Cops pose as Firefighters article

[Chief Taylor]

I am sorry, but does not anybody else feel this is a big no,no. We are destroying the ever so importent public trust of the public with this kind of stuff.

I work for a Public safety Dept and even we keep Police and fire activties very separate from each other.

What do you think??

[DSmits]

This may be crossing the line.Many years ago we were asked to do the same thing and refused. Why? Well the next time a real f/f goes to the door and he gets him/herself blown away you might understand. I say this because those same type of residences,crack houses, are usually known for ambulance calls. Now that I know some of those policeman are also f/fs and I am the crackhead what do you think may happen next? HMMMMMMMMM a vacant house fire? Lets kill a cop? I understand the reasons in regards to the search warrant but let me ask, would your mayor want you to pose as the mayor or an alderman? Our police tend to use an old postal vehicle or any number of other vehicles and I think they work quite well. Apparently they were using "no knock" warrants anyway so why not use another method. I think this will stir up some conversation for sure.

[FFShooty]

We were asked a few years back by the P.D. to use our Squad as an undercover unit on various drug busts. We refused, based on the same reasons DSmits mentioned. I know the war on drugs is tough and is being fought in the smallest towns to the biggest cities. I see no sense in confusing these drug dealing thugs into thinking that the F.D. is involved. I mean, the cops are packing. The only thing we're packing is hose.

FTM-PTB-EGH....certainly comes into play here.

[mongofire_99]

Would they let us pose as cops?

[Billy Mott]

I'll never understand what thoughts go through the minds of some of our commanders. I see no reason to subject the most TRUSTED profession to this kind of operation. In my town our police officers pose as anything from homeless people to Phone/Electic company workers just to catch speeders. I have a friend who works for the phone company and he says that since that has happened they are watched long and hard whenever they go out on service calls to some neighborhoods and they are constantly approached by individuals just to check them out. We are the only profession that has unquestionable 24/7/365 access to peoples homes and businesses, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO JEPARDIZE that TRUST??? You can't tell me that the little child that posed such a concern NEVER leaves that building. Also just how long did this Fire crew have to hold this emergany response,GAS LEAK, while the Police assembled and dressed their team so they could respond on the Fire vehicle? The call must not have been much, since there is no mention of any such problem in the story, but I'm sure those lost minutes could have made quite a difference if the situation would have been the REAL DEAL. I'm happy to be a TRUSTED Firefighter and hope that my Superiors think long and hard before using MY BROTHERS and SISTERS as flak vests.

[FitzBFDT2]

Big Mistake

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Kevin M. Fitzhenry, [email protected]
Firefighter, Truck Co. 2
City of Bayonne (NJ) FD
www.bayonnenj.org/fire/

[N2DFire]

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad Chief Taylor started this thread. As soon as I read the story I was going to do the same.

What are these people thinking ??? I don't know who to blame the most the mayor, the cops, or the VFD for letting it happen.

I'm sorry - I'd do most any thing for our local law enforcement - but that's just crossing the line.

Next time pose as Publishers Clearing House for crying out loud.

Take Care - Stay Safe (and now I feel I have to add) BE SMART !!
Stephen
FF/Paramedic

[Captain Gonzo]

Both the Police and the Fire Chiefs should be keelhauled for pulling a stunt like this!

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Firefighters: Today's heroes protecting everyone's tomorrows!
Captain Gonzo

[This message has been edited by Captain Gonzo (edited 06-02-2001).]

[ffguy083]

OK.... think about what I'm going to try to say here before you flame me.... And... for the record I tend to agree this was probably a bad decision.... but then I am not from this town... and I don't know what precipitated the decisions.

But... I think all the wonderful reasons that have been posted so far are outdated and out of touch. Do you folks really feel like you are safe from the public anymore?? Who is running into gunshot scenes figuring it's safe without the cops since the people trust us??? Who is not reading about how much more dangerous it is for us in Chicago... In LA... and in small town America next.

So.... all that said... I hope it makes some sense, and my spelling is ok... this small screen is hard to use....

Let's not condem based on old ideas... lets try to see a different perspective....

[bobbybrasco]

Well basically, like all other police across the land they should have scored higher on their civil service tests. If they would have scored higher, they could have been firefighters all the time! Not just play one for giggles. This is a serious mistrust on behalf of the fire dept. involved and will place their firefighters lives in jeapordy in the future. As if it isn't a dangerous enough job already.

[FiRsqDvr45]

Gotta wonder if the judge will toss this case out due to illegal search and seizure. Incredible...just amazing..

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FF/EMT Jay Ellingson
Newington,NH FD
&
New England Dragway Safety Team (Sundaaayy!)
*N.E.D. celebrates 35 years of excitement as a drag racing venue! Come on by and watch the great action at RT27 Epping, NH (Exit 8 off of Rt 101)*
New England Dragway is the home of the IHRA North American Nationals
Sept 7-9 2001 www.newenglanddragway.com
1-877-DRAGWAY
1-603-679-8001

[This message has been edited by FiRsqDvr45 (edited 06-04-2001).]

[Halligan84]

Absolutely unbelievable! FFguy.. we still have scene security problems, but by and large the public sees us as the good guys.. very few people see the cops in a good light. The fire chief is way out of line.

[Irish Jake]

As a Firefighter from Massachusetts I am shocked that this happened in my state. What were the Chiefs of BOTH departments thinking when they gave the go ahead on this. Our job as Firefighters is hard enough without the bad guys thinking that we maybe cops the next time we make our way into a building on a medical call. I can see the headlines now: Firefighter shot and killed while trying to help an elderly patient that was having a heart attack. Bad guy says "Sorry man I thought you were a cop."

I saw it, read it but I don't understand it and NEVER will!

The view expressed here is my own and does not reflect the view of my department, union and or town.

[lumpy649]

This is absolutely the worst thing I've ever heard of. I can understand the cops wanting to get in to make their busts, but using the FD as a fromt to get it done? Thinkl about it... we are trusted by the community to help them no matter what the emergency is... from broken water pipes to drug overdoses, and now how can they be sure that the people who jump out of the engine with the "Q" still winding down are not there to (in their eyes) do them harm or arrest them? I really don't like the idea of being mistaken for a cop and being shot at, so why use the guise of being mistaken as a firefighter for the element of surprise to protect your ***? I wonder what was going through the Chiefs mind when this decision came to his desk... it must not have been the safety of his personnel.

[mike m]

IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME WHAT THE COPS WILL DO TO MAKE AN ARREST.I HAVE WORKED IN SOME OF THE WORST AREAS OF THE CITY AND ALWAYS PRIDED MYSELF AND THE FIREFIGHTERS I HAVE WORKED WITH ON THE REPUTATION AND THE RESPECT WE HAVE GAINED WITH THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.AND NOW LETTING COPS DRESS UP AND PASS THEMSELVES OFF AS FIREFIGHTERS JUST TO MAKE AN ARREST TOTALLY DISGUSTS ME.I HOPE THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THAT COMMUNITY DONT COME UNDER SOME SERIOUS BACKLASH FROM WHAT HAD GONE ON IN THEIR CITY.FOR THE CHIEF OF THEIR DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN HAS PROBABLY LOST ALL RESPECT THAT HE HAD UP UNTIL NOW.AND IN CLOSING HE SHOULD RESIGN AND APOLIGIZE TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF HIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE.