D.C. Firefighters To Help Police Streets?
Both D.C. firefighters and police officers are upset over a new program that forces the fire department to help fight crime.
For the past three weeks, D.C. Fire and EMS personnel have been parking their trucks at high crime neighborhoods.
For the past three weeks, D.C. Fire and EMS personnel have been parking their trucks at high crime neighborhoods.
"It's to prevent things from bubbling up. The idea is that if you have a fire engine with adults there no one is going to commit a crime," said D.C. Deputy Mayor Paul Quander.
City officials said they just want firefighters to call 911 if they see suspicious activity.
The D.C. police union and firefighters union say the plan is not safe.
City officials said they just want firefighters to call 911 if they see suspicious activity.
The D.C. police union and firefighters union say the plan is not safe.
"I think it is a disaster," said D.C. Police Union spokesman Kris Baumann. "You're putting untrained, unsupervised, unequipped firefighters in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in town to perform a law enforcement function."
Right now, the plan is to keep the policy in place at least through next spring.
Right now, the plan is to keep the policy in place at least through next spring.
-So what's your opinion? Is this a great way to help balance a cash strapped budget? Or a budget buster waiting to happen when the FD inevitably sues the city?
I think our boys go through training to learn how to survive in areas like that and this is incredibly dangerous for those fire fighters. "A fire engine with adults" will probably not thwart any crime. How stupid.
ReplyDeleteI think the lawmakers should cut their salaries before coming up with this asinine idea. LE and Firefighting are two completely different fields. Granted, both are called to duty to protect the community but in various aspects. Firefighters aid and rescue. Cops do the same but they have the sworn power to take away someone's rights....or to kill someone if they have to.
ReplyDeleteAre they planning on giving all of the firefighters bulletproof vests to wear? Because I'd say we just painted a big target on them. And the cost of the vests alone would make this financially unsustainable.
ReplyDeleteThat is surprising but not surprising at the same time.
ReplyDeleteFire fighters in DC are also EMTs, which in my opinion, EMTs aren't rookies when it comes to dealing with intense situations. I think it's better than pushing the stats mentality in the form of policing. Maybe it's allowing police to actually police rather than make petty lock ups just to show they are cracking down?