Your Cheatin’ Heart…Second Verse

Previously, I had said that I was troubled with the cheating that goes on in the fire service. See: http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/your-cheatin-heart

I have included some links to stories that pertain to our fire/EMS community.

http://www.chipleypaper.com/articles/wausau-3889-reimburse-fire.html

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/525906.html

http://www.plamerican.com/news/city-politics/fire-chief-charged-stolen-funds-case-803

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/oct/10/german-township-fire-department-missing-funds/

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/state_audit_woes_still_plague_1.html

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=9075608

http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_8116692a-b2f1-11de-b77b-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/0331cr-MaricopaFire0317.html

http://mobile.shakopeenews.com/news/police_and_courts/area_fire_chief_admits_theft_resigns-1241

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/11251081/detail.html

Some may ask, “Why would you write a piece that would draw attention to the negative light cast by these examples?”

It’s simple; I’m not!

The negative light was first cast on the days that these articles first appeared, but what caught my attention was to how easy it was to do a search on the Internet and within two pages of a gazillion, I found the above links. Oh; there were more-too numerous to count.

Anyone else see a problem with that?

This isn’t a contrivance. This isn’t an attempt to create or to drive an issue. These are not “isolated” incidents. Take a look at the links. The problem is everywhere.

And your department may be next! You don’t think so? Then ask yourselves or better still, answer the following questions:

Are your fire commissioners cheating you out of your 2% money?

Is your fire chief cheating with the department’s gas station account by filling up his family’s vehicles?

Is a firefighter cheating the pop and candy fund?

Are your money-takers at your fund-raisers taking a dollar for every ten that goes into the cash box?

Is someone using department assets for a job at their house?

Is someone getting credit for a call that they didn’t even go on?

Did someone get credit for training, even though they just stood in the back and watched?

Does someone keep finding excuses for not getting their annual physical for SCBAs done?

Is someone else covering for some else?

Is there more than one?

Can your candidate for membership verify every piece of their application?

Did someone get hurt at home, but claimed a work comp injury against the department?

Are your station supplies being purchased in bulk and are going out the back door the same way?Are taxpayers picking up the tab when they shouldn’t be?

And on and on…

We have had our discussions about whether or not firefighters should be held to a higher standard and the only way that I can answer it is “YES”.

Why?

Because, if you look around us, the standard isn’t that high to begin with!

How can we siphon off the cream from this sour, societal cow’s milk; only to have them show up on the 5 o’clock news handcuffed to the mayor?

We have become a nation of not asking what we can do, but instead, we are scheming to get our share.

Our politics have become a game of lie, cheat and steal; lie about your opponent, cheat on your taxes and steal the election! Is it any wonder that we have disenfranchised moderates, independents and future generations?

Where are the honest, hard-working individuals that we look to for community service?

Will they pass the test? Is it a fair and honest test?

Are we afraid to ask the tough questions because we’re afraid of the answers? There are departments out there right now who won’t ask the questions that will get them the best of the best, because quite frankly; they’re just looking for a “warm body”.

The best of the best are out there, but it takes work to get them.

They HAVE to be of good heart, so when our communities look us squarely in the eyes, they will know that we are the ones that they can trust, even in this wacky, crazy corrupt world.

So, will we be held to a higher standard?

Who has the answers?

No cheating!

The article as submitted is published under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella and is the intellectual property of Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason. It is protected by federal copyright laws and cannot be re-printed in any form without expressed permission from the author. You may read other works by the author at www.chiefreasonart.com.

Also on Chief Reason …

• Your Cheatin’ Heart… – October 25, 2009
• Every Class Has Its Clown – October 16, 2009
• Currently Under Construction – January 11, 2009
• Blog Contest? No Contest! – January 3, 2010