『Chief Royce Turner: Building a Culture of Service, Safety, and Sustainability – Episode 69』のカバーアート

Chief Royce Turner: Building a Culture of Service, Safety, and Sustainability – Episode 69

Chief Royce Turner: Building a Culture of Service, Safety, and Sustainability – Episode 69

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 A Chief With a Story—and a CallingChief Turner didn’t stumble into public safety. In fact, he told me he believes he was raised into it without realizing it.He grew up in a family culture where helping people wasn’t a hobby—it was the posture. That theme showed up again and again in our conversation: service as identity, not just occupation.But before fire service ever entered the picture, Chief Turner was a sports guy. A real sports guy. He played anything with a ball and was good enough to earn a full basketball scholarship. That shaped him—teamwork, discipline, pressure, leadership, competitiveness. And like most athletes with talent, he had the same dreams a lot of young men have: NBA, NFL… something big.Then college ended.And as his mom put it, it was time to go into “the real world.”That’s where the path got interesting.He Worked Every Side of Public Safety Before Fire ServiceWhen Chief Turner says he’s been in public safety, he means it. Before becoming a firefighter, he had already worked in multiple public safety arenas:Department of CorrectionsHe started in corrections, working at a facility in Hall County known for housing young offenders—young people whose trajectories were hard to watch. He described it as disheartening. For him, the big question became: “Can I make an impact here?” And after a lot of reflection and prayer, he realized the answer was no.Sheriff’s Department / Law EnforcementHe transitioned to a sheriff’s department environment (in and around Atlanta) and again ran into that same internal tension. Could he make an impact? Could he thrive in an environment that felt like it was swallowing people more than helping them?Again, the answer was no.And that’s when his father asked the question that changed everything:“Have you ever thought about fire service?”Chief Turner’s response was honest and almost funny in the moment:“Absolutely not. I’m scared of fire.”Which is about as logical as it gets.The Application He Forgot AboutHere’s the part that feels like a movie scene.Chief Turner applied to the City of Atlanta Fire Department, but the hiring process took so long—about three years—that he literally forgot he had applied.Then one day the call came.They asked if he was still interested.And he had to remember what job they were even talking about.But the timing was perfect. He was already in that transitional season, searching for something that fit. So he took the leap.He called it faith.I call it courage.Finding His Niche: Competition + Teamwork + Helping PeopleOnce he got into fire service, something clicked immediately.He described it like finding his niche—because fire service combined the elements that were already wired into him:CompetitionTeam dynamicsBrotherhoodMissionHelping peopleAnd he talked about mentors—especially one named William Jucks—who didn’t just teach him the job, but helped him see the career. Not just “firefighter,” but growth, development, and leadership.That mentor pushed him toward paramedic training, and Chief Turner’s initial reaction was relatable:“I don’t want to go back to school.”But he was told something important:If you want to be relevant in fire service, you need to be a paramedic.So, he did it.And he didn’t quit.He admitted it was hard. He said he wanted to quit multiple times, and he was surrounded by people who found reasons to drop out, which made quitting feel easy.But his upbringing wouldn’t allow it:If you start something, you finish it.That mindset became a pattern. Year after year, he challenged himself to grow.And eventually, he rose all the way through the ranks in Atlanta—starting as a recruit and reaching Deputy Chief in one of the largest departments in the region.Why Newton County? Because It’s FamilyChief Turner could’ve stayed in Atlanta. He even thought he might be next in line for Fire Chief there.But leadership shifts happen. Politics happen. Timing happens.And he made a decision: it was time to lead his own department.That’s when Newton County came into the picture in a deeper way, because while he grew up in Atlanta, he told me something I didn’t know:Newton County is his second home.His grandmother was born and raised here. Many of his relatives are here. He attended church here as a kid—specifically Bethel Grove Baptist Church.And he said his mom added some “peer pressure” with a line that hit hard:“I’m not going to be here forever… your grandma would be proud.”So, when the opportunity opened, the choice wasn’t just career—it was personal.Newton County wasn’t a stop.It was a return.“I’m Like a Reptile”: Leadership and AdaptabilityAt one point, I asked him about leadership—because nobody becomes Fire Chief by accident.His answer was unexpected and honestly memorable:“I’m like a reptile.”He explained what he meant: he can adapt to the environment. He knows when to step back and let someone else...
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