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Is Code of Ethics Code Blue?

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Or so the Fire Service Reputation Management White Paper Report (https://myfirecompanies.com/download.php?f=4383_orig.pdf&fc=whitepaper2010highres-Final%20for%20publication%203-8-2010.pdf) would lead us to believe.

But, it comes off as if sounding an alarm to a recent fire service revelation.

And the truth is that many of us have been discussing many of the areas of concern for some time. I can tell you that the hot topic of firefighter arson has been on the discussion boards since at least 2001 and USFA released a report on it here: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-141.pdf

Am I to believe that people who apply for firefighter positions have to be reminded that, as firefighters, they will be held to higher moral and ethical standards?

Unless they recently crawled out of a cave, I would think that, if nothing else in the job description is known, “held in the public’s trust” would be a tacit thought at the very least.

What fire departments have to do is to screen out the candidates who might have an ulterior motive for joining a fire department, which is to use the position of trust to commit crimes. (See http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_b988d898-0962-11df-879a-001cc4c03286.html).

When departments are making poor decisions to recruit and retain members, why would we expect that same department to make GOOD decisions when a firefighter has been caught committing a serious criminal act?

Fire departments keep their dirty little secrets “internal” for one of two reasons: either they honestly believe that they have the wherewithal to appropriately deal with it or they are hiding and hoping; that is, hiding it from the public and hoping that it will go away on its own.

The Fire Service Reputation Management White Paper Report was delivered with an almost wide-eyed astonishment. No disrespect is intended, but, in my mind, it was never a question of whether our lofty moral and ethical characters were taking a hit with each new firefighter arrest, but when, as a nation of firefighters, we were going to collectively do something about it.

I resent that, once again, “lack of leadership” is being credited with this growing blight in the fire service, because in today’s society of Google search, scientific calculators, Garmin GPS, computerized cash registers and instant gratification from pass/fail and “ nobody gets cut and everyone gets a trophy for participating”, we have essentially lowered the bar, because the process where we are taught how to learn is no longer practiced. Leaders are being expected to lead people who will not take personal responsibility and if they are the future leaders, then isn’t it likely that they will invoke excuses that has become a part of their modus operandi ?

Honest, hard work to succeed has been displaced by “whatever it takes” and unfortunately, that includes cheating and breaking the law.

A few years ago, here in Illinois, a department was caught cheating on an EMT test, so instead of disciplining the individuals involved and changing the order and wording on the test questions, the entire state exam was scrapped and a new one written. It took over two years and God knows how much money and in the meantime, Illinois was without a state EMT test. Anyone who was in class at the time had to pay for and take the National Registry test. New EMT classes weren’t started because of the test issues. Look at all the trouble a few selfish cheaters caused, but what was done to them? We never heard. I would have terminated them had they been on my department.

Maybe, instead of investing money in “competitive” grants, some of that money should go to every department in the country for conducting thorough background checks, psychological testing and education programs to recognize criminal behavior in their members. We might see some positive results.

We also know that self policing, whether it be with regards to drinking/drugs, computer use, harassment claims or department assets, simply doesn’t work. Once again, we find ourselves legislating common sense and this should not be the case if we have hired reasonable people with above average intelligence.

If departments still believe that they want to police themselves, then good for them, but if that were the case and I made decisions on federal funding, then any department found guilty of any of the crimes cited in the white paper would NOT receive any federal money for the duration of length of the individual’s sentence. Sentences of probation would cost a department one year of eligibility for federal grants.

A code of ethics has always been there. Unfortunately, it took a back seat to money and manpower discussions. And it’s ironic, but ethics has everything to do with money and manpower.

Sometimes we can’t see the forest through the trees.

TCSS.

This article is protected by federal copyright laws. It cannot be reproduced in any form without the expressed written permission of the author, Art Goodrich aka ChiefReason.

Please visit: www.fireemsblogs.com and my blog at: www.chiefreasonart.com.

Posted by chiefreason on March 12, 2010 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , , , , , ,

A Means to an End-A Bad One!

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In my last blog, I wrote about how nepotism gone unchecked could adversely affect a fire department and leave it on “life support”.

Here is an example of how to kill a fire department.

The source for my comments comes from TheDay.com.

(William) “Celtruda’s grandfather Rocco, a long time fire volunteer, said he got ‘Billy’ involved in the fire service thinking it would help his grandson mature. ‘He’s 23 years old physically, but his emotional security is much more that of a teenager…When he drinks, he loses his moral compass’.”

Oh; it gets better.

Grandpa Rocco went on to say, “…that his grandson is basically ‘a good kid’ who immediately took responsibility for his actions”.

Hmmm; could it be because ‘Billy’ got caught?

I mean; all’s he did was to set THREE fires: two in occupied homes! Fortunately, no one died, but lives were changed forever.

If William Celtruda was taking responsibility for his actions, then why did he offer excuses at his sentencing?

William Celtruda blamed his drug use (crystal meth) and peer pressure from his fellow firefighters as excuses for setting the fires.

To the judge’s credit, she gave Celtruda the maximum 14 years in prison and five years probation in a case that had already been plea bargained by the prosecutor.

So; 23 year-old ‘Billy’ Celtruda vandalized his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle, had mental health issues and a drug abuse problem that Firefighter Grandpa Rocco thought that the Mystic Fire Department could help him straighten out?

Yeah; that worked out well, didn’t it?

A total of six occupants in three homes are lucky to be alive and thankfully, no firefighters died while fighting the arson fires set by Celtruda.

Young Billy will be all grown up when he gets out of prison. Then, he must go to work to pay $60,000 in restitution to the victims. Civil suits may also be filed.

Maybe in his spare time, Celtruda could volunteer for a fire department.

I mean; since the fire service is so hard up for members, who’s going to bother with a background check?

And even if a department does a check, Billy will simply tell them that it was long ago, that he’s “changed” and deserves a second chance. The sad part of that statement is that there is a department that might be foolish enough to do it!

We all make mistakes and here’s your gear. Do us proud, Billy!

When will the insanity stop?

When all departments are required to have a meaningful application process, including interviews and background checks, physicals including drug testing and a real desire to hire good citizens.

Otherwise, they are just adding to a growing problem and one that fire departments and communities cannot afford.

TCSS.

The article is protected by federal copyright law under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella. It is written and submitted by Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason. This article or any other article submitted under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella cannot be reproduced in ANY form without the expressed, written permission of the author. Violations are punishable by applicable laws.

Please visit: www.chiefreasonart.com

Posted by chiefreason on January 14, 2010 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , , , , , ,

The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© – Episode #35

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Incendiary Questions

Author’s Note: A Public Information Officer (PIO) contributed to this episode.

Central Station, Grandview Fire Department, 0410 Hours November 21st

21 Days since Halloween and the fire at 431 Maple Street.

Staring bleakly at his computer screen, Sgt. John “Cougar” VanDeCamp, Grandview Fire’s PIO was once more hard at work in the wee hours of the morning. His desk at the back of the truck bay was strewn with press releases, micro-cassettes and photographs.

A folding table once used for pancake breakfast fundraising was strewn with newspaper clippings of the media’s own version of the incident. Two days ago, he had won a hard-fought battle with both the Police and Fire Commissioners to hold a press conference to buy some time for Stew, Shotgun and whomever else was working the case. It was clear that with the “mostly” silent approach, the public was losing faith in the Fire and Police Departments and that was simply unacceptable to Cougar.

Twelve hours until ‘show time’. I hope the snow holds off until later, thought Cougar.

Cougar was rubbing his right temple and drinking some coffee that was as black as the motor oil on Engine 53. He had a rather large dip of Copenhagen in his lip and his eyes were bloodshot. His jaw itched from the few days of beard growth. His usual proper, polished and professional look had grown haggard from all of the fires in the month of November-all homes, all near midnight and always; someone had died.

431 Maple Street, 0348 Hours November 1st

“Dispatch; show Fire Sergeant 25 out at 431 Maple”, Cougar said into his handheld and then turned it off.

Jake, Stew and Chief Forrester and BC Tucker were huddled at the back of the command vehicle. As Cougar walked towards them, he looked into the back of an ambulance and spotted Vinnie on the cot. Cougar glanced towards Jake and asked, “Is our favorite rookie all right Jake or is it worse than what Dispatch and Stew have told me so far?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine. The medics are just being cautious… and bored. Glad you took the time to polish your boots at 3 a.m., Coug,” Jake says with a smile and offering Cougar his Skoal.

Before he accepts the tobacco, Cougar has a look around with a watchful eye for any news media. While letting the burn from the tobacco kick in a bit, Cougar takes another look at the remains of the house.

“Cougar, I’d like you to work up a bare-bones news release for this…” Diesel began.

“A lack of information might get us more trouble than we deserve, Chief”, says Cougar.

“Just do it, Coug. Stew needs time to determine what caused this one. He thinks something isn’t right with it”, says Chief D.

“All right Chief. Any word on the Doctors Sticklemeyer?” asks Cougar.

“We think that they’re the ones on their way to Memorial Hospital”, answers Chief D.

“This is gonna take a miracle to it keep under my hat for much longer than a week,” opines Cougar.

“Better under your hat for a week than under mine for a minute. This is why we pay you the big bucks”, snaps Chief D.

“Yes sir; my press release will be out before lunch”, Cougar snaps back.

Diesel dismissed Cougar and the PIO did some quick note-taking with Stew. Cougar walked back to his truck and opened his laptop computer and set about piecing together a story for the papers. He was surprised that no one from the local Grandview Daily Gazette had been out to the scene yet, but he was also relieved.

Bloodthirsty vultures…Cougar thought to himself.  He drove back to Central Station and printed off the press release and sent the usual list of recipients a copy via e-mail.

Central Station, Grandview Fire Department, 0428 Hours November 21st

“Cougar, you look like hell”, said Jake, while strolling over from the stairwell.

“If I look like hell Jake, I’d hate to describe what you look like”, retorts Cougar.

The two shared a laugh. Jake eyed the coffee pot and can of Skoal snuff that was on the desk. “You ought to be getting sleep, Coug… you got a big day today.”

“This won’t be a big day. A big day will be when we catch this bastard!” exclaimed Cougar.

“Yeah, I agree. Still; you ought to get some sleep”, says Jake.

“Non-shift specific personnel don’t have bunks here Jake. You know that”, says Cougar.

“Yeah, but I also know that you don’t travel without blankets and a pillow in the back of your truck”, says Jake.

“Boy Scout training”, says Cougar.

“Then, Boy Scout Cougar VanDeCamp; as a captain, I’m ordering you to get some sleep… get your grip and get on up to my office. You can use my bunk for a while”, says Jake.

Jake slapped Cougar on the back and walked on into the day room. Cougar took Jake up on his offer and sacked out for a while.

