The Norman Fire Department recently received more than $10,000 in grant funding from the Dickey Foundation. The grant will be used to purchase new helmets for first responders, improving safety during active threat situations, according to the City of Norman.
On Monday, key figures gathered at Fire Station 7 to celebrate a grant award, including Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Betsy Orton, executive director of the Foundation, and Gary Snider, the Norman franchise owner. Orton shared the Foundation’s dedication to supporting front-line workers, recalling a tragic event in 2016 when a gunman attacked officers in Dallas, as reported by the City of Norman. "At that point," Orton said, “Mrs. Dickey said, ‘Not again on my watch.’”
Laura Rea Dickey expressed her support for community heroes, saying, "You’re first in the front lines. You take care of us, so, in a very small way, this is our thank you to you." She emphasized the importance of showing appreciation to those who risk their lives for public safety, as mentioned by the City of Norman.
The new Safariland Tactical Helmets will provide additional protection for emergency responders in high-risk situations. Assistant Chief Chad Roney explained that once a threat is neutralized, police, firefighters, and EMS teams can enter and provide immediate care, helping to stabilize and evacuate victims more quickly. "This gear allows us to go safely into these ‘warm’ zones and get those victims out as fast as possible," Roney said. Norman City Manager Darrel Pyle also noted the importance of the grant, saying it benefits not just the Fire Department, but also the broader community and partnering agencies. With limited budgets, grants from organizations like the Dickey's Foundation help essential departments obtain necessary equipment that may otherwise be out of reach, as stated by the City of Norman.
