Chief Says Maryland Firefighters Not Active Enough

[jizumper-5]

What are your thoughts on this?

In my experience, the departments I have been involved with has minimum requirements for calls, training, and other events (meetings, fundraisers, etc) to just be an active fire fighter. I do not see there being a problem with the rule for this county department. However, I do see the need for exemptions, which this article leads me to believe there is.

I am truly glad to see a Chief taking an active role in managing these company officers. Sitting and thinking about this more, for you to be an officer you need to set an example for others to follow. It seems like here the Chief decided if you don't, you may not be officer material for the time being.

[ 07-11-2001: Message edited by: jizumper-5 ]

[ntvilleff]

Our dept has a minimum of 30 percent for drills (we drill every week) and 25 percent for calls. I think it is very liberal.
I hope that all the individuals involved in the demotions were spoken to well ahead of time to give them a chance to up their attendance. If they weren't, shame on the chief....if they were, shame on them.

[fftrainer]

Heck with this, I'm telling the wife we're moving to Maryland. My current dept in NJ has a 60% quota for ALL members not just officers to stay active.

Something just doesn't seem right with this. I get the feeling we are missing part of this situation, with that said I hope I'm not inserting the old foot you know where, but 5%???? If you can't make 5% of your dept's activity, then I would agree with the demotions. As a FF you should make 5% or be questioned, but an officer?? An officer should be held to an even higher standard since they are the leaders aren't they? Good example you set as an officer if you can't make 5%. What are FF's making percentage wise?

[ 07-10-2001: Message edited by: FFTrainer ]

[BG204]

I would have to agree with the chief on this. I think officers should be held to higher standards, you should lead by example. Come on, some officers responding to 13, 10 and even no calls in a 12 month period, give me a break. Demoting these individuals gives someone who is willing to put forth the effort a chance. When you volunteer to become a firefighter, you agree to help protect the public. Running 40 out of 4,851 calls is hardly doing that.

[FFShooty]

I'm not from A.A County Maryland....but I do feel Firefighting Line Officers should be held to a little higher standard. I realize that maybe the upper echelon officers, i.e. Asst Chiefs may have duties that preclude them from answering what may seem like routine EMS calls, but the Caps and the Loos should be there. I could right a book on some volunteer officers in the past who have done nothing but rob a younger, hungrier firefighter of experience by sitting and loafing in a position of authority because of their relationship with the Chief, and then kicked and screamed when they were ultitmately removed. Either do the job or move on. I guess it's just a pet peeve of mine, but Officers are supposed to raise the bar when it comes to setting an example for the black hats. I will say that before we rush to judgement on A.A. County, it wouldn't hurt to hear from the Officers who are supposedly slacking off....so lets not totally condemn them until then.

[Dalmatian90]

should be held to a little higher standard

A little higher?

The standard was "100 calls or 5% of company's runs...whichever is lower"

Could of a standard been any lower?

Sounds like there was some needed cleaning taking place and uniformly applied. If you have a legitimate excuse, it's up to you to appeal, and that's fair too.

I think the Vollie Chief complaining in the article picked the wrong battle to fight! (See I don't just bust on stupid Union presidents )

Matt

[NozzleHog]

I love it. A tip of the helmet to Chief Simonds. In an age of dumbing down, lowered standards and all encompassing mission statements, finally a Chief who's not afraid to lead! Wish there were more like him.

[570eck]

I agree 100% with the above posts. 5% is only 5% away from nothing. Out of the near 4,500 calls this dept. is stated to haveing I think somehow or another you can make your way down to 100. 1 every 3.5 days. If you want to lead give the people under you a reason to respect you other than "I'm an officer you should respect me". How can you respect the guy sitting on his couch while your busting your hump. But, there are exceptions and I don't want to dog all of the officers invovled, the ones who aren't the exceptions get off you *** and do what you joined to do.

[robbie]

I agree with nozzlehog... finally a chief who aint afraid to hurt some grown man or woman's fellings and making them do their job. I would love to serve in this chief's dept. any day.