SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2016 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 428
Commending Larry Shifflett.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 8, 2016
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2016

 

WHEREAS, Larry Shifflett, who has provided outstanding leadership as Chief of the Harrisonburg Fire Department for 33 years, safeguarding the lives and property of the residents of the Shenandoah Valley city, will retire on August 1, 2016; and

WHEREAS, in 1961, Larry Shifflett became a volunteer member of the Harrisonburg Fire Department and was assigned to Hose Company No. 4; as a child, he had enjoyed accompanying his father, who was assistant fire chief, to the firehouse; and

WHEREAS, Larry Shifflett has been a professional firefighter for 47 years; he was hired in 1969 as a full-time firefighter with the Harrisonburg Fire Department and was promoted to lieutenant in 1978; he was made captain in 1982 and chief in 1983; and

WHEREAS, Larry Shifflett was the Harrisonburg Fire Department’s first fire inspector and hazardous materials officer; he also was the first emergency medical services officer and self-contained breathing apparatus officer for the department, which has grown from 20 employees and two fire stations to nearly 100 employees and four fire stations; and

WHEREAS, during Larry Shifflett’s career, he organized a state-recognized hazardous materials team in the early 1980s, a state-recognized technical rescue team in the late 1980s, and through his dedicated efforts, the City of Harrisonburg has been recently reclassified a Class 2 through the Insurance Services Office, the second-highest possible rating; and

WHEREAS, Larry Shifflett’s work also has included innovative fire-safety programs; he started monthly fire-safety classes for third-grade and seventh-grade pupils in the Harrisonburg Public Schools, and today, all high school students undergo fire-safety training as well; and

WHEREAS, with a large college-age population in Harrisonburg, Larry Shifflett developed Fireproof University, which has trained thousands of college students in fire safety; members of the fire department were subsequently asked to participate in developing a national curriculum based on the program; and

WHEREAS, for the past 12 years, members of the Harrisonburg Fire Department have sponsored the popular Smoke Alarm Pizza Delivery event, where firefighters deliver free pizzas in exchange for checking a residence’s smoke detectors and have ensured that thousands of homes have working smoke detectors; and

WHEREAS, Larry Shifflett has stressed the importance of regional cooperation for first responders; he created a regional training center and training committee, and he also played a major role in establishing a consolidated communications center; and

WHEREAS, Larry Shifflett, who has received numerous accolades and awards during his career, is respected by his colleagues for the dedication and the care he shows to his employees; he sees that the members of the Harrisonburg Fire Department are well-trained, have the support they need, and are equipped with the best equipment possible; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Larry Shifflett, Chief of the Harrisonburg Fire Department, on the occasion of his retirement in 2016; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Larry Shifflett as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect and admiration for his many years of tireless work to protect and serve the people of Harrisonburg.