The Henry County Board of Supervisors formally recognized Matt Tatum, Director of Public Safety, at its meeting on July 22, for more than two decades of exceptional service and leadership.
Tatum, who will retire on July 31, is credited with overseeing the transformation of the County’s public safety system to meet growing community needs and rising expectations for emergency services.
Tatum joined Henry County in 2002 and was appointed Director of Public Safety in 2015. At the time, the department’s primary mission was to support a robust network of volunteer fire and EMS agencies. However, over the next decade, as the number of active volunteers declined, the department assumed a more direct operational role in delivering emergency care. Under Tatum’s leadership, the department expanded its capacity, increased personnel, enhanced training, modernized equipment, and adapted to an evolving emergency services landscape.
“When Matt became Director, the system looked very different from what it does today,” said County Administrator Dale Wagoner. “Volunteerism, which once shouldered the bulk of emergency response, was on the decline. Matt helped us navigate this challenge by fortifying our career service model to meet growing call volumes without compromising service quality.”
The data reflects the department’s evolution. In 2015, the department answered 2,989 EMS calls on its own. By 2024, that number more than doubled to 7,162. Fire assist calls also rose significantly, from 350 in 2015 to 1,426 last year. Meanwhile, EMS assist calls, in which County staff supported volunteer agencies, declined steadily over the same period, falling to zero in 2024 following a change in dispatch protocol. Based on Tatum’s recommendation, the County began dispatching the nearest available ambulance regardless of district, a move designed to reduce response times and improve patient outcomes.
The department’s growth was also reflected in its budget, which increased from $1.5 million in FY2015 to more than $5.5 million this fiscal year. That investment supported expanded staffing, training, and infrastructure, helping the department rise to meet the community’s growing expectations for emergency response.
Tatum’s leadership was particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, which placed extraordinary strain on public safety operations. While managing increased call volumes and evolving safety protocols, he helped guide the department through rapidly changing public health directives and logistical challenges, ensuring continuity of service during one of the most demanding periods in the County’s history.
Beyond day-to-day operations, Tatum also played a central role in establishing the Blue Ridge Fire & EMS Academy. This regional program trains new firefighters and EMTs for careers in public service. He oversaw the County’s response to major emergencies, ensured compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and helped plan for high-attendance events such as the County Fair and NASCAR races.
In addition to operational leadership, Tatum was a strong advocate for education and workforce development in emergency services. He was instrumental in establishing a program in partnership with local high schools to provide career and technical training in EMS, helping to strengthen the pipeline of future volunteers and professionals. Although the program was paused for several years, Tatum championed its return, and it is set to relaunch next year. He also played a key role in helping Patrick & Henry Community College obtain accreditation to offer EMS courses, further expanding local access to high-quality training and certification.
“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors and the citizens of Henry County, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Matt Tatum for his decades of dedicated service,” said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Board. “His commitment to public safety, his steady leadership through times of change, and his tireless efforts to protect and serve this community have left a lasting mark. We thank him for his service and wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.”
Tatum’s retirement marks the conclusion of a long and steady period of leadership within the Department of Public Safety. His practical approach, focus on service delivery, and commitment to supporting both staff and volunteers have helped shape the department into what it is today.
In other matters, the Board:
- Approved an additional appropriation of $25,223 received from State Asset Forfeiture funds to purchase departmental uniform patches and support various community engagement events.
- Approved an additional appropriation of $30,000 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to purchase wellness equipment for the Sheriff’s Office.
- Approved an additional appropriation of $23,597 from State Asset Forfeiture funds to cover travel expenses and purchase file storage shelving for the Commonwealth Attorney’s office.
- Approved an additional appropriation of $30,797 from the Board’s contingency fund to provide local grant matching funds for Fieldale-Collinsville Rescue Squad to purchase two 12-Lead Heart Monitors.
- Approved a resolution recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the Ridgeway Ruritan Club.
- Conducted a public hearing and approved the abandonment of a discontinued section of Route 57.
- Approved the 2025 Regional Solid Waste Management Plan.
- Conducted a public hearing and approved a request to rezone approximately 0.22-acres of the
- Reed Creek District from Commercial District B-1 to Neighborhood Commercial District B-2.
- Reappointed Mike Ward to the Roanoke River Basin Association for a one-year term.
- Authorized the County Attorney and County Administrator to execute documents related to a settlement with Henry Schein, Inc., General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc., Insource, Inc., and any other related entity.
(Photo: Matt Tatum, center, with members of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. Courtesy of Henry County.)
