk their lives to protect ours.”

Samuels has certifications with the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and Public Safety Telecommunicators (PST).

He has been an APCO PST instructor, and he is past board chair of the Madison County Emergency Communications District and has held memberships with APCO, Tennessee Emergency Numbers Association (TENA), and National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA).

“All decisions must be based on principle,” Samuels said, “They may not be the decision you like, it may not be the decision the rank and file likes, but it should be based on principles of truth and fact.”

Samuels, who had his employee No. 1143 retired, will be replaced by Don Friddle, who became The City of Jackson’s Deputy Chief of Operations for the Jackson Fire Department, Dec. 1, 2019.

Friddle, a Jackson resident since 1990, has approximately 35 years of firefighting experience, including Fire Marshal and District Chief with the city of Jackson from 1992-2004 – volunteer service and later fulltime – with the Madison County Fire Department.

“We have a passion for taking care of others,” Friddle said, “We put others before ourselves. We have a strong work ethic. We actually have a ‘Do not quit’ attitude.

“We understand the risk involved in this business, but yet, we do the job anyway.”