“Beyond the Call of Duty Recipients Show Bravery with Compassion” This has been a particularly difficult year in metro Atlanta for first responders. Several firefighters were injured battling life threatening blazes in Dekalb and Gwinnett counties, a Dekalb County officer was lost in the line of duty during a shooting attack on the Centers for Disease Control while the City of South Fulton lost an officer in a deadly head on collision with a motorist. “This is the reason I started the September 11th First Responders Appreciation Day in 2002,” says Audraine Jackson, founder of J&V Cares, Inc. “People will thank military veterans for their service but tend to take for granted those who answer the call daily when we dial 9-1-1. They are the heroes who put their lives on the line for us every day. We have an obligation to show our appreciation.” In 2023 Jackson successfully lobbied the State of Georgia to designate September 11th as First Responders Appreciation Day in the state Bill Signage. J&V Cares, Inc., the nonprofit she founded will honor first responders in the City of Atlanta for the third annual Beyond the Call of Duty awards held during the 24th Annual September 11th First Responders Appreciation Day, Thursday, September 11, 2025 at various locations beginning at 10:00am with Beyond the Call of Duty scheduled at 11:30am. Honorees include Officer Lamar D. Jacobs who saved many lives at Peachtree Center when he thwarted the actions of an active shooter during a busy lunch rush. Jacobs was off-duty and eating lunch when he heard shots go off. Also being honored is Officer Alexis D. Dixon who stopped a juvenile from attempting to commit suicide by jumping off the roof of a building during a mental health crisis. Dixon continued to show kindness and support which led to the juvenile receiving treatment from EMT’s on the scene and eventually being transported to the hospital for further treatment.
Recipients to be honored during the 24th Annual September 11th First Responders Appreciation Day in the City of Atlanta include:
Officer Lamar D. Jacobs, Formerly Zone 1
Thwarted an active shooter
Officer Alexis D. Dixon, Zone 6
Stopped a potential suicide crisis
The September 11th First Responders Appreciation program not only shows gratitude, it is a recognition program that highlights heroic acts of first responders who go above and beyond the call of duty. In addition to praying for their safety and serving catered food, media interviews are arranged to tell their story on air and in print. This part of the program works to educate the community about dangers first responders face resulting in community appreciation, increased morale among rank and file and enhancing the first responder’s image among the general public. The following is the 2025 first responder appreciation event details for the City of Atlanta:
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