Alpinerunner

If he is found guilt of this conspiracy the headline will read;
"Firefighter Convicted; Another Reason To Abolish Collective Bargaining Rights!"

I hate negative firefighters press, but I'm not sure that this article is an unnecessary attack on firefighters. Read carefully and the article appears to be relaying facts and not filled with personal opinions of the writer.
The husband was arrested too. It would be wrong if only she was arrested and they mentioned him by name and his position as a firefighter...
"A Wilton fire department lieutenant and his wife -- a former stock broker -- have been arrested in New Canaan..."
"Funds from the victim were paid to charities, credit companies and other financial institutions, then transferred by Halloran and Michelsen for their own personal use, police said."
"One "charity" was supposedly created to support firefighters. Michelsen is a career firefighter and the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2233, according to the town. Neither the Wilton Fire Department nor the union was implicated in the scam, according to police."
There are plenty of rags out there slamming our brothers.... This guy, just like if he were a Mayor, Town Supervisor, Foreman of the DPW, or any other public official has been named and identified by profession.

I too have no problem being held (and having been held) to a higher standard as we are in positions of trust.
As for the headlines, as most have said nothing but shock value. I remember a case here in Stamford not too long ago involving a volunteer FF and allegations of child pornography. Now this individual was an accountant (?) yet our wonderful Ragvocate had to make sure the headline said "VOLUNTEER FF arrested blah blah blah. How about "accountant arrested"..hmmm just isn't as eye catching is it.
Unfortunately by virtue of our service (paid and violunteer alike) we will be scrutinized more closely and our failings used publically for the amusement of others. Best to stay clean and have no worries.
BTW IMO if guilty they both deserve whatever they get and more for preying on the weak.
Cogs

Look at the title to these articles. They clearly wrote it for shock value, as there was no need to drag the woman's husband into it.
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/policereports/article/Wilton-fire-lieutenant-wife-arrested-for-1035791.php
This is how the article should have been titled:
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/policereports/article/Police-Greenwich-woman-with-dementia-scammed-by-1035798.php

Toys R Us - White Plains

For any LEO's out there who are looking for some good reading material, I just finished the book titled "On Combat", written by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Lt. Col. Grossman is a former Army Ranger and West Point Psychology Professor, and is the director of the Killology Research Group. He studies human aggression and the psychology of combat, and has been on the lecture circuit for a number of years speaking at Law Enforcement conferences. Below is an excerpt from his book that I thought was an excellent piece and just wanted to share it. If you haven't read On Combat yet, I highly reccommend it.
On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman
By LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of "On Killing."
One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:
"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.
Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.
I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.
"Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.
"Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."
If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed
Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.
But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.
The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa."
Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.
The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.
Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?
Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.
Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.
There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.
Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents. -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.
There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke
Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.
If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.
For example, many officers carry their weapons in church.? They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs.? Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.
I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, "I will never be caught without my gun in church." I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy's body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?"
Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.
Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, "Do you have and idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?"
It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.
Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.
Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: "...denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling."
Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level.
And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself...
"Baa."
This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.

Here are some pictures of FDNY R5 taken Sunday at the LI Fire Expo

Front of R5.

Rear of R5.

Looking inside the rear box. Note the red reflective striping around the rear perimeter.

Side Company Emblem.

View of the top of the rig.

An "antenna bar" with eight antennas attached to the front of the rear box.

Very sturdy grab rails along both sides. This rig appears to be built of heavy duty materials. The white speaker on the left is the intercom to the front cab.

AirPak Brackets and seating in the rear box.

View of the front inside of the rear box.

Radios at the front of the rear box. There is a sliding window just above this on the front of the box.

Netting for compartments with roll up doors also.

Rear wall of the front cab.

Front console with two radios and door ajar indicators. To the rigth of these radios is another scanner.

View of the dashboard.

