ONEEYEDMIC

I was going to write something bad but the last time I did that I almost got kicked off of here so lets just say that they can't get crews out all the time. Maybe most of the time would also be good to say.

They should go paid EMS or they could just disban the ambulance part. Mt Pleasant should make their own EMS system and be done with everything else. Pay everyone. Maybe I would join back up if I was getting PAID.

I did my time as a VOLLEY not doing it for FREE anymore.

Not sure how to post the artlicle like you guys so I just Cut/Paste. What is the world coming too? Maybe we should just pay all of the convicts in the world. This is a smear to all LE around the world. The Town of Greenburgh should be ashamed of themselves for even thinking of settling this. Want to see what Moral does to GPD now.

GREENBURGH - A former police officer is criticizing the decision by town officials to settle a lawsuit brought by a convicted drug user against the officer and his partner.

The Town Board on Wednesday authorized a $7,500 payment to settle the $1.5 million lawsuit by Fred Wall, who claimed he was injured when Officer Erik Ward and Detective Paul Fertig arrested him two years ago.

Ward wrote Supervisor Paul Feiner and the other Town Board members last week after he learned of the proposed settlement:

"As I have just depleted my life savings on legal bills defending myself against crimes and actions that I have not committed. And as I work as a truck driver earning $239 a week in what seems like a futile attempt to keep my home and on occasion feed myself. You want to pay off a habitual crack addict and violent offender for his pain."

Ward was fired this year after his involvement with a dominatrix. The dominatrix said that when they met after her arrest on a marijuana charge, she had defecated for him as he masturbated.

Ward insisted she made up the allegations, and he was acquitted of a misdemeanor, official misconduct, in Town Court.

But the Town Board fired him after finding him guilty of disciplinary charges brought by Chief John Kapica, because he did not follow the proper procedures for dealing with an informant and brought discredit upon the Police Department and the town.

Ward suggested it was the board members who were discrediting the town by settling with Wall.

"You should be thrashed in the media, not me," he wrote.

Feiner and Town Board member Diana Juettner declined to comment on the settlement or Ward's criticism. Juettner referred calls to David Fried in the Town Attorney's Office, but he could not be reached for comment.

Kapica said he worries about such settlements because they encourage people to sue and they suggest a lack of support for the police. But, he also said, there are times when it is practical for the town to settle rather than pay legal fees to fight a lawsuit.

"I hate it. I absolutely hate it," Kapica said of such settlements. "But that's tort law in this country."

Kapica said the $7,500 in Wall's case seemed to make fiscal sense.

Wall was arrested by Ward and Fertig twice in 2005, first in June and then on Sept. 29, after they saw him smoking crack.

When they approached him the second time, he began to run, and they pounced on him after he slipped and fell.

The officers said he scuffled with them, and Ward hurt his wrist and elbow when Wall rolled over on top of his arm.

Wall pleaded guilty to assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and misdemeanor drug possession in February 2006 and was sent to the county jail for nine months. Soon after he got out, he sued the town, Ward and Fertig, claiming his constitutional rights were violated by the officers' use of excessive force.

Wall made a complaint to the police in November 2005 that the officers had used excessive force.

Thomas Troetti, Ward's lawyer, said Wall saw an easy payday and sued after he learned Ward was embroiled in the dominatrix scandal beginning in January 2006. Wall and his lawyer could not be reached for comment.

They should hire Transcare personell if they do anything. Valhalla Vac already has some part timers from Transcare and the Medics are from Transcare so why would Hawthorne go with Empress? I know why because they are Hawthorne and have to do everything different.

We try and train with Croton PD Dive Team at least 3 times a year. They are some good guys and we always have a good time training. We have actually called them to help us out on some recovery things.

I don't think a County Wide Dive Team would ever happen. How would we get paid? How would we get called out? There are too many things that can happen.

Chris I agree and maybe I miss spoke about the rescue part. If it is a true rescue IE: plane, car, train, bus, even a person into the water, I would call who could get there the fastest. Recovery you can call us because I like the OT.

WCDPS did at one time I think have some divers. I know that they have their Marine Unit on the water at one time as well.

I would hope that one day we can get our hands into getting some of our guys onto the Hudson during the nice weather months. Since the Village of Sleepy Hollow is technically in Mt Pleasant we should be able to be in the H.E.A.T program that GPD runs with some other agencies.

Talking to some of the Yonkers ESU guys yesterday they said they may be setting something up with you guys Chris and the Heli and going into the Hudson. They asked if we would be interested and of course we would. So you never know. Maybe the County will buy a Bell 412 and we can start doing some of those rescues as well.

