Whenever I start seeing “whereas” written a bunch of times, my eyes start to droop and I am out like a rock. I admit it is one of my weaknesses as a reporter. I looked at the latest document on two-hatters that came out of the IAFF convention, but I apparently don’t have the mental capacity to follow the resolutions that come from parliamentary procedure. At least that’s my excuse for avoiding writing about this controversial issue. Maybe I am just gutless.
Not so, my friend Mike Ward. Mike has a reputation for writing about hot topics and asking questions others are too timid to ask. That was an assessment this evening from an admirer of Mike’s who had taken one of his classes a number of years ago. Of course, when you take on these issues, not everyone has as charitable a view of you.
On Firegeezer today, the FossilMedic provided his analysis of the topic of IAFF members who are also volunteers. He looks at the initial resolution’s beginnings in Prince George’s County, MD and how it has evolved. Mike has kept a close eye on PGFD through the years, including writing a paper on the battle over ambulance service at Kentland.
Whether you agree with Mike Ward’s views or not, I have found he always makes you think. Just remember, they are his views and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of the owners and management of STATter 911.
Let me mention two parts of the column that caught my eye. First of all, I loved his opening line:
Prince George’s County, Maryland, fire/rescue employees and volunteers respond to about 330 incidents every day. Despite impressions left by thewatchdesk and dozens of websites, almost every incident is handled without requiring a police report, firefighter hospitalization or federal inquiry.
I probably should take that as a personal jab of my PGFD coverage, but I won’t. To me, it is what comes next that will likely send some of his critics through the roof:
PG volunteers who worked at DCFD rose to volunteer chief rank at many of the 38 independent PG fire companies. Most were in their 20s and early 30s. A FEW of these two-hatters acted like tin-horn tyrants, using their volunteer authority to jerk around PG career firefighters. These tyrants made administrative, response and operational rules that were demeaning to career staff and affecting the quality of service.
The man who called Kentland the Lindsey Lohan of the fire service, now calls some two-hatter chiefs tin-horn tyrants. Ouch!
The next time I see Mike, I believe I will avoid shaking his hand for fear that at any moment the other hand will be reaching for that third rail.
Click here to read Mike Ward’s entire column at FireGeezer
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tin horn, whatever i worked for dcfd 25 years and vol. for 35 in good ol pg county and was a chief officer while in my thirties he must be talking about me. my questions are who in the heck is mike ward,i dont remember him in pg or dc, if so where and what years, and how many family members does he have that belong to whining crying 1619
Great post Vol. Chief A. Nonymous!! Way to put him in his place! (sarcasm intended)
Lt. A. N. Onymous
Anon 12:34
I have no idea if you are one of the few, from the hundreds of DCFD employees who have been A, B, C or company chiefs in PG.
I spent a year as a PG volunteer live-in around the same time you started in the county.
It would only take one or two mouse clicks for you to get all of the details you need, but since you are still anonymous, I will leave it to you to figure it out.
I have no family members who are members of 1619. I remain an active-retired member of a large IAFF local west of PG.
Mike
To the poster with 25 years with DC and 35 as a volunteer in PG. Yes, you are exactly the type of individual Mike Ward is talking about. You are the root of the problem, nothing more than a cockroach to the fire service. If you had any intelligence or progressive thought in your mind, you would have at least heard of Mike Ward. do yourself a favor, take a puntuation class.
It kind of amazes me that a guy can't pass a promotional test in D.C., whether they are just too dumb or not-qualified. But they can take their stupidity and non-qualifications to P.G. and become cheif. By the way, I wonder if anyone from D.C. knows that the negotiaters for the city have been given a list of your firefighters that volunteer for free elsewhere. Can't wait to see what you get on your next contract. I can see the pay cuts already! You don't really have a leg to stand on when your members have repeatedly shown they will work for free.
I think we may be looking at this issue from the wrong perspective. For many years the DCFD has provided suburban communities with highly trained & experienced firefighters who volunteer in their communities at no cost. I would suggest that it is time for the suburban communities to pay back the DC government by providing highly train career personnel who want to volunteer as firefighters for the DCFD. Just think of the amount of overtime that could be saved, volunteer personnel would be available to ride the fire engines so that more EMS units could be staffed and place in service with DCFD career personnel. Implementing such a program would be cost effective and easy to start. I know there are several DCFD officers who are very expierenced in volunteer recruitment and retention in suburban communities and could provide support for the implementaion for such a program. Just a thought!!
The story never changes…DCFD "privates" can't wait to be Chief Officers in PGFD and their credentials are that they work "downtown". If they're such great officers, why aren't they getting promoted "downtown". Perhaps the lack of responsibility (demonstrated in the infamous Kentland video) and an unmarked Crown Vic are what attract this type individual. Any way about it, you really need to question the chain of command when these guys can walk in after another popularity contest, i.e. volunteer company election, and immediately outrank Battalion Chiefs, etc… who have 20-30 years in the career service. I'm sure they wouldn't tolerate it "downtown", but they have no problem driving several miles east and doing it! Very sad!
I second Williamsons post. Let all these highly trained career and volunteers go "downtown" to help the community and save the District millions of dollars. I'm sure the DC guys wouldn't mind sliding over to EMS units for their tours like they do to their "brothers" in PG. All of a sudden all the DCFD guys would be "loyal" IAFF members screaming that it violates the bylaws and those guys need to be thrown out of the union. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Think about it.
The point is DCFD members chose to work for a department that is 100% paid.
You chose to work for PGFD knowing that when you went in if you got hired it would be a combination department.
You made your bed. Hop on in it.
No, they chose to work in DC cause they knew they could "scab" on their days off and Local 36 wouldn't care. I agree with Jeff Williamsons post-let's give Mayor Fenty a list of people willing to volunteer to ride the apparatus in DC and cut down on the overtime and allow more of their firefighters to be freed up to ride the EMS units downtown. Maybe they could even start a volunteer rank system in DC where their Battalion Chiefs could be bumped by a Volunteer Chief.
No my friend. We will be hopping on DCFD's bed in the very near future!
To the anonymous poster of 8/21 at 6:32pm. You state that the fellas who chose to work for Prince George's County made their beds and to hop on in them. Since you used that analogy first, I will continue: Everyone knows that beds need to be stripped, linens washed, and mattresses flipped. The beds in the PGFD are starting to stink and sag!
Lt. A. N. Onymous
Not all DCFD members are Chiefs in PG. I was a Technician in DC and was a Firefighter in the volly house. I was when I started DC a Lt and then a Capt. Then I started a family and asked to be lower ranking officer. But because of my senority I was the ranking Officer and when I quit being a Officer I was stilla asked by the Officers to train others. I also would drive on a regular basis if I was in the station. The Union members liked me being there so the y didnt have to drive!!