Tucson Fire Department Station 6 houses MMRS. From department website.
Mark Ekstrum, a 28-year veteran of the Tucson Fire Department, retired two days after refusing to respond to the shooting scene where U.S. Rep. Garbrielle Giffords and 12 others were wounded and six people were killed. The retirement came as disciplinary procedures had been started, according to the Arizona Daily Star. The paper has city memos it received in a public-records request.
The paper reports that Ekstrum was part of a specially trained team that handles mass casualty incidents and was dispatched to the shopping center about 90-minutes after the January 8 shootings. The memos indicate the refusal caused “confusion and delay” as another firefighter had to be picked up from a different station to respond to the call. In statements to the Daily Star the department downplayed the delay issue. The Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) from Station 6 responded non-emergency to the scene after the last patient was already delivered to the hospital.
Here are excerpts from the article by Fernanda Echavarri and Rob O’Dell: |
In a Jan. 9 report on Ekstrum’s actions, fire Capt. Ben Williams wrote that when Ekstrum first told him he would not go out on the call, “he mentioned something about ‘political bantering’ and he did not want to be part of it.” He said he was acting “for the good of the crew.”
Williams said he told Ekstrum he could not refuse a call for that reason, and then talked to the firefighter privately in his office. He said Ekstrum “started to say something about how he had a much different political viewpoint than the rest of the crew and he was concerned.” Despite being told that was not acceptable, Williams said Ekstrum informed him he was going home “sick,” so they answered the call without him.
In a statement provided to the Fire Department late Wednesday, after he was contacted by the Star about the incident, Ekstrum said he was distraught over the shootings and had no problem with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from a bullet wound to the brain, and even voted for her in the last election.
After the crew returned from the call, Ekstrum was waiting at the station with his wife and asked if he could come in to apologize to the crew, the memo said. The crew accepted his apology, and then Williams talked in his office with Ekstrum and his wife.
“He stated that there were underlying issues regarding the call that brought up a lot of anger and made him ineffective as a firefighter,” the memo said. “I told him that as his captain I had lost confidence in his future ability to perform his duties. He stated that he felt this call was unique and did not think this would happen again.”
Also on STATter911 …
- Texas firefighters turned away from Dairy Queen. Was it a parking situation or was the fire truck bad for business? – March 23, 2012
- Another shake up in DeKalb County, Georgia. Demotions & a retirement as ice storm drinking probe wraps up. – February 16, 2011
- FireTruckBlog.com: This new delivery is so old its photo was a drawing. – June 15, 2011
- ‘Pay for spray’ update: Tennessee’s South Fulton FD says it was not on scene of controversial fire. Local chief says Kentucky company got close but had no authority to act. – December 9, 2011
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
To Stand there in front of our flag and be such a lily white coward…all because of politics?!!! We respond to save lives and property no matter who’s.
This guy shouldn’t be able to retire and definitely should face charges
he should be fired, not allowed to “retire”. his job was to help “everybody” not just repugs.
He’s a registered Democrat, genius.
I think “duty to act” should come in to play here. Mr. Eksturm, I say Mr. because he surely did not act as a firefighter/EMT, is not only an embarassment to his dept but the fire service as a whole.
Woe be the the day that we let the ability to respond be decided by political, social, economic or any other personal belief.
what a weirdo……man up ninny.
“going home sick”, really? What a joke of a human being. Did he choose the wrong profession,or what. This man should be ashamed of himself and should not be allowed any benefits of being a “veteran” firefighter. We black mark men and women that “quit” the military, this guy should be no different. Good luck to you Mr. Ekstrum-you are going to need it with your serious issues-you make me sick
There is never a good reason for not responding to a call other than being physically unable to due to (real illness). When the alarm rings we become politically neutral, the lives of the populace we serve come before us; as demonstrated by the 343 that made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11.
The fact that Ekstrum retired before discipline could be taken should not save him from being disciplined. Dereliction of duty is is a serious offence and should have consequences.
It sounds less like it had to do with politics (Hello idiots, a simple Google search will show that he was NOT a Republican), and more to do with his crew. It’s like not being able to respond to a friend or family member’s shooting because of the emotion surrounding it. While I don’t agree with his decision, I do think retirement is the best option for everyone. No one’s life was in jeopardy. Other crews were already on the scene. This crew was not the first response team dispatched; in fact, they were dispatched 90 minutes after the fact.
28 years and this will be your legacy,nice job Ahole
For all the problems we’ve had in PG and as much as we throw each other under the bus, this is one situation that I can’t even imagine would happen in PG….this guy makes us look good !!
he should be charged with a crime, we dont pick and choose our calls and dont let the door hit your ass on the way out.
Nice Job….
Like Your Post….
this coward has blood on his hands and should suffer torment every day for the rest of his life.
Dereliction of duty is is a serious offense and should have consequences! He should not be allowed to retire but should be fired! His name will forever be synonymous with shame and dereliction of duty! It will forever be known as “Pulling an Eksturm!” Some legacy you jerk!
My 2 cents from Calif.
In my 38 year of doing this job, I’ve never heard anything like this.
Has anyone called the IAFF in Camden, NJ and asked if they could repalce this guy with a laid off firefighter?
So long and don’t let the firehouse door hit you in the rear end on the way out.
This individual allowed his personal political beliefs and his opinion to stand in front of his job. As a sworn Unifomed Firefighter he knew/knows better than to pick and choose the
safety of the public. He retired two days after his immature inexcusable pick and choose decision. There isnot any doubt he had his facultys with him. There wasnot/isnot any thought of maybe he snapped etc. The Fire Dept and/or the state of Arizona
should Fire him. he shouldnot now nor at any time in the future
present himself as a Firefighter. He violated and disgraced the Fire/EMS Service for everyone. Mr. Ekstrum you make me sick. How can you look yourself in the mirror and stand yourself. You werenot and arenot today a True Professional.