2107 Eastwick Drive, 0210 Hours November 6th

“Dispatch; Eastwick Command. Alert Sergeant 25 and have him respond to this location; Priority.” It was Diesel’s voice coming over the scanner by Cougar’s bed. He sighed as he heaved himself up and started to get dressed.  He picked up a copy of the Grandview Daily Gazette. Across the front page was printed in cold, heartless bold font: Prominent Doctors Killed in Halloween Night Fire. Cougar muttered something about vultures as he got into his truck.

“Dispatch to Sergeant 25; per Eastwick Command, respond to 2107 Eastwick Drive. Time out 0216. Also Sergeant 25; contact this office for additional information.”

Cougar told the dispatcher that he was enroute. On the drive over, he called the dispatchers and was given a brief update of what had transpired. As he pulled up, he eyed several of the same vehicles. Curiously, he wondered how far in distance he was from the fire at 413 Maple Street.

The scene was oddly similar to the fire that occurred a week ago. Once again, Cougar was showing up to a structure that, prior to the blaze, was the happy home to Gregory and Melissa Paulsen. Like the home of Richard and Fran Sticklemeyer, this home was also reduced to a pile of charred rubble.

Stew and Diesel were chatting as Cougar approached the back of the rig.

“I’m telling you, Chief, this is too coincidental to not be the same guy- similar time frame, similar setting, a week later and we’re only about a mile apart. Please, don’t blow the lid on either case yet…” Stew was pleading his case before the Chief.

“Cougar, glad you could join us”, says Chief D.

“Always happy to see your faces in the morning”, says Cougar.

“You won’t be happy much longer. Keep the sharks from catching wind of this one too”, says Stew.

Looking past the investigator to the street, Cougar spotted the cream-colored Chevy Impala that was owned by the Daily’s Fire and Police beat reporter.

“I’ll see what I can do, but it’s gonna cost you”, Cougar told Stew, as he walked towards the Impala.

“Morning John,” says the voice of Connie Brooks from the drivers’ window.

“Mornin’ already? It’s getting hard to tell, you know?” Cougar said with a sly grin. Cougar and Connie had been a bit of an item, but due to their different journalistic roles, they were more like James Bond and Miss Moneypenny.

“Stop with the romancing and lets get to work, shall we?” says a slightly pissed Connie Brooks.

“Well, only if you insist”, says Cougar.

“Is it the same guy?” she asks.

“You know, I just got here; same as you. I have no details yet and you know my guys won’t budge an inch, so how about we chat about it over coffee later?” asks Cougar.

“At 10, Starbucks”, says Connie.

“See ya, Connie”, says Cougar.

As she drove off into the night, Cougar turned back to the scene. Stew and Shotgun were back poking around at the pile of ash and Jake was working with his crew putting the engine together again. Cougar checked in after donning his bunker gear and proceeded to carefully step in Stew’s footprints on his way to talk to him.

“I’m going to need to be able to give the press more this time, Stew. Have there been any breakthroughs in the fire investigation at the Doctor’s house?” asks Cougar.

Stew didn’t even look up from his work. “It’s the same guy.”

“How do you know?” asks Cougar.

“In the toolbox, you’ll find two bags, both of them hold lighters. Bic, plastic, purple and they’re both free of prints. Lighter A is the one Shotgun found in front of the Doctor’s. Lighter B is the one Shotgun found tonight. I have no doubt that Lighter B is the source of ignition for this fire.”

Cougar looked at the toolbox and pondered that for a while.

“What makes you so sure its arson?”

Stew looked up. “Do you know where we’re supposed to be standing?”

“The basement.”

“Where was I at on the last one?”

“The basement.”

“Similarities in fires, as you know from my lectures, Coug, do not make them serial arsons. However; ask the M.E. about the bodies. These people didn’t die accidentally in the fire, nor did the Doctors. They were prevented from leaving because they were bound and gagged. Unable to call for help, they suffered the worst Hell before dying. Corpses found as accidental deaths due to fire don’t have clean patches over their mouths from where duct-tape was applied”, explained Stew.

“So, what do I tell the press?” asks Cougar.

“Tell them that similarities at fires don’t make them set fires or fires set by serial arsonists. You can tell them that I’m overworked and underpaid or that Shotgun turned five yesterday. Tell them how an arson investigation works and tell them that Detective Maslowski and I are working hard to determine the causes of these fires. Tell ‘em anything you want, really, except that we know its arson at the Sticklemeyer’s and that we’re suspecting it here too. Tell them causes are still undetermined”, says Stew.

“You want me to lie?” Cougar asked, a bit perplexed.

“Yes.” Stew said coldly.

“I won’t”, protests Cougar.

“I know, but I have to ask you to at least construct a less obvious view of the truth”, says Stew.

“I understand”, says Cougar, as he re-traces his footsteps back to the sidewalk.

I feel like Wile E. Coyote… on the one hand; the Road Runner is pestering me and on the other, ACME Corp is giving me crap to work with. I just hope that I can keep this from blowing up, Cougar thought as he drove back to the station.

Shift Captain’s Office, Central Station, Grandview Fire Department, 1423 Hours November 21st

Dispatch to Sergeant 25… respond Priority to 1826 Lexington Terrace… Coug, don’t let this out to the press yet…Damn Vultures… Sharks… Shark Vultures…respond Priority to the incident at 431 Maple Street…Keep them from talking too much, Coug…Units responding to 9831 Yorktown Lane… reports of explosion… exercise due caution… Sergeant 25 on scene…0300 hours… Connie, I can’t tell you what I want to… Similarities don’t make it serial… Fire responds vigorously to accelerants…

Cougar had been asleep for just shy of eight hours when the cot shook beneath him. He was jolted awake.

