Emergency Services Chief Mabie ruled in fair and stable condition after medical situation during presentation to board of supervisors

After appearing early in Tuesday morning’s Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting to be officially recognized as his approaching mandated-by-age retirement arrives at the end of the calendar year, the County’s first Fire & Rescue Chief Richard Mabie returned to the podium to address the need for an across-departmental upgrade to the County’s emergency services and law enforcement radio system.

With Sheriff Mark Butler out of the room, Mabie took the lead in presenting an overview of the recommended system upgrade through the Motorola Company. But Mabie soon appeared to be struggling and as staff came to his assistance, the emergency services chief said, “I’m okay” though that appeared to be debatable. As Chief Mabie was led back to a seat Board Chairman Walt Mabe recessed the meeting for 10 minutes as the chief was attended to.

At left, Fire & Rescue Chief Richard Mabie is assisted from podium by Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico after medical emergency at outset of presentation on new emergency services/law enforcement radio system upgrade. Royal Examiner Photo

When the meeting reconvened, County Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico, who had been one of the first to the chief’s side, took over the presentation, aided by the Sheriff’s Office Major Driskill. And after the myriad operational and cost dynamics were explained in detail by county staff and Motorola representatives, the board unanimously approved the approximately million-dollar upgrade to replace emergency services radio communications equipment reaching end of life stages after approaching a decade of use.

In prefacing her motion to approve the purchase, Board Vice-Chair Cheryl Cullers pointed out that the final $1,000,809 price tag on the variety of necessary equipment replacements including in house, as well as on the road, cross-departmental and cross-jurisdictional enabled equipment was down from an originally estimated cost of $2,728,520. She lauded staff in all involved departments for their work in finding options to reduce the total cost.

Motorola rep at podium and WCSO and F&R personnel present the case for a million-dollar upgrade to those departments’ radio systems. With public safety a core governmental function, the supervisors unanimously approved the request. Royal Examiner Photo by Roger Bianchini

However, one of those staff, Chief Mabie, wasn’t present to hear approval of the million-dollar funding expenditure he had reminded the supervisors during their expression of appreciation for his 25 years of service to the county, he was there to lobby them one last time for to facilitate optimum emergency service operations to the community.

Following the supervisors adjournment to a multi-topic Closed Session at 12:02 p.m., we contacted the Emergency Services Office and eventually Fire Marshal Maiatico for an update on Chief Mabie’s condition. Maiatico told Royal Examiner that the chief had experienced a medical issue as he addressed the supervisors, had been transported to Warren Memorial Hospital, evaluated and was listed in fair and stable condition.

Maiatico noted that Mabie had been out the previous day due to being “under the weather” but had felt the presentation on the emergency communications radio equipment important enough to appear in support of Tuesday. Maiatico noted that the chief had tested negative for COVID-19 and appeared to have had a blood pressure issue related to a pre-existing condition.

Royal Examiner wishes Chief Mabie a speedy recovery – and a long and relaxing retirement, though the chief told the board somewhat emotionally during acknowledgement of his service and pending retirement, “This is really nice – I don’t want to go. I love you guys,” Mabie said turning toward staff present behind him, “I’m going to miss coming to work every day.

Chief Mabie gets rousing hand after emotionally considering his coming retirement. Royal Examiner Photo by Roger Bianchini – Royal Examiner Video by Mark Williams

“I’ll find something to do – I may volunteer,” he added drawing some laughter, and then rousing applause from staff, which rose to their feet to bid the chief farewell.