9 minute read
SPIRITS
for us, so I wouldn’t know. We’ve just know. We’ve just always been close and always been close and I remember us I remember us always doing always doing everything together.” everything together.”
Zach, previously an Zach, previously an equipment operator equipment operator in the construction in the construction industry, has been with industry, has been with the LCSO for about the LCSO for about two-and-a-half years. two-and-a-half years.
He says he didn’t He says he didn’t really plan on really plan on changing professions. changing professions. “Everybody has a story “Everybody has a story Zach and Austin on how they got into on how they got into this, but I kind of just woke up one day and thought it would be something I’d this, but I kind of just woke up one day and thought it would be something I’d be interested in. There’s really no rhyme or reason for it, just maybe that I be interested in. There’s really no rhyme or reason for it, just maybe that I have some friends in the business and they said, ‘Yeah, you should go ahead have some friends in the business and they said, ‘Yeah, you should go ahead and try it,’” Zach says. “Austin being a paramedic kind of had something to do and try it,’” Zach says. “Austin being a paramedic kind of had something to do with it too, but being a re ghter or paramedic were both things I didn’t want with it too, but being a re ghter or paramedic were both things I didn’t want to do, and since basically there are three lines of service as a rst responder, to do, and since basically there are three lines of service as a rst responder, that left law enforcement.” that left law enforcement.”
Austin, at one time, planned to join culinary school. Like his brother, he Austin, at one time, planned to join culinary school. Like his brother, he hadn’t planned on becoming a rst responder until one day while driving hadn’t planned on becoming a rst responder until one day while driving down the road. down the road.
“I really don’t have any rhyme or reason. I was on the intersection “I really don’t have any rhyme or reason. I was on the intersection of Picciola and 27 (near Fruitland Park) and I saw an ambulance with its lights of Picciola and 27 (near Fruitland Park) and I saw an ambulance with its lights and sirens go through the light and I said, ‘Hey, I bet that’s a fun job,’ and the and sirens go through the light and I said, ‘Hey, I bet that’s a fun job,’ and the next week I signed up for paramedic school,” says Austin. “I worked for an next week I signed up for paramedic school,” says Austin. “I worked for an EMT crew for one year, then went to medic school for two years and became EMT crew for one year, then went to medic school for two years and became a paramedic.” a paramedic.”
Both brothers are glad they followed their gut. Both feel they’ve found Both brothers are glad they followed their gut. Both feel they’ve found their calling. their calling.
The only thing that worries them is the climate between the public and law The only thing that worries them is the climate between the public and law enforcement these days, though in Lake County, they say it’s not as bad as in enforcement these days, though in Lake County, they say it’s not as bad as in other parts of Florida or other cities across the country. other parts of Florida or other cities across the country.
—ZACH SULLIVAN
Zach Sullivan
—AUSTIN SULLIVAN
“Doing this job takes a toll on you. We see things that most people will never see in their lifetime and we hear things that most people will never never see in their lifetime and we hear things that most people will never hear. There are also a few things you sacri ce, like holidays, sleep, family hear. There are also a few things you sacri ce, like holidays, sleep, family life and social life, but I like helping people. Most of the time, you deal with life and social life, but I like helping people. Most of the time, you deal with people on their worst days, but when you are able to make a di erence in people on their worst days, but when you are able to make a di erence in somebody’s life, it makes you feel really good,” says Zach. somebody’s life, it makes you feel really good,” says Zach.
Austin says, “The way you learn to look at it is that on people’s worst Austin says, “The way you learn to look at it is that on people’s worst days, we’re there for them, so you do have the potential to make a lifedays, we’re there for them, so you do have the potential to make a lifesaving di erence in their lives. I enjoy working in the eld.” saving di erence in their lives. I enjoy working in the eld.”
For the moment, Austin does not have a family of his own to juggle into For the moment, Austin does not have a family of his own to juggle into the equation. Zach has a wife, Courtney, (though she understands the law the equation. Zach has a wife, Courtney, (though she understands the law enforcement life since she is a Tavares police o cer) and Everleigh, enforcement life since she is a Tavares police o cer) and Everleigh, their three-month old daughter, to consider. their three-month old daughter, to consider.
Regardless of what they do or how busy life gets for them, Zach and Regardless of what they do or how busy life gets for them, Zach and Austin nd time to call one another every day. Austin nd time to call one another every day.
They also stay connected while out in the eld, by “listening out for each They also stay connected while out in the eld, by “listening out for each other” on emergency scanners of each other’s agencies. other” on emergency scanners of each other’s agencies.
Most of all, they try to always heed their gut when it comes Most of all, they try to always heed their gut when it comes to feelings they may get about one another. And that’s nothing to feelings they may get about one another. And that’s nothing new. An elementary school science project on twin telepathy they worked new. An elementary school science project on twin telepathy they worked on together suggested their intuition was on point. on together suggested their intuition was on point.
“Sometimes you get a feeling about something and you just have to “Sometimes you get a feeling about something and you just have to call the other one. I don’t know how to explain it, but nine times out of call the other one. I don’t know how to explain it, but nine times out of 10, one of us will call the other, and the other one will say, “I was about 10, one of us will call the other, and the other one will say, “I was about to call you too.”
Paula says sometimes she can feel how strong Paula says sometimes she can feel how strong their bond is when listening to them talk to one another. their bond is when listening to them talk to one another.
“You hear people talk about twin bonds and with them, it’s just “You hear people talk about twin bonds and with them, it’s just incredible,” Paula says. “You can tell they are in tune with each other, incredible,” Paula says. “You can tell they are in tune with each other, they’re very intense, and if they are talking, it’s very hard to break into they’re very intense, and if they are talking, it’s very hard to break into their conversation and they literally nish each other’s sentences.” their conversation and they literally nish each other’s sentences.”
Zach says, “It’s hard to explain, but it’s not like I am thinking about Zach says, “It’s hard to explain, but it’s not like I am thinking about Austin all the time, it’s just a feeling I get sometimes like I can sense Austin all the time, it’s just a feeling I get sometimes like I can sense something about him or that something is going on with him.” something about him or that something is going on with him.”
Overall, Paula says she is happy to see that Zach and Austin have Overall, Paula says she is happy to see that Zach and Austin have remained close as adults, adding that she, her husband Keith and their remained close as adults, adding that she, her husband Keith and their youngest son Mason are proud of what the twins have become. youngest son Mason are proud of what the twins have become.
“The mindset of a rst responder is to help people and to know that “The mindset of a rst responder is to help people and to know that both of them have chosen to go into that eld makes us very proud,” both of them have chosen to go into that eld makes us very proud,” Paula says.
Austin Sullivan