“You all right there, Cougar? You were talking in your sleep”, says Jake.

Jake was sitting in his chair, foot kicking the cot gently. “Wakey wakey; eggs ‘n’ bakey.”

On the desk was a plate of scrambled eggs and fried bacon and some toast, as well as a fresh can of Skoal and a cup of coffee.

“Figured that you might need some fuel before the big show, Cougar. KJ said not to mind the color of the eggs. He claims it’s the pan. Coffee you’ll find the way you like it and I apologize for stealing two pieces of bacon on my way back up here, but it just smelled so good”, apologized Jake.

Cougar rubbed his eyes as he sat up. “Who’s the poor sap that had to go down to Hermie’s to fetch my poison?”

“Vinnie volunteered for the assignment. His neighbor works down there”, says Jake.

“What do I owe him? 6 bucks or so?” asks Cougar.

“I think he got paid already, something about the girl… phone numbers and dinner on Thursday…” says Jake.

“So what else is up?” asks Cougar.

“Davey says you wanted help prepping for the conference”, says Jake.

“Yeah, go ahead and fire some questions at me…” says Cougar.

“All right, Coug; here goes… ‘Could it be a firefighter that’s doin’ this?” asks Jake.

Cougar sighed… “Of all the questions I don’t want to answer, you pick that one…”

“Of course, Coug; remember, I’m just pretending to be a bloodthirsty vulture”, winks Jake.

Training Room, Central Station, Grandview Fire Department, 1541 Hours

Cougar had practiced the routine questions, reviewed nearly a month’s worth of media stories, read the department incident reports and the notes Stew let him keep. It was now time for the first, official press conference of what was being called Winter Fires. The snow had started to fall when Cougar finally started off the show.

“Good afternoon. As all of you know, I’m Sergeant John VanDeCamp with Grandview Fire. I have a brief, public statement and then I’ll take questions.”

“The string of fires that has plagued Grandview over the past month has brought us much sadness. This fine city has lost seven of its citizens as a result. I’ll list the locations of each of these fires: 431 Maple Street, 2107 Eastwick Drive, 1826 Lexington Terrace, and 9831 Yorktown Lane.”

“I would ask that our city takes moment to remember the tragic loss of the lives of Doctors Richard and Fran Sticklemeyer, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Paulson…” Cougar went on to read the list of those killed.

“Lieutenant Monihan and Detective Maslowski are both working relentlessly to find the responsible party(s). So far, the fires all share very similar characteristics and it is our belief that we are dealing with the same individual(s).”

“The chemical tests from the first three fires confirm that they were set with accelerants that have been found in or near the homes that were destroyed. It is imperative that the citizens of Grandview take adequate measures to ensure the security of their homes, but should avoid panic. Check your smoke detectors and their batteries; secure your doors at night or when you leave your homes; make sure your family members know how to get out and where to meet with you in case of a fire. If you see something suspicious, contact the police department at 9-1-1. Three of the five fires have occurred in areas where streetlights were out. If you are in an area where street lights are out, please contact the city public works department. Together, we can make the commission of these terrible crimes harder for the perpetrator, which aids our investigative effort, helps spare more lives and quickens the apprehension of the culprit.”

Cougar closed his prepared speech with “Remain vigilant, but not afraid.” Then, the gathered reporters began to bombard him with questions.

“Jim Tomlin. Were these fires set to hide other crimes?”

“Not in the cases we’re faced with, Jim. While fire is destructive and is used by petty criminals to try and distract emergency personnel from the real crimes, these were not. The Coroner’s office has confirmed that on all the victims there was evidence that they had been restrained. No; I will not elaborate. Fires set in this manner are the most heinous of crimes, as the fire that is set actually becomes a tool of homicide.” Cougar took a sip of water, before pointing to the next reporter.

“Janet Irwin. Did this type of crime occur here before Halloween?”

“This type of crime had not occurred here in Grandview before Halloween of this year. It is important to note the difference between these fires and the confirmed arson that occurred five years ago when I had my first news conference here. In the case of the Freya Street Calzone Cave fire, the owners of the restaurant were seeking to profit from insurance money. The fires we’ve seen this past month have not been driven by money as far as Lt. Monihan can tell.”

“Why have you waited so long to release any information?” Jim Tomlin asked.

Cougar swallowed hard because there was no easy way out. “First, it is impossible for an investigation to declare a fire as arson, unless you can rule out all non-arson causes. This means a very thorough and meticulous study of the debris of a fire with samples sent to labs, photographs reviewed and so on. This process takes time and with the high volume of fires this month, Lt. Monihan has performed admirably under such a heavy workload. Though we are receiving additional, investigative resources, we are still investigating four fires concurrently.”

“Sergeant; witnesses near the scenes of the fires say that there were explosions of some sort and that it was a bomb. Is this true?” Connie shot off her question louder than the others.

Cougar blinked, surprised at this. “Well, Connie, flashovers and backdrafts sound like an explosion. I wouldn’t speculate on that, however.  Also, it just so happens that when propane tanks used in barbeque grills are heated, they can cause what is termed a BLEVE, which means ‘Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion’. Details on that can be found in your press packet. I will refer you to the Police Department for more information on bombs, however. Detective Maslowski will be your contact. His information is also in your packet.”

“John, is it possible that the victims knew their assailant?” Janet Irwin asked.

