Local Justice: Emergency Preparedness & Innovation with David Garner
In this episode of Local Justice, host Ben Leader sits down with David Garner, the Assistant County Manager for York County. With over a decade of experience in local government administration, David oversees crucial public safety components including fire services, emergency management, 911 communications, IT, and GIS systems.
David shares his deep native South Carolina roots and his family legacy in public safety, which inspired him to start as a volunteer firefighter at age 15 and spend over 10 years working as a paramedic. He details how his field-level experience seamlessly informs his current administrative role within York County’s county manager form of government. The conversation pulls back the curtain on the intense planning required before disasters strike, the operational reality of how 911 dispatchers act as real-time lifelines while coordinating units, and how York County uses historical data sets and predictive modeling software to position emergency resources. David also highlights his top priorities for unifying fire services and strengthening emergency partnerships to guarantee an equal standard of response care for every citizen across the county.
Local Justice is a community-focused series by Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys, hosted by attorney Ben Leader, highlighting legal topics and the people making a difference in York County and surrounding areas.