GREENSBORO, N.C. -- While many Americans spend Thanksgiving around a table, first responders are still at work.
- Police officers, 911 operators, and others come to work every day, including holidays.
- Workers say it can take some adjusting to work holidays
- Restaurants and churches around the area also offer Thanksgiving meals to on-duty first responders.
Police officers, 911 operators, and others come to work every day, including holidays.
Kellie Zimmerman, the assistant supervisor at Guilford Metro 911, says for many it's just another Thursday.
"We're always here. 365, 24 hours a day. Our service never goes down," Zimmerman said. "Just knowing that if anybody needs help that there's somebody here to help them, and that the quality of services that someone gets does not go down just because of a particular time of day or year."
Lieutenant James Golden of the Greensboro Police Department agreed.
"We're going to do our job regardless of whether it's a holiday, whether it's a weekend, whether it's a night because, again, crime doesn't stop and our services don't stop no matter what," he said.
Golden said it can take adjusting to work holidays, but most celebrate with their families on other days. Restaurants and churches around the area also offer Thanksgiving meals to on-duty first responders.
He said the day usually ramps up for them once the shopping starts. Even though he's away from family, he's not bitter about the shift.
"I've never talked to a single officer or employee of this agency who was upset because they had to work any holiday. Again, we know it's something that's part of the job, and we don't mind doing it," Golden said.