I would say if you need for a "quick recovery" then NYSP would not be my first choice for anywhere in the county just because of where they have to come from. Most of our team lives local and we should be able to be on scene ASAP but you know how that goes. We have been working out of a temporary "DIVE AMBULANCE" for about 3 weeks now and every week we have been going somewhere else. That is good for us just a pain in the a** switching the gear back and fourth.

We were in the Saw Mill River today in Yonkers and let me tell you this was not fun. Not only was it cold but the current was rippin. On the way down I was saying how bad could it be. It was pretty bad in some spots. All in All a good day and I just want to give a shout out to Yonkers PD. Their DD and ESU were great too us today. Although just for recovery of evidence they were with us the whole time. Hopefully can go back when the water goes down a bit.

I should post about not being called out all the time. Going to Yonkers in the morn to help them with an investigation. Boy I love getting this OT.

True NYSP and NYPD both have Dive Teams but they are scattered. I know that NYSP divers come from up north at least an hour away. You might have some of their team on sight but not enough to run an operation. As for NYPD they may help in the sound and they may help in the Hudson if they are close to Yonkers. Nassau County PD helps on the other end of the Sound if needed.

Chris192 you would think we were full time the way we have been getting called out. We prob won't get called now for the rest of the year. Very weird how it works out. I think that the County has enough for what actually happens here. I would not start up another team. Doens't make sense to me.

After all this talk about diving and we get called out this morn to go to the Hudson. No luck. Going back on Fri sometime to give it another go.

I agree with all the lakes and stuff in Putnam. There are tons here in Westchester but I also don't agree with someone throwing on a tank and going in the water. It is very dangerours at all times. We would be more than happy to come up there. A couple of our guys live in Carmel so they might know the area.

Has anyone heard or this thing called Murphy's Law? It is new to me. LOL Always happens when you don't want it too. Mr Murphy seems to follow me around.

Wow I didn't know that there was such an interest in Dive Teams. I don't think that all PD's/FD's should have one though. Biggest problem is the money. As with anything money is a pain in the a** to get. FD's have alot more resources so it should be easier. Most of our gear is our own personal. Not all but most. We do have 4 AGA set ups with comms ready to go at a moment's notice. I personally don't like the AGA because I guess I am not used to "free breathing". If I had some training with a SCBA I think it must be similar.

Rescue diving is VERY MUCH DIFFERENT than recreational and just for that you need to be very picky on who you let on your team. We have requirements on swimming a certain distance with and without fins and some other stuff. Something to think about. I don't care how much someone has experience. Every dive is different.

Take the story of the 4 guys from Jersey that went went to a wreck in Key Largo, Fl. 3 died, the other made it out because he went with his instinct. All the divers were very skilled but according to the article may have been where they shouldn't have been.

KFIRE94. If you ever need something in Putnam feel free to give us a shout. I think the next available Side Scan Sonar is near Buffalo and I think maybe somewhere on LONG ISLAND. You are our neighbors and we like to do it.

I look foward to more on this subject. I would like to know why you think that your AGENCY NEEDS or WANTS A DIVE TEAM. Just out of curiosity. And to see if I am going to lose out on OT. LOL

This what I can tell you about the Mt Pleasant Dive Team since I have been a member since 2001.

There are currently 8 members on the team. All are certified divers with many of us having many more certifications. I was a NYS Paramedic for a long time before I bacame a LEO and they asked me to join because of that EMS experience. I then went out and got my certification. I can tell you it is the best thing in the world being underwater. However when we train it is hard work and there really is no room for screwing around. We have a good time but we act professional.

We have all taken Dive Rescue 1. We have all taken Underwater Crime Scene 1 which is like Dive Rescue 1 or 2. Some have taken Ice Water/diving rescue and the rest of will take that soon hopefully. We all can operate the boats and any other equipment that we have.

We are also the ONLY DIVE TEAM in the area and I think out of 3 in the state to have SIDE SCAN SONAR. We have all been certified on how to use that as well. Some of us are more computer literate than others though.

We try and train at least once a month sometimes twice. All of us must get in the water at some point to keep our skills up. We also go to a local pool and practice confidence diving when we can. Meaning we black out our masks and have to swim through obstacles pushing our gear through then putting it back on withough being able to see. This is because you can't see sh*t around here underwater.

Being that we live in a climate area where the water doen't really get that warm we ALL use DRY SUITS. I have never taking that class but learned how to use it. Most of our divers have over 20 diving experience and they are great to learn from.

