At the American Legion Department of Louisiana Convention held in Alexandria from June 8 to 11, Firefighter and Safety Officer Shawn O’Quinn of the Jennings Fire Department was recognized as the American Legion Department of Louisiana (state-level) Firefighter of the Year. He was nominated for this state-level award by the Jennings Fire Department, James O. Hall Post 19, and the Department of Louisiana 7th District.
Shawn was a Junior Firefighter as a member of Boy Scout Explorer Post 65 in Jennings while in a student at Iota High School. After his high school graduation, he joined the Jennings Fire Department as a Volunteer Firefighter for 4 years. He became a full-time Firefighter on October 3, 1988.
Shawn has worked as a Firefighter 1 and 2, First Responder, Hazardous Materials Specialist (trained in awareness and operations), Hazardous Materials Technician, Mud Diver, Instructor I, Officer I, CPR Instructor, Emergency Medical Technician and Safety Officer.
Shawn is a trained Pyrotechnics Technician who has supervised all of the fireworks demonstrations for the city of Jennings for many years.
Shawn has been a member of the Jennings Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board, as the Fire Department Representative, for a total of 11 years, and he is currently serving as the Board’s Chairman. As a member of that Board he oversees the personnel actions affecting all members of both the Jennings Fire Department and the Jennings Police Department.
For the last 17 years Shawn has spearheaded the Jennings Fire Department’s annual barbecue fundraiser whose proceeds go to purchase supplies and equipment for which the city of Jennings is not able to provide funding. These supplies and equipment help to make the department a better organization.
