By Vashti Harris
nj.com
TRENTON, N.J. — Over 30 years ago, Trenton native Grady Griffin decided to become an emergency medical technician (EMT) to help the people he grew up with.
Today, Griffin is the director of the Trenton Emergency Medical Service (TEMS), a position he assumed in 2011, becoming the city’s first Black American to hold the position in TEMS’ 44-year history.
“We didn’t have a lot of African Americans on the city’s EMS at that time, and it was a matter of just bridging the gap and me pushing myself to stay in the business and do something different,” said Griffin. “I always dared to be different, and I wanted to do something different.”
Griffin, 53, is also the director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management — responsible for preparing for and responding to man-made or natural disasters, such as hurricanes.
“My job is to also put the city back on track with our resources that we have and get all the vital resources back to the community,” he said. “So, part of my job, outside of the emergency medical services, is to also be the person who is very intricate with planning and pre-planning for disasters, while planning for disaster recovery.”
Griffin said most of the time, his day is never over.
“In a moment’s notice, we can have a situation here in the city,” said Griffin. “Of course, we don’t have everyday big events, but we are on call, and you have to keep that awareness that something could go on.”
Griffin, who was raised by his mom, Gwendolyn Lashley, admits that he was afraid of the sound of sirens as a kid.
“When I was younger…loud noises would really freak me out,” he said. “If I was outside playing, and I heard sirens, it would literally stop me in my tracks, and I would run home to my mom, and my heart would beat really fast. She would hold on to me, and then I would go back to playing.”
While eventually outgrowing his fear of loud sirens, Griffin went on to attend college and was figuring out his career path, when a friend suggested that he become an EMT.
“I was so curious about this job, and it made me start looking at my community,” Griffin said. “When I would come home and see the ambulances go by, nobody that got off those ambulances looked like me. So, I was like, ‘How do I get there?’
“I didn’t settle,” he continued. “I was like, I’m going to get on this ambulance and I’m going to do something in my community.”
Griffin graduated at the top of his EMT class in 1992, landed his first job in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and then worked in Atlantic City for five years. In 2001, he was hired by the City of Trenton.
Andrew Berry, TEMS’ operations chief, said Griffin is not only his mentor and boss, but also his best friend.
When helping patients, Berry said, “his bedside manner is immaculate. He’s just a staple of the community. ... I would say his actions and his ability to communicate to the community are exemplary, and he’s just an all-around great dude.”
When he’s not on call, Griffin enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Roslyn, and his six sons.
“I like to sit down at the table with the boys, find out what’s going on with school that day, talk with my wife, and play with my dog,” he said.
Griffin said being a good example for his sons is one of his biggest motivations.
“I believe that my inspiration and my heart is to be the best role model and the best father that I can be to my sons,” said Griffin, who is a proud member of Central Church Ewing.
Griffin is also the assistant director of the Ewing Recreational Basketball League, where he mentors boys from elementary to high school and helps teach them the game of basketball.
Despite the vital work he does, Griffin said he’s nobody’s hero.
“I’m just a regular guy. … God blessed me with a talent, and I just decided to use my talent to the best of my ability,” said Griffin. “I’m grateful because I was lucky to get a chance to do my job in the place that I’ve grown up in.”
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