In the past we have trained with the Irvington FD in the Irvington Reservoir removing a plane. We train with Croton on Hudson a couple of times a year and we were the backup divers to NYSP up in Bedford whent he Teen tipped over in his KYACK. Hope that helped.

You need a minimum of 3 divers ready at all times. One in the water, his/her backup and 90% diver for the backup. That insures that everyone is safe. We also us underwater communications whenever we can so you need a line tender. I wish we had more hands on our team but we get the job done. Be safe.

P.S. I might be forgetting some stuff but if you are interested I have some great pictures on here. Just not sure how to put on EMT Bravo.

Mt Pleasant PD does have a Dive Team. We have been called out to Mamaroneck and Yonkers in the past three weeks. Of course it is always when it is cold outside. Croton on Hudson PD has a dive team as well and I heard that New Rochelle Pd might have started theirs back up. I know they were interested in training with us a couple of months back. Hope that helped you out. If anyone is interested I have some pictures.

Everyone knows that it is very clear that EMS has issues of parity of law enforcement and firefighting, and a part of the problem starts right with us, EMS providers! 

First, there is no unity amongst EMS providers in this county (Westchester).  Firefighters look at eachother as "brother firefighters", law enforcement officers look at eachother as "brother police officers" (don't mean to offend any females reading this board).  There is no strong unity, or brotherhood (err, womanhood), in EMS, there is no unity to stand up and fight for our rights as EMS workers, rights to better pay, better training, a better EMS system for us and for our communities.  When an issue arises with a police department or fire department, whether it's pay or staffing levels, or whatever it may be, a representative is there on TV or in the newspaper making the public aware of these issues.  Who's making the public aware of the issues at hand for us?  How much of the general public is aware of the training, commitment, continual training, knowledge, or capabilities of EMS providers in this county?  Who's our voice, our representative? 

Next, how many times have you seen a crew of a commercial EMS agency getting out of their ambulance, hats on backwards, shirts untucked, pizza stains on their jacket.  Not to knock volunteers, because volunteering was how I began my interest in EMS and public safety, but volunteers showing up on jobs in shorts and hawaiian luau shirts like they just came from a beach resort?  How are we supposed to be seen as professionals when we don't look professional in the public's eye?  I know one agency who allows their members to wear jeans and sneakers with a duty shirt when they're riding... when have you ever seen a uniformed police officer on routine patrol wearing jeans with a uniform shirt and a gunbelt? 

To touch on a little something I brought up before... as EMS professionals, how many times have you opened up the newspaper and read an article on how "Police saves man's life doing CPR", only to find the last line to read, "and the patient was transported by paramedics to the hospital".  I know it burns me as a paramedic to read that.  Knowing the hard work that I put in to intubate, defibrillate, medicate, and all sortsa other ate's to the patient to stabilize them and get them to the hospital alive.  Police departments and Fire departments have people who are public information officers, someone who releases stories like this to the media.  So, who's our public information officer?  Who's the one showing the media how crucial EMS providers are and how many lives we're responsible for saving EACH DAY. 

To wrap up my little tangent here, I lastly place my blame on the higher ups in this county... those that have the power to make a difference, those that have the political connections, the media connections, and the ability to promote EMS, to make the public realize what a crucial, and necessary service it is that we provide.  In my eyes, we have been failed by them.  Look at the Westchester County DES website.  Look at how many different training classes there are available to firefighters.  What's available to EMS?  NOTHING! Absolutely nothing.  They post the EMT classes across the county, and that's it.  Why isn't our glorious EMS division offering PHTLS, PALS, NALS, ACLS, WMD, AHLS, Rope Rescue courses for EMS providers, Rescue Technician Training to allow EMS providers to better access patients in austere environments?  Right now if I want to take ACLS or PALS or PHTLS, I have to shell the money out of my own pocket.  The DES's claim to fame was the mutual aid agreement.  Big deal.  What's the point of a mutual aid agreement when you have to get five steps into it to get a bus for an unresponsive.  I'm sorry to say it, but even the "EMS BBQ" at Rye Playland is a joke.  That's the most news coverage we get all year, 2 minutes on news 12 about how the "ambulance drivers" are getting together at Playland for a barbecue.  When there is no uniformity and leadership at the top, how do you expect the troops to fall in and follow suit?

We have failed ourselves here, and failed ourselves miserably.  We can't expect the public and municipalities to understand and realize what a crucial service we provide if we don't stand together, as a professional and unified front.  When we look professional, sound professional (and educated for that matter), and act professional, then we will be treated how we want to be... like PROFESSIONALS!  Until then, we will continue to be stuck, in the eyes of the public and the media, as just a bunch of ambulance drivers.