While I also don't know the details of what transpired, nor do I care, I think everyone forgets one thing. This is a private board. Participation by any and all members is at the sole discretion of the board’s owner/operator/staff. The have the absolute right to ban/censor/limit any discussions/topics/etc.
While I not always agreed with the actions taken on particular topics in the past, I am conscious of the fact that we use this board with the consent of the operators.
The concepts that a private board is censored dosen’t hold much water. As with any private organization, if you don't like the rules, you essentially have two options. Find another board or start your own. I can only imagine a significant amount of work went into developing this board, and I'm sure you'll find out exactly how much if you try and start your own.

NFPA 291 Hydrant color codes
BLUE 1500 GPM or more Very good flows
GREEN 1000-1499 GPM Good for residential areas
ORANGE 500-999 GPM Marginally adequate
RED Below 500 GPM Inadequate

Here are some of the pictures "Mrs." SteveOFD took of Monday mornings fire.

The 5" supply line from the hydrant toward the scene.

Just short of the scene.

There was snow to contend with that morning.

Ladder 42 working at maybe it's last job.

Crew operating on the D side.

Engine 97 dropped it's whole hosebed.

Engine 96 pumping from a larger main from Wolden Road up Underhill Road.

The 5" line coming up Underhill Rd. from Engine 96.

The 5" line continues up Underhill Rd.

The 5" line up to Engine 99 for relay.

Engine 99 at the relay pumping to Engine 97. Approximately 800' from Engine 96, and then approximately 700' to Engine 97.
Mrs. SteveOFD walked up to the scene to ask if I wanted my camera. I told her I was working the job (at E99 pumping), but if she wanted to take some pictures she could. These pictures were taken as any civilian could have, she was granted no special access beyond what any civilian could have gotten.

I think this soldier deserves more consideration from our membership, so I just want to point out here on the board, that Mr. Buckles was THE LAST American left on this earth to have served in World War I. Maybe we'll get more clicks on the article and more comments.
We as a nation have gone so far from the dark days of the early twentieth century when our countrymen experienced so much hardship. From incomprehensible casualties and the cruelty of chemical weapons and trench warfare that was the horror of World War I, to terrible times back here in the Motherland of a collapsed economy, and people migrating all over through "The Grapes of Wrath", homeless and hungry until they reached a soup kitchen.
110 years for Mr. Buckles. He witnessed all of the twentieth century, served our country, and became a symbol of the gallant and brave young men America sent overseas to fight and die for a better world.
Rest in Peace Sir, you earned it many many decades ago.

I finished it last night, more or less. There are a few more very minor details that I have to complete, but for the most part it's done.

the next morning, an elderly driver drove his car through the front door of the Edgewater casino across the street from mine. I was able to get some rig photos, and a couple of long distance shots as casino security was limiting access (especially if they saw a camera)...

If Buchanan was only called for their cascade unit, there is no reason those responding on it have to be strucutal firefighters, since that is not what they were called for. Other cascade units in Westchester respond staffed by non-firefighters (Greenburgh CD comes to mind).
If manpower is needed (this isn't specific to this call or to Montrose so don't jump down my throat) then an IC can and usually does call for it. Sounded like enough personnel were there to handle this fire, so stop the hating.
16fire5 - you're right, people have to right to ask about an incident to learn from it, but if people are on here just to "stir the pot," nobody benefits from that. And you are a smart enough guy to realize when that pot is being stirred. There are far fewer incident discussions, photos shared or even discussions of any kind on here anymore because everyone is a critic and a lot of these "critics" have personal agendas.
As far as I'm concerned, "all the chips fell into place" for this fire. I've been to a few fires caused in the same manner as this one, and they've resulted in the destruction of rooms and total homes. The homeowner was fortunate that someone drove by and saw the fire, got her out of the house, the FD had a quick response and the fire was mostly contained to the exterior of the home.
She's lucky and Montrose deserve's a pat on the back. Ignore the haters.

In Memoriam – NEW YORK'S HEROES
Police Officer Gary Stymiloski
Westchester County Parkway Police Department
End of Watch: Sunday, February 24, 1985
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 157
Cause of Death: Traffic Stop
Date of Incident: Sunday, February 24, 1985
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Alex Mengel who was shot and killed trying to escape from police custody while being transported back from Canada where he fled after killing PO Stymiloski and a civilian in an unrelated incident.