Cougar shook his head. “I’m going to have to decline to answer that question, as it would be just my speculation. I’m not a master of criminal psychology, Janet; Detective Maslowski with the PD can point you in the right direction there.”

“Sergeant, were the victims dead when the fires was set?”

Cougar just sort of stared for a moment at Connie, feeling as if Brutus was plunging a knife into Caesar… “ Connie; I don’t know what would compel you to ask such a question and even if I knew the answer to that, I would not answer for fear of jeopardizing an on-going investigation.”

“Why would it jeopardize the investigation to answer that question?” asks Connie.

“Here is what I am willing to do, Connie. I will neither admit nor deny that the victims were deceased at the time that the fires were set”, said a very determined Cougar.

“Furthermore, if you want this conference to continue, then do not-I repeat, do not-ask another question that you know cannot be answered due to the on-going investigation”, said Cougar.

“Could it be a firefighter, Sergeant?” Connie pressed.

Cougar took a deep breath and looked off to the right of his podium, seemingly to lose focus for a moment. The dispatcher had just said the magic words, very faintly. “Standby for tones…”

“Sergeant; Are you going to answer my question?”

“Connie; did you leave the room when I issued my warning about such questions?” asked Cougar.

“I asked you if the arsonist could be a firefighter.” Connie persisted, faintly through the doorway; Cougar could hear the melodic tones.

“This news conference is over”, proclaims Cougar.

“And Connie, without answering your question, I will only say that every firefighter-on shift and not-is here today”, said Cougar

“What’s the significance of that?” asks Connie. 

Cougar turned on his portable radio and ignored Connie’s question…

“Dispatch to Central, Structural Fire, Flames and Smoke Showing; 983 Sherwood Lane. All Units Respond on Fire-Tac-Two. Units are advised that law enforcement in the area reports traction loss due to snow….”

Too bad the press conference wasn’t held later and this thing goes off at the time the other fires came in… I can’t help but hope this is our guy, that this is arson, but at the same point in time I don’t want another family’s home destroyed. Wait a minute, 983 Sherwood… that’s on the other side of town… It’s like he knew I had everyone here for this news conference…

 Dammit, Coug… you gave him an opening to strike again, you pulled the protection of this city from where it was needed… You were so busy protecting the department that you let the community suffer. 

Cougar flipped the switch for his grille lights as he pulled out of the station parking lot… Good grief; this is going to be a long night…

The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© is pure fiction. Any similarities to the people, places or situations portrayed in the continuing saga are purely coincidental. The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© is the intellectual property of Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason and is protected by federal copyright laws. It cannot be re-produced in any form without the expressed written permission of the author.

Posted by chiefreason on December 4, 2009 • Filed under: The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© – Episode #33

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The Lighter Side of Fire

It’s Halloween night in Grandview.

The most hallowed of holidays for the unholiest of spirits, ghosts, goblins and purveyors of mayhem.

As if Evil needs a reason to strike!

Halloween is a night of contrasts. On the one hand, you have the two year old dressed up in the little Dalmatian costume, replete with floppy ears, puppy nose and mittens made to resemble paws. Pictures are taken at every house.

“He’s soooooo cute! Can we keep him? He’s soooooo adorable. How precious!”

And on the other hand is an evil monster that uses darkness as its cover and fire as its instrument of death and destruction.

Tonight, it won’t be as obvious as the Headless Horseman riding down the street. No; it’s going to be ‘subtle’-silent and deadly. You won’t see it, but you’ll damn well feel it. It will be a feeling of impending doom. Kind of like the ‘calm before the storm’, when it gets real quiet; yet, you still can’t hear the death and destruction coming. The beauty of the moment belies the ugly, harsh reality of when lives are propelled into an abyss of pain and despair. Evil will not take pity on you, but will devour you like it’s eating a county fair corn dog!

And going forward, Life won’t be the same; that is, if you manage to live!

Do you fight to live or do you succumb to a feeling of hopelessness and let Death take you into its stranglehold?

Why would you want to prolong the excruciating pain?

Why would you want to feel your heart skipping beats and hear your labored breathing?

Why wage a losing battle?

Does your faith give you strength?

Will your money buy your way out?

Can a legacy of good deeds convince Evil to spare you this ONE time?

It’s Halloween in Grandview…and an arsonist is already at work!

Jake and his crew have duty today. They’ve been decorating the fire station in between runs for the couple hundred kids that will trick or treat through Central Station on their way to the many neighborhoods around town.

Three times a year, spouses and special guests are allowed at the station during a tour of duty-Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And it’s the kids that are the focus of these occasions.

KJ is dressed as the Mad Hatter. Jimmy Mac is a cop. Vinnie is the psycho killer from the movie “Scream” and Jake is Count Dracula. They have all managed to incorporate their costumes into their duty uniforms, so they can respond quickly should they get a call!

But what they don’t know is that there is an intruder over on Maple Street that is setting up for a fire!

You REALLY didn’t think that you’d get through this night without a visit from ME, did you?

It’s perfect; dogs are barking all over town. It will be anything but quiet. Traffic will be heavy. Everyone will be so involved that I will go completely unnoticed.

See the irony? Many will SEE me, but NONE will be able to IDENTIFY me!

I want to make a very strong statement. You know; leave a lasting impression! So; to introduce Grandview to my kind of terror, my first fire here will almost have to border on ‘repulsive’; even for the most grizzled veterans…and to ‘test’ the expertise of their department’s fire investigator. I have to know whom I’m dealing with here. I have to find out if he’s a worthy opponent and up to the challenge.

