Truly a great moment in public safety: ‘My dumb-ass assistant chief took it upon himself to discontinue my permit’. Fire commissioner holds his breath until his lights turn blue again.

Oh, I’m thinking there is a lot more to this story. The whole story absolutely reeks of VFD politics.

Without knowing a lot of other facts, I think it’s time for Davis to retire. Don’t know if this is an elected or appointed position, but unless he is doing more than showing up and trying to look important at incidents, he don’t need that blue light.

Rickis may not be totally blameless as well. He may have used his “acting” chief status to make what he thought were “seriously needed” changes at the department. One thing I have learned – “acting” chiefs are the most dangerous managers I’ve ever seen.

That it got to this point just makes the whole department look bad. Good luck and stay classy, guys!

If the Chief is using his POV to respond, then he needs to turn in gas receipts for each call me responds to.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, we have a pretty simple law in the state code, something to the effect that a volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member, or an “ambulance driver”, can equip ONE vehicle by him or her with two lights. They can be both red or red and white. They can flash. No wig wags. No siren. I think the origin of this law came out of the fact that years ago the state police ran four lights in the grill of the un marked cars. It is a good law that maybe some of the other states could like at adopting because it keeps down alot of problems. In this case, a Board member, espically someone who is not able to do fire or rescue work, would not legally be able to run the lights. Sometimes in the volunteer service you have to be sensitive about things and peoples feelings, though.

I think the chief took the high road and the commissioner is a turd (sorry Dave). Good for the Chief, hopefully the ‘publicity’ fixes this foolishness and leaves the Chief smelling like roses.

In the end the community suffers the most…

I served in a number of volunteer departments and this act beats anything I ever experienced. This is just why people will quit a department because the petty politics make it unreasonable to do all of the training and time commitment.
Sadly I have family who live in that town.
TIME TO GROW UP AND ACT PROFESSIONAL GENTLEMEN!

it sounds like the commissioner should be removed from his position, he made it pretty clear that he was looking to get even with someone while putting the public at risk

I also am from Virginia & a former volunteer firefighter, i had to give up active firefighting due to knee surgery. I personaly think the commisioner need to be gotten rid of he has no business on the fire ground using a walker.

That the previous chief was also considering pulling the commissioner’s card is telling. He just dumped it into someone else’s lap instead.

That said, this does sound like so much petty politics.

We have had folks around here who were far beyond active firefighting, but still carried their ligts. But they were good about it and didn’t abuse the privilege. It was rather a badge of honor, worn proudly after years of active service.

There’s a back story here, I’m sure. We just haven’t heard it.

Here in NY, a fire district has five to seven commissioners – one individual generally doesn’t have all that much “power.”

As noted, this gives all of the folks who do use blue (or other color) lights a black eye, fodder for the crowd who doesn’t see a need for them in the first place.

Sorry to hear that Blue Hills Volunteer Department has to deal w/a commissioner like this(Time for a new one-whens elections). The Chiefs command vehicle should be giving back to the Department.
Commissioner might think twice it was his family/home/ that lost something do to the commissioners wrong doings.
Hope things get settled Blue Hills.