At first glance Gregory Beni seems like the strong, quiet type — but just wait for the fire alarm.
When he joined the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department 13 years ago, Chief Marvin Riggins saw a man ready to put the “fight” in firefighter.
“He showed he was a very aggressive firefighter,” Riggins said.
Beni proved his mettle at the busy Station No. 5 on Second Street near downtown Macon.
With just a handful of years on the job, he and four others earned a Valor Award from the Georgia State Firefighters Association, the same organization that voted him the 2016 Company Office of the Year.
What seemed like a simple rescue call about people being trapped in an elevator turned into a potential disaster.
“Myself and four others pretty much stopped an elevator from falling with three people inside,” Beni said recently at his current firehouse on Forsyth Road. “It was one of those things where it got serious pretty quickly.”
Riggins kept his eye on Beni and promoted him to sergeant a couple years later.
With the exodus of dozens of long-tenured firefighters in the past year, Riggins tapped Beni, 44, to become a lieutenant earlier this year.
He now supervises the firefighters of Engine 3 on his shift.
“I’m glad to see officers, like Greg, who stepped up to do the job,” Riggins said. “He goes about doing his business, and he’s focused on being a good public servant, not looking for a lot of accolades or honors, but is always asking ‘What’s the next thing we can do? Let’s get it done.’ ”
Beni, who has two daughters in high school and another starting college, believes in preparing himself for the next rung on the ladder. He trains continually for the next opportunity.
“Learn the job that’s in front of you, that next job up, so it will be easier for you,” Beni said in the firehouse kitchen where he only occasionally cooks.
He grew up in Macon, the son of law enforcement officer Frank Beni, who talked his son out of following in his footsteps.
After working distributing magazines across Middle Georgia, Gregory Beni became a firefighter in 2003.
“I’ve always loved the fire department,” he said. “I just enjoy helping people.”
Sgt. J.D. Finney Jr. is one of the men Beni supervises.
“He’s just a great overall guy,” Finney said. “He knows the job very well and he has great leadership skills. Great to work with and a great man for the award.”
Firefighters in the association from all over the state cast ballots for this year’s awards, which included Rookie of the Year for Warner Robins firefighter Isaac Garcia.
Both men and other award winners will be recognized at the association’s annual conference next month in Augusta and during firefighter recognition events at the Georgia Capitol during next year’s legislative session.
Riggins said the recognition boosts the whole department.
“We are one of over 600 fire departments in the state of Georgia and for one of ours to be selected by peers ... is huge for us,” Riggins said. “That makes me feel really, really good that our officers are among the elite.”
When issuing the Company Officer of the Year award, the firefighters association seeks nominees who exemplify leadership, initiative and motivation of a next-generation leader who serves as a mentor to all.
Beni said the award is not his own.
“I can’t take all the credit. From the command staff all the way down to the low man, they all play a part,” he said. “I was very surprised. There’s a bunch of great guys on this department that do a good job, and it’s amazing I got picked.”
Liz Fabian: 478-744-4303, @liz_lines
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©2016 The Macon Telegraph (Macon, Ga.)
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