Now; where did I put that lighter?

Maple Street is an older section of Grandview; mostly two-story, wood frame and brick houses. Not as well lit as the newer parts of town. The street light out in front of Richard and Fran Sticklemeyer’s house has been out for a few days; possibly, a casualty of a rock or BB gun, making that part of Maple Street even darker. Bedtime is usually around 10:30 pm-just after the nightly news.

What’s this; an outside basement door? TOO EASY!

This man must do a lot of woodworking. Look at all of the rags and containers of stripper, varnish, linseed oil and paint. The fire should get hot in a hurry!

Gee; I sure hope that they have smoke detectors.

Excuse me while I ‘flick my Bic’!

Jake was in his office catching up on paperwork when the call came in.

“Attention, Central; report of a structural fire at 431 Maple Street. Caller believes that the residence has two occupants. Time out-2320 hours.”

It was clear that Davey would empty Central Station. Station 2 would cover.

“Dispatch from Command.”

“Go ahead, Command.”

“Ladder 15, Engine 53, Engine 68, Rescue 1 and Squad 1 will respond. Pull 55 from 2 until further notice”, says Davey Boy.

“10-4, Command. Ambulance has also been dispatched.”

Jake is nervous. He has a knot in his stomach for some inexplicable reason. He has a ‘bad’ feeling about this call. The mood in the truck is somber. Jimmy isn’t wisecracking and Vinnie keeps tugging at the snaps on his coat.

Jake wants to go hard and fast when he gets there. He knows at this time of night that there is every chance the residence is occupied.

They’ll pass the hydrant and go with tank water, if need be. Screw that. If conditions are right, Davey will want a rescue, thought Jake. 68 and Ladder 15 will grab hydrants. They might need big water right off the bat! Jake’s playing it all out in his head.

“Command to 53.”

Jake shoots back, “Go ahead, BC.”

“Jake; fire is blowing out of the ‘Charlie’ side-upstairs windows. Residence occupied. Your crew has rescue. Take a hand line in with you”, says Davey.

“10-4. Can you confirm occupants?” asks Jake.

“Negative, but a neighbor believes that a couple is inside,” says Davey.

“10-4. We’ll be there in less than a minute,” says Jake.

The sky is lit up. Everyone in 53 can see the orange glow. This fire is already lookin’ heavy!

“53 to Command.”

“Command; go ahead”.

“Do you have a way in for us?” asks Jake. There is a pause.

“Roof is already sagging. Second floor is fully involved. Rescue looks too risky,” says Davey. Jake isn’t convinced. He’ll have to see for himself, but he knows Davey Boy does his homework.

53 pulls past the house and everyone is out of the cab before the engine comes to a stop. Jake has every intention of attempting a rescue. It’s been 3-1/2 to 4 minutes since the call came in.

KJ has the pump engaged. Jimmy’s on the pipe. Vinnie and Jake are right behind him. Everyone is on air.

Ladder 15 is positioned and ready to hit it. Jake wants to try the direct approach-through the front door and straight up the stairs. If they can get to the stairs for a quick knock down, they might buy a little time.

Those first, two steps inside the front door are spongy! With their next step, Jake felt the floor buckle.

“Stop! Back it out!” yells Jake. Jake hates backing out because that isn’t what he has been trained and programmed to do, but he will not lose his men to the fire burning below them.

He gets on the porch and signals 15 to hit it. 68 is watching the exposures. Nothing is too close.

Jimmy is looking at the basement door and tells Jake he wants to stick the nozzle in there and wet it. The wall is bowing out, so Jake nixes that idea. “Surround and drown” is all that they can do now.

Jake is already wondering how long the fire had been burning before the call actually came in. It was almost white hot when they arrived. He was also wondering how many bodies would be found. There were two cars in the garage and what looked like a dog pen near the patio. He also knows that this fire got too big too fast and in his mind, the fire got a lot of help…early.

Don’t see any toys. No kids…hopefully. God; kids tear me up Jimmy is thinking.

Vinnie’s working the nozzle; working the fire. He’s only thinking about getting the darn thing out!

Stew and Shotgun are already there, getting ready to nose around; just as soon as it’s safe to do so. Safe? Yeah; right.

There isn’t going to be much to look at Stew says to himself. Shotgun is hitting in the grass by the front sidewalk where they were staged, tugging on his short leash. Stew reaches down.

“Ah; it’s just a cheap lighter. Hah; still works,” Stew tells Shotgun.

Stew puts Shotgun in the back of the car and puts the lighter in an evidence bag for safekeeping. He’s going to grab his coffee.

It’s going to be awhile…

The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© is pure fiction. Any similarities to the people, places or situations portrayed in the continuing saga are purely coincidental. The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© is the intellectual property of Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason and cannot be re-produced in any form without the expressed permission of the author.

Posted by chiefreason on October 27, 2009 • Filed under: The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie • Tagged: , , , ,

West Virginia-Hotbed for Arson

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I’ve got to tell you; this revelation coming out of West Virginia (http://www.dailymail.com/News/200910130853) has definitely caught my attention.

I have been watching firefighter arsonist cases for several years and never have I seen such a glaring, isolated trend.

When THIRTY firefighters have been arrested and charged with arson just in the last year in of all places, West Virginia; you have to wonder if the cops in that state are very good at their investigations or is the rest of the country derelict, under-reporting cases or just plain ignoring what looks like a growing problem?

Firefighters who set fires are a very disturbing crime indeed. There is no reason that is rational and no excuse that is reasonable for a firefighter to violate their sacred oath to protect their communities in their times of need.

