Officials, health leaders honor emergency service professionals killed in the line of duty

State health officer Dr. Dan Edney says it's important to recognize the inherent dangers EMS workers face in the field. 

“Whether it’s deaths that occur from people not paying attention and hitting EMS professionals on the side of the road while they're responding by speeding through an accident zone, whether it's being exposed to infectious diseases as they are caring for patients,” he said. “We've had those deaths. You name it, there are so many inherent dangers.”

Several health leaders and elected officials joined the ceremony, including Governor Tate Reeves.

“We are here to dedicate this memorial, a place of honor, a place of remembrance, and a place of reflection for Mississippi's emergency medical services professionals who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” Reeves said. “These are the men and women who responded to the call, not knowing what they would face, but knowing that someone in our state needed help. They did not hesitate. They did not falter.”

The Mississippi EMS Honor Guard commander, Eric Phillips, emotionally read out the names of the fallen, including that of Jim Spruill. 

Madison Martin, Spruiell’s daughter, recalls the weight of her father’s career.  Spruiell was a chief flight nurse who was killed in a 2017 medical helicopter crash.

“My dad passed away in the line of duty,” she said. “Being here really shows how much people care about the people that go out in the communities and into places to sacrifice their time and just to sacrifice themselves to other people. That means a lot and it means a lot that my dad and other families get to be represented here today. It makes us feel seen and heard and loved.”

Mississippi has more than 5,000 EMS professionals – including paramedics, dispatchers, flight medics and first responders. They respond to over half a million emergency calls every year.