Ekstrum you made a decision/choice. With that decision/choice there are/will be consequences. One can only hope the authorities come down on you like a Ton of Bricks. Any thoughts you may have in your mind of Self Respect and Integrity, it is in your backside, you flush it every day.
You worthless disgusting immature individual.
Have a Nice Day
It makes me ill to think that this guy was allowed to retire (with full benefits, no less) w/o any disciplinary action. It is a moot point that they were dispatched after then fact.
If someone is dishonorably discharged from the military, they do not get to receive benefits due to veterans. Why, then, should this guy receive his full pension & healthcare benefits? If this is allowed to be swept under the rug, then it will be setting precedence for future emergency responders to be allowed to pick/chose who they assist. Of course, one would hope that people who are drawn to these fields would have enough morals instilled in them to be able to put their own beliefs to the side in order to do their job.
I was told he started as a Montgomery County paid man, that might help explain it. They are principled firefighters and are very safe, even at the expense of the citizens.
No need to fire shots at Montgo County, that’s just retarded. Not only is he a coward, but he’ll be collecting a pension from the city he failed to serve. He shouldn’t get a dime from the city.
This is a plea to any other cowards in Tucson, or any Fire or Police department, please humbly come forward now and we’ll have you reassigned to a more fitting position in your city or county, with a comfortable desk and weekends off. There are thousands of courageous men and women showing up to hiring exams who are better fitted for the position.
Not saying that I agree with his actions or lack of but here it goes.
Were any of these politicians trying to take our pensions. I dont know the full story but it could be a sign of things to come. That being said… I would have put the response to the citizens first.
The comments stating this individual started as aCareer man in Montgomery County and the statement that Montgomery County Firefighters are safe which is a True and accurate statement. The part of the statement that Montgomery County Firefighters are safe to the extent it is at the expense of the Tax Payers. That is an out and out untrue/Lie statement. First of all MCFRS emphasizes the highest level of Training for Firefighters
to better perform their sworn duties. They serve the citizens of Montgomery County quite well. The Standards which are Taught/Learned by MCFRS are those which are recognized nationally. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF)
has made available to all Fire/EMS Service Agencies the Firefighter Safety Measures “EVERYONE GOES HOME” As any Firefighter knows all Fires are different in scope and cause and origin. That is to say, some Fires unfortunately escalate to hightened levels of destruction. Yes there are and will be injuries to Firefighters and Citizens with enormous property loss. This is true in all Fire/EMS Agencies. This isnot the efforts and strategies employed by Firefighters actions. The
Incident Command System/ICS is always in place by every Fire
Dept. To make such outrageous immature statement words with vile intent is uncalled for. I am a Retired Lieutenant of MCFRS
and I am aware of the constant Training MCFRS Stresses. No matter what where this individual was employed by a Fire/EMS Dept, he betrayed the Trust and Respect of his fellow colleagues and the Citizens of Arizona. A 28 year Veteran was he just going along with a total fake impression of his 28 years of leading people to believe he knew/knows what he was/is doing? Ekstrum used “Political Bantering” as his excuse for refusing to respond. No matter where he may have been employed in past years, Montgomery County, and/or any other Respectable Professional Fire/EMS Agency, he wouldnot have been allowed to refuse to respond before he attained years of alledged experience. Make no mistake Montgomery County would have found way sooner and he would have been FIRED. One can only wonder if Ekstrum has or could man up and face the Families of the six lost souls and the wounded and explain his Political Bantering excuse. Ekstrum doesnot have the Maturity and Courage to face the Parents of the Little Nine old Girl who lost her innocence trying to meet and understand what, who, when, where, how, and why our Political Leaders reflect upon the People.
Thank You
About the only conclusion that I can reach, while reading the linked story here as well as comments on this and on other blogs, is that an objective and evaluative explanation for what was happening in his head (and what led to his action) is probably not forthcoming. Well, that and a collective opinion that mental or emotional reasons are insufficient for declining or refusing to answer calls. (Heck, anything short of physical incapacitation is probably insufficient…)
WOW…Being a small town Mayor and having a excellent EMS/Fire Dept. I cannot believe that someone who choose this career could even find time to think for even a split second about politics when they get the call to go. When the call comes you go….that’s what it’s about, saving lives and property!
Allowing someone to retire is ok if they do something embarrassing to the Dept & themselves but not this.
No pension. No health benefits. Nothing for this coward. He is a disgrace to this country and to firefighters everywhere.
If the call had concerned Mark Kelley would he have failed to respond because this astronaut was married to Giffords?
City of Tucson take action. Why is the firefighter’s union so silent? Cowards.
With Respect to the previous comment, the question arises why/was is the IAFF so quiet about one of their own Career
people/ I must say given the seriousness of this spineless
wothless individual the Local probably will have to assist him with some sort of Legal help. I am giving the IAFF the benefit of the doubt here, which is far from the norm with my beliefs and words towards the IAFF. It is probably best that the IAFF is quiet and reserved with this situation. One canly believe the IAFF doesnot condone nor believe what this wannabe Firefighter at best has done.
Thank You
He is the biggest disappointment known for his selfish and cowardly act. Shame on him!
While it looks like he dodged criminal charges, or even an appropriate termination of his status, he can now live with the shame of the decision he made that day, knowing in his heart that he was never really a firefighter. (Or a public servant.)