I liken a firefighter who sets fires to putting a vampire in charge of the blood bank.

Is there a desire that lies deep within a firefighters’ subconscious that needs fires?

If the potential to cross the line and set fires exists, then what keeps the majority of firefighters from crossing that line?

If “boredom”-often cited as a reason for a firefighter to set fires-is a symptom, then is heavy call volume the cure?

Were a firefighter not a firefighter, would he be an arsonist, nonetheless?

What tools exist TODAY that would screen out potential arsonists? The obvious one is criminal background checks, but it won’t unlock the juvenile file, where early fire-setting might be indicated.

Is there a psychological exam designed specifically to address potential arsonist tendencies in a candidate?

Ladies and gentlemen; my questions are not rhetorical. I am looking for answers.

You can search out many discussion boards on the various firefighter websites and you will find discussions on the topic of firefighter arsonists.

Firefighter arson creates a public relations nightmare for the fire department, but the real damage is to the public’s trust for the ones that they trust the most-firefighters.

The fear factor is off the charts as the fires are set-one; then another. An entire community will not sleep until the arsonist(s) is caught.

But, that is only the beginning of the fear, if it is a firefighter(s) who is caught. The fear will continue and often morph into mistrust in an entire fire department. Will it ever go away or will it continue forever?

It will continue, because somewhere; another firefighter will be arrested for arson and those communities who have suffered similarly will re-live it again and again…wondering if it will happen to their community again.

That is why we must stop it before it starts.

We can’t allow it to happen. But how?

If a cop is convicted of a crime, such as domestic violence, they can no longer possess a firearm; essentially ending their law enforcement career.

Likewise, if a firefighter is convicted of a crime such as arson, they should never be allowed to be a firefighter again.

However; if the horse is already out of the barn, then the damage is already done. We have many punishments and programs once a criminal is convicted of a crime. Where are the programs designed to keep them from committing the crime in the first place? You know; there is only so much Mom and Dad can do with regards to shaping their children’s’ personalities.

Will a firefighter be given the opportunity to set another fire because due diligence wasn’t done, because a department wouldn’t conduct a thorough background check, question “nomadic” tendencies or connect the dots between a spotty work record and a meaningful, oral interview?

Will a “gut feeling” be sufficient?

If the problem in West Virginia is any indication, then our national fire service is in for some very rough times.

We need to fix it now…for the sake of the good men and women who serve and the communities that they have sworn to protect.

Here is some related reading:  

http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/the-abcs-of-arson

http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/889755:BlogPost:440973

http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/889755:BlogPost:318771

http://thewatchdesk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42772

TCSS.

Art

This article is protected by federal copyright laws. It cannot be reproduced in any form without the expressed permission of the author

Posted by chiefreason on October 16, 2009 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , , , ,

The ABCs of Arson

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There have been several, excellent blogs posted recently on timely topics, but I just can’t seem to get past the whole “firefighter as arsonist” issue. It simply blows my mind as to how anyone in such a strong position of public trust could intentionally set a fire.

 

There have been a couple of recent arson cases that provoked me into delving further into the reasons firefighters set fires.

 

So, I went on an Internet search for some fresh information and I found a very compelling white paper written by the Forensic Psychology Practice LTD of the Willows Clinic in Great Britain.

 

However; the report was written in 1999! But, I was taken by its timeless relevance and its precision in breaking down the behavior of fire-setting.

 

After reading the report, my concern is this: do firefighters start setting fires AFTER they become firefighters OR had they set fires while growing up and continued their propensity, using the cover of firefighter to quell suspicions?

 

After all, less than 5% of the arsonists are ever caught and convicted, which might explain why the study of arson is a growing science.

 

Here’s a famous example of one who was never caught: David Berkowitz. The “Son of Sam” serial killer who was caught in 1977 and charged with the murder of Stacy Moskowitz claimed to have set over 2,000 fires in New York City. He told investigators that, as a kid, he wanted to be a FIREFIGHTER! Doesn’t that just about knock your socks off?

 

Here’s my dilemma…I always thought that firefighters who set fires were “different” than your typical arsonist. But, after I read this report, I have changed my mind.

 

More often than not, a firefighter arsonist will say that they set fires “out of boredom”. In other words, they wanted more excitement. A few will say that they wanted to be “heroes”, fewer still will say they did it for money and a very few will say that they did it for self-gratification.

 

Interestingly, arsonists who are not firefighters will tell you the same thing!

 

And in ALL cases, arson was used to solve a problem-real or perceived.

 

A lot has been made of the lack of intelligence of arsonists. Their average IQ is below 70.

 

Really?

 

Then why can’t people with college degrees and years of investigative experience catch them or better yet, screen them out of fire departments?

 

Remember the guy who terrorized the Pacific Northwest, armed with nothing more than a BIC lighter? His name was Paul Keller and it wasn’t the cops who caught him; his dad turned him in! Paul might still be setting fires were it not for dear old Dad.

 

I am of the opinion that many arsonists are smarter than their IQ score would indicate, but were “under-achievers”. Let’s be honest; the more you do a task, the better you should get at it; right?

 

The report recognizes three components, easily remembered by “ABC”-Antecedent (trigger), Behavior and Consequence. When analyzing a firefighter arsonist for instance, “boredom” would be the antecedent (trigger); setting the fire would be the behavior and responding to and fighting the fire would be the consequence. Be careful not to confuse it with “end result”. We all know what the end result can be, but you have to remember that the arsonist doesn’t care about the consequences that are outside of his locus of control.

