After listening to the testimony by Baxley Police Department officers, Appling County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Appling County Emergency personnel at a Baxley City Council meeting held last week about the events that took place on December 26 at a local dance club, these men and women are to be commended for their efforts. In what could only be described as a “nightmarish scene” by some of the officers and EMTs, local public safety officials had the job of going into a situation at the club that left one dead and two others injured as the result of gunfire.

It was estimated that there were approximately 1,000 people at the club when the shootings occurred and many of the club attendees were probably trying to leave the club as medical personnel and law enforcement were trying to get to the club. As reported in last week’s issue, one ambulance was not able to get in the parking area to assist one of the victims. The victim was actually loaded in a law enforcement vehicle and taken to Appling HealthCare for treatment.

One of the officers giving testimony was Major Lee Sweat of the Appling County Sheriff’s Department. Sweat stated that after he arrived in town, from his home, he felt that law enforcement did not have control of the city and additional units were called in including law enforcement from Jeff Davis County and the City of Graham. Sweat stated that this was an awful feeling.

Following the shootings, hordes of people from the club gathered at other areas in the city including Appling HealthCare, convenience store parking lots and local restaurants. A call was given to clear the city and law enforcement did an outstanding job clearing the city.

Many of the officials that testified at the council meeting felt that if it were not for the efforts of law enforcement, the incident could have erupted into an even more deadly situation. For restoring the peace in an out of control situation, our law enforcement and emergency personnel are to be commended for doing an outstanding job.