Police Officer Gary Stymiloski died from injuries sustained when he was shot during a traffic stop alongside the Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers NY. A lifetime resident of Yonkers, Officer Stymiloski was a graduate of Gorton High School. After a brief period in the private sector, Gary embarked upon a career in law enforcement. His first position was as a Police Officer with the Sloatsburg, New York Police Department. On September 27, 1982, Gary became one of the first Police Officers with the newly formed Westchester County Department of Public Safety Service. Gary's talents as an officer were recognized early. He was assigned to the narcotics squad of the Detective Unit and worked undercover assignments. His work was exemplified by winning the title of Police Officer of the Year 1984 by the Westchester County Police Pulaski Association. When Gary's assignment to the Detective Division concluded, he was assigned to the Patrol Division.
He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

I am going to get on my very young and gung-ho soapbox right now and speak my mind. Feel free to let the flame war ensue since I'll be opening Pandora's Box right now.
Currently we have numerous, very active threads going on in the main board and that is fantastic. I am happy to be part of a very active discussion board that allows for open discussion on any topic we so choose totalk about. There is always a new post or discussion or someone chiming in on something that provides a new direction, or insight on the topic.
What does bother's me though, is the priorities that I feel many people have, as to what is actually important to the fire service, and it reflects on the types of threads posted and the activity of each thread. Currently we have threads about types of colors on chiefs cars, blue lights, other secondary/tertiary discussions as to who should have what. I have no problem with these threads as they enlighten others as to certain laws and other regulatory information.
What does bother me though is when you have a member post a topic about resources in the county and what department has special teams, only one person answers… Why? Do we really care so little about preplanning and foresight before an incident that we would much rather discuss the correct angle of chevrons over running an incident efficiently and smoothly? I know I personally was really looking forward to seeing what departments have around the county, so in case my department ever needs assistance to something we cannot ourselves handle butsomeone else can, they can be called upon.
We also have the "Tactical considerations" forum, which is a fantastic idea, but it rarely gets used, and when it does, only 2-5 people chime in with an answer. If you're wrong with an answer, who cares? It's only online training and you'll learn from your mistake. It's better done here, then out at an actual incident.
Sure I like to "buff out" every now and then as much as the next guy and get ideas from apparatus photos, but I think proactively talking and learning from other people about pre planning actual operations, or what an IC would have done differently at a fire is much more important then who won what at who's parade. There is such a vast wealth of knowledge on this board, it puzzles me that no one wants to actually release information for whatever reason they so choose.
Not a day goes by where I do not learn something new about the fireservice, and this board has definitely supplied me and numerous other people with a plethora of information. I can only hope that more people talk about the operational and tactical side of the fire service, as to me this is what truly matters and where departments stand out. The general population does not care about your roto-ray, or your undercover chief's car. They want their fire put out quickly and efficiently and their family member cut out of their car without any more harm being done. Sure things look cool, but to me, what is far, far more important is providing a homeowner or taxpaying company relief when we show up because operationally, we look like an organized, well oiled army doing everything in our power to help them out.
I'm not sure if I'm totally off base here and singling myself out, and this is no way a shot at anyone in particular but this is just an observation I have been making over the last few months and felt like it was time to share my opinion.
edit: transfered from M.Word and the format was screwed up

1. While Watch Hill Road maybe in Mohegan, it is 5 minutes or 2.5 miles away from Montrose FD HQ, the nearest Mohegan Fire House is 8 minutes for 3.6 miles away
2. U-12 is a utility with the cascade system that is requested to all fires in the tri-village. It is not a front line piece of apparatus (I.e. ambulance, rescue, ladder or engine), it is more of a scene support vehicle therefore it is understandable that it would respond with no interior members. Sounds like a great job for one of life members who still wants to help out and can drive and operate the cascade system.
3. One would need to ask the chief on scene, but 14 minutes is too long to wait for a FAS Team
4. One would need to ask the chief on scene, however the VAFD has primary responsibility for their campus, it is possible they too were tied up
5. One would need to ask the chief on scene, however Peekskill is further away and I would be willing to bet the same guarantee for manpower.
I am sorry this was not that unusual/out of line/controversial for you.