 

Again; in ALL arson cases, arson is the resolution to a problem; also called “the only viable option theory”. With this approach, arson is a “highly effective means of changing hard-to-tolerate circumstances or conditions”. Is boredom hard to tolerate? In the mind of the arsonist, not going to fires is hard to take. He believes that there is only one way to fix it. So, yes; boredom may trigger fire-setting in firefighters where fires are not an every day occurrence.

 

So, when an arsonist sets a fire, they are only concerned with resolving THEIR problem without regard for the ensuing problems that it may cause their victims.

 

Though they may say that they are remorseful, science says that they are not. With this in mind, no empathy or sympathy should be shown to the arsonist. They will only be remorseful for getting caught!

 

In closing, I would submit to readers that you must use an assessment tool for selecting prospective members or for members that may be suspected of setting fires. Simply conducting a criminal background check might reveal an arson charge, if it was committed as an adult, but remember; juvenile records are sealed. Even then, the charge might not be arson, but is cleverly disguised as criminal mischief, property damage or vandalism. The fact that fire was involved will be buried somewhere deep into the report.

 

Fire-setting has its highest frequency in the 10-25 year-old age group. For many of you, that would encompass your explorer’s group. So, even your candidates for explorer should be screened.

 

You should no apologies for your due diligence, but think about your department’s image should one of your own sets fires.

 

Apologies won’t be nearly enough to the people that you have sworn to protect from the ravages of fire.

 

Make sure that you have conducted a full background history on your people. Watch and listen to them. Are they displaying behavior that indicates pleasure that there is a fire? Do they display anti-social behavior? You need to be vigilant and be prepared to contact professionals if you sense a problem.

 

At least think about it.

 

TCSS.

 

This article is protected by copyright under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella. It cannot be reproduced in any form without the expressed permission of Art Goodrich aka ChiefReason.

Posted by chiefreason on June 2, 2009 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , ,

Firefighter or Firesetter?

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First Published 3/17/08

 

That is a question that we are asking ourselves with more frequency.

 

To me, that’s like asking if Count Dracula is in charge of the Blood Bank. It doesn’t make any sense to those who understand the tradition and history of the fire service.

 

How can we believe for a minute that our citizens will continue to support us once word gets out that there is an arsonist in our ranks?

 

To say that it is not a stain on the entire fire service is simply wrong. These same people who called us “hero” after 9/11 will brand us all as betrayers to our call to duty. They will no longer trust nor support us.

 

My personal opinion is this: the trust that exists between a community and its fire department is every bit as strong as a doctor/patient, priest/confessor, husband/wife or teacher/student. This bond, if broken, provokes a powerful, emotional response and forgiveness, when sought, will be elusive until some act of contrition is completed. It could take weeks, months, years or NEVER.

 

Arson is terrorism. It is not a property crime, as many think. It is a mind crime! It preys on a human’s basic fear of the unknown. I would compare it to treading in shark-infested waters; not knowing when they will attack you.

 

The legal description for arson is “the malicious burning or exploding of a dwelling house, commercial or public building or the immediate area around it”. A perpetrator’s “intent” adds more weight at trial than “motive”. It is a felony in the first, second or third degree. Arson has been committed if the intent was to injure/kill someone or defraud an entity of money.

 

As you can see, a firefighter arsonist does not exactly “fit” the conventional definition of an arsonist. Firefighter arsonists do not typically set fires to injure/kill someone or to defraud an insurance company.

 

The FBI profile of the firefighter arsonist is:

1)     White male, age 17 – 25.

2)     One or both parents missing from home during childhood. If they are from an intact home, the home atmosphere was mixed and unstable.

3)     Dysfunctional. One of the parents left the home before the child reached age 17. Cold, distant, hostile or aggressive relationship with the natural father.

4)     Poor marital adjustment. If not married, still living at home with the parents.

5)     Lack of stable, interpersonal relationships.

6)     Poor occupational adjustment. Menial laborer, skilled laborer or clerical jobs.

7)     Interested in the fire service in the context that it provides an arena for excitement; NOT for the sake of public service.

8)      Alcoholism, childhood hyperactivity, homosexuality, depression, borderline personality disorder and suicidal tendencies.

9)     Mixed findings on intelligence, but most found to have average to higher intelligence, but poor academic performance.

 

Researchers have found that firefighter arsonists are usually relatively junior and in their first, three years of service. They tend to use available materials, such as paper or clothing, together with an accelerant and matches or cigarette lighter. They generally work alone, but have been found to work as a group. In a team setting, they may appear to be cocky, arrogant and overbearing. Younger individuals may be overly “eager” to please or to seek attention.*

 

Now; armed with this information, is there any reason why you could not fashion an application or interview process that addresses the potential of hiring arsonists?

 

There has to be a “due diligence” involved in your hiring process. Without it, your department could be slapped with charges of “negligent hiring”.

 

Filling openings in your department’s membership roster with “warm bodies” may very well come back to bite you when things heat up with several, suspicious fires, ultimately ushering in charges of arson against one of your own.

 

My advice is to stack the deck, load up on the front end and make every effort to create a culture where new applicants clearly understand your department’s expectations.

 

Otherwise, all of your hard work to gain your public’s trust could go up in smoke!

 

Take care and stay safe.

 

 

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. xchief22 and ChiefReason. It is protected by federal copyright laws and cannot be re-printed in any form without expressed permission from the author.

Posted by chiefreason on January 12, 2009 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , , ,