Florida Public Utilities Company Honors Joey Voyard
By Bonnie Erdek, Community & Contracts Administrator
Readers, I wish to tell you the story of a hero …
At 10 PM on Sunday, September 16th, the West Palm Beach Police Department telephoned Joey Voyard, Client Services Manager, to report a homicide in the vicinity of our South Florida Operations Center. The police had a suspect in custody who, at this point, was disclaiming any knowledge of the alleged shooting. In the course of their preliminary investigation, detectives noted that surveillance cameras were present at the South Florida Operations Center. Joey grabbed his laptop and equipment and met the detectives at the station. The police hoped that FPU’s cameras were viable and, naturally, assumed that Joey would have to accompany them to the Operations facility to view the footage. Not only was it established that the cameras were functional but Joey explained that he could pull up the footage remotely, for viewing at the police station. It was at this point, that the seven detectives gave Joey the moniker of “rock star”, insisting he take the best plastic chair in the room! FPU’s cameras revealed the suspect who was being detained was, indeed, the shooter; his vehicle clearly evident as he leapt in it and was sped away from scene of the gunfire by his driver/accomplice. A chase ensued and the perpetrator ended up crashing his car into a concrete pillar 800 yards from the WPB PD! After midnight, Joey left, promising to provide a copy of the footage as video evidence, which will be used in the criminal murder trial. He will also furnish a detailed report that will serve as a “chain of evidence” to further assist the District Attorney’s office.
Wait, there’s a second chapter …
A well-guarded secret is that Joey also hails as an EMT. Having completed training, he served as a volunteer with West Palm Beach’s Fire Department and was an ambulance driver. His training proved invaluable when he rapidly assessed the state of a co-worker in medical distress. Joey’s quick, mechanical, response enabled him to keep the employee engaged while assessing vital signs and was able to give the EMTs a cohesive report upon their arrival. Realizing that it would be difficult to enter the Fire Department on a full-time basis without an extensive wait, Joey left the medical emergency field to pursue a career that would expand on his hobby and nourish a true passion – computers! He has utilized his medical training at least six times since he left the field, including the delivery of two babies!
Joey is regarded as a model by his fellow employees and friends. Admired for his noble qualities and distinguished ability, the WPB PD has joined ranks with the many who consider him a source of credit, truly held in public esteem. Too bad for the rest of you … we’re going to keep him and proudly call him our own!
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