Radio Professionalism

[maxwellpaine]

To officers of the fire department:

What would be your punishment for a member who let loose a curse word (intentional or not) on a public radio channel vs. a private one?

[DeputyMarshal]

1) All radio channels are public.
2) Unintentional? Accidents happen. Calm talking-to -- Don't let it happen again.
3) Intentional? Stern talking to with reprimand -- Damn sure don't let it happen again.

[pasobuff]

1) All radio channels are public.
2) Unintentional? Accidents happen. Calm talking-to -- Don't let it happen again.
3) Intentional? Stern talking to with reprimand -- Damn sure don't let it happen again.

Ditto.....

[CaptOldTimer]

1) All radio channels are public.
2) Unintentional? Accidents happen. Calm talking-to -- Don't let it happen again.
3) Intentional? Stern talking to with reprimand -- Damn sure don't let it happen again.

Also what Deputy Marshal and Paso said.

Just hope the FCC didn't get wind of it and come down hard on the department and or city/county who holds the license for that system!!

[ChiefKN]

1) All radio channels are public.
2) Unintentional? Accidents happen. Calm talking-to -- Don't let it happen again.
3) Intentional? Stern talking to with reprimand -- Damn sure don't let it happen again.

This with the caveat that previous disclipline would affect the level of corrective action taken.

[FiremanLyman]

There is a nameless all career city department that's typical radio traffic was;

"Interior to Pump; Charge the ****ing line!"

"Command to Truck 1; Vent the ****ing roof."

That was a few years ago, but damn fun to listen to.

We've had our dispatch call us on the cell phone about an open mic. Staged for a suicide attempt, PD officers were "tactically" moving up to the house, we were giving the play-by-play on their "tactical prowess" or lack there of to the whole city.

Look, if a 4-letter word slips out on the radio, and no one is harmed by it (little kid hears it, snaps and starts tearing the heads off bunnies), then a verbal counseling is all you need. If it is repeat offense, then a corrective action plan should be initiated to curtail the habit.

[fire49]

Max

What did they do to you ?????

[tree68]

Yep - s*** happens, and sometimes the radio is keyed when it does.

One time event? The offender is probably remorseful. A gentle nudge and maybe even a little humor.

Regular event? Stern talking-to moving on to progressive discipline.

Unless you're running an Open Sky system with encryption (and then only because there are no scanners out there that will receive OS yet), somebody (other than the folks on the system in question) can hear you.

In other words, what everybody else said, too.

[truckedup133]

To officers of the fire department:

What would be your punishment for a member who let loose a curse word (intentional or not) on a public radio channel vs. a private one?

Happened while I was in recruit class to a senior man. He had gone interior to make an attack with a dry line. Engineer had trouble with water and source was lost after tank water. Led to a few tense moments of water-lessness. At the exact moment the Lt. Keyed up to inquire more into the water issue, the senior man said...and I qoute "tell em' to hurry with the fuc*ing water." As I have said before, our chief is a company man so even though his stuckup Lt. tried to write it up, the chief stomped it out quick. I was in the room and he said he would deal with anyone that *itched about it, because "if they had to go where we go, they cuss like sailors too."

Thought you might enjoy that. Obviously, if you are talking about regular communications it probably isn't as cut and dry. Clearly, my example has some extenuating circumstances. Still, slip ups happen and we are firemen. We are gonna cuss. I don't know how huge of an ordeal it is, IMHO.

[truckedup133]

There is a nameless all career city department that's typical radio traffic was;

"Interior to Pump; Charge the ****ing line!"

"Command to Truck 1; Vent the ****ing roof."

That was a few years ago, but damn fun to listen to.

We've had our dispatch call us on the cell phone about an open mic. Staged for a suicide attempt, PD officers were "tactically" moving up to the house, we were giving the play-by-play on their "tactical prowess" or lack there of to the whole city.

Look, if a 4-letter word slips out on the radio, and no one is harmed by it (little kid hears it, snaps and starts tearing the heads off bunnies), then a verbal counseling is all you need. If it is repeat offense, then a corrective action plan should be initiated to curtail the habit.

Since it takes me so long to type I was unaware you got this out before me.....but...DITTO!

[Weruj1]

Ditto.....

ditto...........

[LVFD301]

Sometimes it just takes a different attack. Last night I heard - Do you want me to pick up E2 on the way? Response from Chief, "it would just warm the cockles of my heart if you did".

[snowball]

You should hear them fly around here every time a portable gets stolen.

[firefighter5329]

Open Mic's, they happen. Which is why all "naughty" conversations must now be conducted elsewhere of the Office, where the base radios are located

Also, as a precaution, I leave my pager on the open channel when working around active radios.

[IronValor]

I believe My favorite of all time was as follows

"Engine 8 is on scene we have heavy smoke and F... OH SH*T That B*tch just hit Me in the a**!!"

I was not on the rig at the time but I was in the Chiefs office talking about something that escapes me right now.. I just know that I wore coffee when the Chief spat it out and simultaneously was reaching for the phone.