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JJB, EXCELLENT points. In LE some books and classes stress that APPEARANCE is everything. If you look professional then it is LESS LIKELY that a person is going to mess with you. The theory is when you have intial contact with a person(s) they probably quickly look to how you appear to them. If you are dressed like a slob then they probably think that you really don't care about your job therefore you might be an easy target for an attack. If your uniform is pressed and your boots are polished they may think twice about attacking you. That is just what I have read and heard but LOOKS are the first thing that we see when we interact with the public.

I liked the fact that the Empress bosses would pick and choose the jobs they went to..... ya just never knew who would show up...keep you on your toes.

Oh how I miss the days of. "301 on the back...."

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Wow I didn't think I would ever see on here "301 on the back". I will agree that way back when I was down in Yonkers you had no idea when a supervisor was going to show up a on a job. I did figure out though that if you were competent enough they left you alone.

I have to say "BUCK" aka B.V. was the best Supervisor I ever had.

I have been interestd in trying to find a class local if Poss. I know that some of our Local VFD's do some training but I would like basic course. If anyone knows for PD that would be great.

They did an episode on FUTURE WEAPONS with that stuff. Really does look cool. I am waiting for someone to invent something that is as powerful and less bulky.

I still don't get it about these blue/green lights. I was in an ambulance corps back in the day and I didn't have a light. I am now on the other side and when I see people driving down the street with lights on but stopping for all traffic signals like they should it makes me wonder what the point is of having them. I don't care that you are a vollie going to your building. Just get there and get to the scene. Most people live in close proximtiy to there respectable buildings anyway. Maybe it's just me. Oh well if they keep selling them, people will keep buying them.

They don't own the Travel Co in Yonkers called EMPRESS.

I didn't even know this was a topic until today 12/14/06. I read most of your posts and I am not sure what side of the fence I should be on. Being in LE, I of course support what I do. Being that the rest of my family is involved in FD's I agree with them and there has been many a topic over dinner.

I do believe that at times there are way to many EMERGENCY VEHICLES for once scene. Given the nature you may need more than less and vice versa. I happen to live and work in an area where there is only Volunteer FD's. They do show up in their personal vehicles and it causes havoc. Who has the scene? I don't know. I lik to think that if it is an accident I do and if it is a car fire or something else FD does. Just my opinion I know nobody thinks like that.

I do know of a case where a VFD member moved one of our Patrol Veh so that he could get through. The only thing that saved him from being locked up was that the PO was a volunteer firemen.

So I guess every situation is different and in the future there will be more disagreements on this subject. BE SAFE

Yes they could buy or steal whatever they wanted. That's why they are CRIMINALS. We could just use a cup and string. They can't intercept that. Or maybe even smoke signals would work.

Every City/Town/Village Dept in Westchester should switch to DIGITAL. Not only so we can all communicate if something bad happens but to also keep the criminals from listening to what is going on. They get a jump on things because we put it over the air.

They should have just dragged him out of there. In that setting a super LIBERAL school with students trying to defend this subject. Of course on the Video we don't see the begininng and the quality isn't that good. I think I counted 3 tases. What is wrong with that guy not to comply? Should be interesting to see what is going to happen.

That sucks. Anyone trained to use a knife can be deadly. I have seen video's of Knife experts. You can barely see the knife in there hand until it is too late. I guess that is why they say you have 21ft to draw and shoot against someone with a knife.

That was sort of my point. I don't think it was excessive. You can hear the suspect saying that he couldn't breathe. All he had to do was comply and everything would have been fine. I look at it this way. I would rather be judged by 12 then carried by 6.

I am new to the LE portion of EMS BRAVO but have posted in the past on EMS/FIRE Issues. Anyway when I turned on AOL today they had a video of a "GANG BANGER" in LA resisting arrest. Of course they only show one of the cops with his knee on the suspects throat and both PO's were attempting to turn him on his back and cuff him. Is it that hard to listen to directions? I saw one cop punch the suspect in the face more than 4times and that was not a problem. They finally turned him on his back and cuffed him. Now some Liberal lawyer is crying POLICE BRUTALITY. It's not like he knocked him unconscience or anything. On the tape you can hear the suspect saying that he can't breathe. Then he should have complied and not #1 run from the cops and #2 not resist arrest. I am sick of all the criminals having the rights when they do something wrong and we do our job. I just needed to get that off my chest. Everyone Be safe.

Can anyone read these? I mean anyone registered to EMS BRAVO? I know that the main people can but I some subjects may be not be for others to see.