Delaware FF sues Fire Company

[NJFFSA16]

Firefighter sues his fire company

(Mill Creek-AP) -- A longtime Mill Creek firefighter has filed a
federal lawsuit alleging the volunteer company retaliated against
him after he took action to stop underage drinking at a firehouse
event.
Jon Stewart claims Mill Creek brought a company breach of trust
charge against him about two weeks after he had state police
contacted during a 75th anniversary celebration. He says he
observed three underage girls receive alcohol from a member of the
fire company.
According to the lawsuit, the girls admitted they were underage
when asked during the May 2002 party.
The lawsuit was filed this week at U-S District Court in
Wilmington.
It seeks unspecified damages and alleges the incident violated
Stewart's free-speech rights.
Company President Les McCourt says underage drinking isn't
allowed.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Weruj1]

something is awry in Bagosa Springs ! I wonder what the rest of the story is ? I am sure Ed will find it.

[Quint1Medic]

So the guy reports stupid behavior to the law, and gets in trouble with the fire company for doing it, because he should have kept it "in-house." I didn't see any denial that calling the law in was the reason for his disciplinary action.

This is my favorite line in the story. It's a quote from the company president.
"I think there was a lot of confusion with the issue," he said, noting several members did not understand the potential repercussions of providing alcohol to minors."

Ya got bigger problems than your chairman, there, chief.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Originally posted by Quint1Medic
So the guy reports stupid behavior to the law, and gets in trouble with the fire company for doing it, because he should have kept it "in-house." I didn't see any denial that calling the law in was the reason for his disciplinary action.

This is my favorite line in the story. It's a quote from the company president.
"I think there was a lot of confusion with the issue," he said, noting several members did not understand the potential repercussions of providing alcohol to minors."

Ya got bigger problems than your chairman, there, chief.

I suspect that this was one of the firehouses in the country that fosters a culture of alcohol abuse. There is no other explanation.

I'm still waiting for the "loyalty to the department is more important than the law".

[distchief60b]

George.... You scare me... I was reading the thread and thinking...I bet someone will come out with being "loyal to the department" and "brotherhood." I got side tracked and when I came back you had posted it....

Another fine example of how great minds think alike!

Also another example of how rampant the problem of alcohol in the fire stations is and proof that we know nothing of it until it surfaces in the news from events like this one and other recent ones!

[FIREFIGHTER4844]

This is not one of the banner moments for the volunteer fire service. There are obviously 2 sides to every story,and I am sure that we don't have all the details from either side.

It is a shame that this event had to be brought to the public's eye and especially during all times FIRE PREVENTION.

Be safe out there brothers and sisters

Gene

[Quint1Medic]

I know there are two sides, and it was the "other" side that I was quoting. Discipline aside, the statement I quoted paints an alarming picture of the department's awareness of the possible effects of alcohol. It was from the head guy, for heaven's sake!

[EFD840]

Quint1, the story on the fh.com home page home page is full of great quotes.

First we get from the company president:

Company President Les McCourt said the company policy on alcohol is to follow the law, and underage drinking is not allowed.

Then later in the story:

McCourt, the company president, said Friday that Mill Creek just received the lawsuit, and officials have not yet discussed it formally at a meeting. He was with Stewart during the anniversary party when the girls were approached and asked for identification, according to the lawsuit.

So, what's the deal Mr. President? If you follow the law then why is the guy that dealt with the underage drinking in trouble rather than the one that supplied the alcohol?

There may be more to the story, but it sure sounds like this department isn't mad that they did something wrong, they're mad that they got caught.

George and CaptStan, you must be psychic:

Stewart was chairman of the fire company board of directors at the time of the incident. He claims two of his fellow firefighters told him at the party that the matter should have been handled internally "to protect the brotherhood,"

Underage girls are drinking booze provided by a firefighter (gee, there's no way that could lead to OTHER problems) at a fire department function but we can't risk the brotherhood? Would that be the same brotherhood the clown supplying the booze just betrayed? Maybe it is the brotherhood that booted the chairman for acting to protect the company.

Originally posted by Quint1Medic
Ya got bigger problems than your chairman, there, chief.

Amen, brother. Amen.

[Dalmatian90]

It is a shame that this event had to be brought to the public's eye and especially during all times FIRE PREVENTION

Don't do stupid crap and you don't have to worry about what the public sees.

[bobsnyder]

Originally posted by Dalmatian90
Don't do stupid crap and you don't have to worry about what the public sees.

EXACTLY!!

The frightening part is, I could probably think of at least a dozen places where this exact same thing could have happened, just replace "Mill Creek" with any of the names I'm thinking of and you've got a story that's 100% believeable.

Yikes!

[EFD840]

Oh well....

Dangit, I spend 20 minutes composing an articulate post complete with quotes, highlighted text, and hyperlinks and what happens? Dalmation90 blows it away with one sentence.

Very well said, Dal.