velcroMedic1987

Gotta wonder what happened.  This isn't the usual MV drama.
 

Stupid.  Just plain stupid.

If there's no policy, they didn't do anything wrong.  If there is a policy and a photo of turnout gear violates it, well, that's pretty extreme.
 
 

 
 
Illegal?  What law is being broken? 

Can you describe what conduct is illegal if they do go through with this?
 

Stupid.  Just plain stupid.

If there's no policy, they didn't do anything wrong.  If there is a policy and a photo of turnout gear violates it, well, that's pretty extreme.
 
 

This is a rerun of the same discussion over the years.  Nothing is going to change so long as we have these little empires and emperors running things.
 

 
The one Hall of Fame that no one wants to be inducted to! May the inductees be few! 

There's a Fallen Firefighters Memorial.  That's the hall of fame for the fire service.
 
 

This is a rerun of the same discussion over the years.  Nothing is going to change so long as we have these little empires and emperors running things.
 

This is a rerun of the same discussion over the years.  Nothing is going to change so long as we have these little empires and emperors running things.
 

This is a rerun of the same discussion over the years.  Nothing is going to change so long as we have these little empires and emperors running things.
 

death and taxes the only things with 100% gaurentee that will happen to you in life. 

This is just another example of the County Executive Astorino saying one thing and doing another. He wants to make all these promises, he needs to keep them. 

 
I never said that the luxury items were a bad thing.  If your department can afford them and justify the cost for it's use, then buy it and use it.
 
On another note, to operate the drone (since this thread is about drones) you have to invest someone on the fireground to fly it.  This takes a person away from the fire fight that could make a difference elsewhere on the fireground, all just to put a miniature helicopter in the air.  We already have manpower issues (which you mentioned).  We don't have enough people on scene as it is, so why make one of them operate a drone.
 
 
My bad about the course.  It's something the FAA has thrown around a few dozen times, but it hasn't grabbed yet.  I'm sure they'll require it soon (probably after an accident happens).
 
And, yes, you are correct, you can fly a registered drone at the airport.  Airport Operations and the Control Tower must agree, and if the Control Tower agrees you must have an aviation radio to remain in constant contact with the Tower (you must also obey ALL of their instructions).  But, I don't know of many airport operators and controllers that would allow you to fly a quadcopter or other R/C aerial device AT an airport....you could probably get away with it at a remote uncontrolled field upstate, or just go to a certified Radio Control "Airport."  I know for a fact that if you try to fly anything at Westchester (at least for recreational purposes) you're going to be told no.  We've already had a handful of incidents with drones.

So the town is actually investigating options for EMS.  They should be commended for that!  Most towns rely on the provider, whether VAC, VFD, commercial, mixed, or whatever, and provide no insight or guidance whatsoever.  Let's face it, any municipal service should have oversight, even EMS.
 

So the town is actually investigating options for EMS.  They should be commended for that!  Most towns rely on the provider, whether VAC, VFD, commercial, mixed, or whatever, and provide no insight or guidance whatsoever.  Let's face it, any municipal service should have oversight, even EMS.
 

Love the cooperation.  Just wondering how they coordinated the effort.  Anyone know how they communicated and coordinated?
 

Love the cooperation.  Just wondering how they coordinated the effort.  Anyone know how they communicated and coordinated?
 

Love the cooperation.  Just wondering how they coordinated the effort.  Anyone know how they communicated and coordinated?
 

So the town is actually investigating options for EMS.  They should be commended for that!  Most towns rely on the provider, whether VAC, VFD, commercial, mixed, or whatever, and provide no insight or guidance whatsoever.  Let's face it, any municipal service should have oversight, even EMS.
 

So the town is actually investigating options for EMS.  They should be commended for that!  Most towns rely on the provider, whether VAC, VFD, commercial, mixed, or whatever, and provide no insight or guidance whatsoever.  Let's face it, any municipal service should have oversight, even EMS.
 

So is anyone aware of any truth to this?  Besides a Facebook rant and copied email from a HEMS insider, have there been any news reports, statements from the town or anything that suggests this is accurate?

It's the town's prerogative to contact for services within their borders so the notion that they don't have any right to review HEMS financial statements or discuss service(s) provided is nuts.  They provided $550,000 to the "VAC" this year so it's clear the town has a stake in it. 
 

NYS law requires ALL career officers to FLIP school

 
 
Of course they are not going to receive the same benefits as a municipal civil-service employee.  They will get workers compensation and whatever their agency provides insurance wise.  There's never going to be parity between commercial (or volunteer) EMS providers and municipal police/fire.  Police/fire LODI/LODD benefits are the result of legislation and collective bargaining agreements negotiated over years of such contracts.  Given that they're always trying to cut the benefits for the civil service workers, they're NEVER going to extend that level of coverage to the employee of a private corporation. 

The responsibility should be on the private service putting their personnel in that situation.  If they are not providing their employee with adequate protection, someone should be asking "what are we doing here"?
 
 If they want to put a commercial paramedic on a municipal SWAT team, there must be some sort of indemnification for the town/city/village.  If there isn't such an agreement, the town attorney or city counsel must not have been consulted.  They won't let you borrow a shovel without an agreement and details about liability and indemnification.
 
 

 
 
Of course they are not going to receive the same benefits as a municipal civil-service employee.  They will get workers compensation and whatever their agency provides insurance wise.  There's never going to be parity between commercial (or volunteer) EMS providers and municipal police/fire.  Police/fire LODI/LODD benefits are the result of legislation and collective bargaining agreements negotiated over years of such contracts.  Given that they're always trying to cut the benefits for the civil service workers, they're NEVER going to extend that level of coverage to the employee of a private corporation. 

The responsibility should be on the private service putting their personnel in that situation.  If they are not providing their employee with adequate protection, someone should be asking "what are we doing here"?
 
 If they want to put a commercial paramedic on a municipal SWAT team, there must be some sort of indemnification for the town/city/village.  If there isn't such an agreement, the town attorney or city counsel must not have been consulted.  They won't let you borrow a shovel without an agreement and details about liability and indemnification.
 
 

They've been talking about demolishing Ruth Taylor for years so I bet that's a part of it. 
 
Where's the money coming for this?  Is it tax money - yet again - for the public benefit corporation?  

Have they paid back the millions of tax dollars that the County gave them during their bailouts over the years?