Chief,
I don't know how the details differ, CT vs. NY. I work in a combo department. Are you saying that, if I'm working alongside one of my career colleagues, and we screw up (or even if we don't!) and some smart lawyer decides to come after us, the career firefighter should be indemnified, but I should not? What's the basis for your distinction? We're performing exactly the same duties under the same command.
Mike

Volunteer firefighters are under the control of the local government (in my case, the Board of Fire Commissioners). If a firefighter meets the requirements set forth by the Board of Fire Commissioners, he should be protected just as a career firefighter would be. If your municipality's volunteers are not "under the control" of the Board or governing agency, it is the fault of the municipality.

Yes, because they are. The high cost of Westcheser is due to out of control, egotistical people who could care less about the taxpayers, and politicans who can't plan for the future.
I have a:
-Fully staffed career FD, with new apparatus and new stations planned and excellent response times. More training is required for firefighters down here then in Westchester. Some Engines are ALS first responders.
-COUNTY based operated EMS system with all dual Medic MICU ambulances, the medics respond from a station and start around $55,000 a year and a 23 year retirement pension, with excellent response times. They respond from dedicated EMS stations. Ambulances are replaced every two years.
-A Police Department that focuses on crime, and actually patrols proactively instead of reactively with excellent response times.
-Emergency services share an MDT system
-Excellent School system
-Abundant recreational oppurtunities
-Abundant higher education oppurtunites
-New hospitals being built and opened
-DPW which is on the ball and takes care of problems quickly, and require education and continuing education
Where in Hartsdale, I paid for a Ladder truck that was falling apart and staffed by one firefighter/driver, down here for less taxes I have a 5 man Tower Ladder Quint in great condition that responds with a 4 man Engine company with a brand new Engine. Greenburgh ambulances have a high response time, weren't properly staffed, and often called mutual aid. Most ambulance calls took two police officers off the street for a couple of hours.
For half the taxes I was paying for in Greenburgh.
All this because it's not about the egos down here, and the governments have master planned for everything. Also, the community is very involved and the agencies make sure of that.
I agree with the expenses in Westchester, but these governments are getting more money in taxes the down here, yet the whole emergency services system is in shambles, and I don't see it ever getting better.
I feel the rigs that I comment on are really spec'd nicely, because they are. We have really well-spec'd rigs down here as well. Westchester has very old strutures, and very unique challenges. The taxpayers could really give a crap, and no department (FD-EMS-PD) wants to work together to eliminate redundancies and increase service. Things are never going to change because no one can get along.
Westchester is light years behind us......it's 2011, and having a unified MDT system still isn't a standard.
And, emergency service personel can afford to live in the communities they serve, and don't have to commute a couple of hours to get to work.
And that's just one of many reasons I moved down here.

Yes, colors are important. Red stands out, chevrons stand out. A maltese on a door and a town name is not apart of that visibility package.

The lettering on emergency vehicles is not what makes them visible, it's their emergency lights. CT State troopers have no lettering on their vehicles. Does that make them more dangerous / less visible when responding lights and sirens? I don't think so. Whether you like it or not, I don't think you can argue that it is a safety issue.
That being said, I don't see the point. It makes it less likely to be spotted by civilians who need to "flag down" an emergency vehicle, (as rare as they may be)

Yes, colors are important. Red stands out, chevrons stand out. A maltese on a door and a town name is not apart of that visibility package.

Yes, colors are important. Red stands out, chevrons stand out. A maltese on a door and a town name is not apart of that visibility package.

The lettering on emergency vehicles is not what makes them visible, it's their emergency lights. CT State troopers have no lettering on their vehicles. Does that make them more dangerous / less visible when responding lights and sirens? I don't think so. Whether you like it or not, I don't think you can argue that it is a safety issue.
That being said, I don't see the point. It makes it less likely to be spotted by civilians who need to "flag down" an emergency vehicle, (as rare as they may be)