grumpyff

Barry,
As i am sure you are well aware, this problem goes well beyond Westchester and its very unfortunate, not to mention down right dangerous.
Many Depts can not get enough properly trained FFs out on routine runs on a frequent basis, let alone for actual fires. It seems many in charge continue to bury their heads in the sand and still have the "we're only volunteers and do the best we can" mentality.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is 2013 and the "we're only volunteers" nonsense has got to stop.
It is sad that it may come down to a fatality (civilian or FF) before there is any change and that may not even be enough.
If you know that your FD has a manpower issue (and you do), then you need to not only admit it, but do something about it!
Whether it be through automatic mutual-aid or consolidation (gasp), you must do whats right and owed to your community.
Unfortunately this is not the first time we've had this discussion and even more unfortunate, it will not be the last.
Just my useless 2 cents
Stay safe

We have 58 Fire depts. in Westchester and many have trouble getting enough trained firefighters on scene. Many have more equipment then they can ever manage to get out the door and this situation puts the public & firefighters in danger.
I suspect nothing will change until a multi fatality fire AND a lawsuit against the fire dist /municipality and/or the chief(s).
Its really sad that depts are not willing to solve this problem.

Westchester, repeat after me, "People are stupid. Very Stupid."
The roads we have, pretty much have not changed greatly in the last 10 years or so. It is not an engineering problem for the most part. You can spend all the money on signs,lights and reflective striping, but the stupid driver that is in a rush, on a phone, laptop, ipad, just too self absorbed to say they are a bad driver, just plain too stupid to not understand how to drive will continue to do stupid things behind the wheel. Just take a walk through a mall or a store, people are too stupid to keep to the right when they walk. Ride a bus or a train, yup there is Mr. Stupid trying to push his way onto the bus or train before letting others off. Society has taught these people their s*** does not stink, and that they are the most important person in the world. It is always someone elses fault, never there own.

Westchester, repeat after me, "People are stupid. Very Stupid."
The roads we have, pretty much have not changed greatly in the last 10 years or so. It is not an engineering problem for the most part. You can spend all the money on signs,lights and reflective striping, but the stupid driver that is in a rush, on a phone, laptop, ipad, just too self absorbed to say they are a bad driver, just plain too stupid to not understand how to drive will continue to do stupid things behind the wheel. Just take a walk through a mall or a store, people are too stupid to keep to the right when they walk. Ride a bus or a train, yup there is Mr. Stupid trying to push his way onto the bus or train before letting others off. Society has taught these people their s*** does not stink, and that they are the most important person in the world. It is always someone elses fault, never there own.

Westchester, repeat after me, "People are stupid. Very Stupid."
The roads we have, pretty much have not changed greatly in the last 10 years or so. It is not an engineering problem for the most part. You can spend all the money on signs,lights and reflective striping, but the stupid driver that is in a rush, on a phone, laptop, ipad, just too self absorbed to say they are a bad driver, just plain too stupid to not understand how to drive will continue to do stupid things behind the wheel. Just take a walk through a mall or a store, people are too stupid to keep to the right when they walk. Ride a bus or a train, yup there is Mr. Stupid trying to push his way onto the bus or train before letting others off. Society has taught these people their s*** does not stink, and that they are the most important person in the world. It is always someone elses fault, never there own.

Here is the most recent poster from our Early Intervention Unit

and the sticker that is affixed to every locker in the Police Department. It is in your face everyday. With that said, we continue to experience suicides. There is help if is needed, it is just a matter of making the call. Also the group known as POPPA, has a separate phone line for retired members as well. I think they may be one of the few groups that will talk to retired guys

Westchester, repeat after me, "People are stupid. Very Stupid."
The roads we have, pretty much have not changed greatly in the last 10 years or so. It is not an engineering problem for the most part. You can spend all the money on signs,lights and reflective striping, but the stupid driver that is in a rush, on a phone, laptop, ipad, just too self absorbed to say they are a bad driver, just plain too stupid to not understand how to drive will continue to do stupid things behind the wheel. Just take a walk through a mall or a store, people are too stupid to keep to the right when they walk. Ride a bus or a train, yup there is Mr. Stupid trying to push his way onto the bus or train before letting others off. Society has taught these people their s*** does not stink, and that they are the most important person in the world. It is always someone elses fault, never there own.

You cant fix stupid.

Westchester, repeat after me, "People are stupid. Very Stupid."
The roads we have, pretty much have not changed greatly in the last 10 years or so. It is not an engineering problem for the most part. You can spend all the money on signs,lights and reflective striping, but the stupid driver that is in a rush, on a phone, laptop, ipad, just too self absorbed to say they are a bad driver, just plain too stupid to not understand how to drive will continue to do stupid things behind the wheel. Just take a walk through a mall or a store, people are too stupid to keep to the right when they walk. Ride a bus or a train, yup there is Mr. Stupid trying to push his way onto the bus or train before letting others off. Society has taught these people their s*** does not stink, and that they are the most important person in the world. It is always someone elses fault, never there own.

Westchester, repeat after me, "People are stupid. Very Stupid."
The roads we have, pretty much have not changed greatly in the last 10 years or so. It is not an engineering problem for the most part. You can spend all the money on signs,lights and reflective striping, but the stupid driver that is in a rush, on a phone, laptop, ipad, just too self absorbed to say they are a bad driver, just plain too stupid to not understand how to drive will continue to do stupid things behind the wheel. Just take a walk through a mall or a store, people are too stupid to keep to the right when they walk. Ride a bus or a train, yup there is Mr. Stupid trying to push his way onto the bus or train before letting others off. Society has taught these people their s*** does not stink, and that they are the most important person in the world. It is always someone elses fault, never there own.

Westchester, repeat after me, "People are stupid. Very Stupid."
The roads we have, pretty much have not changed greatly in the last 10 years or so. It is not an engineering problem for the most part. You can spend all the money on signs,lights and reflective striping, but the stupid driver that is in a rush, on a phone, laptop, ipad, just too self absorbed to say they are a bad driver, just plain too stupid to not understand how to drive will continue to do stupid things behind the wheel. Just take a walk through a mall or a store, people are too stupid to keep to the right when they walk. Ride a bus or a train, yup there is Mr. Stupid trying to push his way onto the bus or train before letting others off. Society has taught these people their s*** does not stink, and that they are the most important person in the world. It is always someone elses fault, never there own.

You cant fix stupid.

You cant fix stupid.

So many calls, one of the few that did not involve someones loss of property, life or severe injury... In 1994, I had the pleasure of being part of crew that delivered a healthy baby boy in their house. I still remember going back out to the bus to get the stretcher when the Mount Pleasant PD officer on scene told his dispatch "A healthy baby boy was just delivered, I need the official time." The dispatcher responded "0113 hours". At that point the officer looked up, it was also his shield number.

The Nova was just recently completed by Precision Auto Body in Beekman, my cousin works at the shop and the PK journal came out and did a piece on both of the older DSCO cars.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130501/NEWS01/130501007/Sheriff-s-Office-puts-restored-70s-police-car-display

older Dutchess County Sheriff cars from the 1970's

2013 Ford Police Interceptor

Here are the pictures I took this afternoon.











I heard some comm's on Fireground 3 around this exercise. This Evening as I was returning home it appeared they were using the smokehouse.

Some of what you suggest might be more appropriate if all involved were part of the same agency. In that situation, I would agree that talking to the person directly might be the best way to start working to a resolution.
However, in the situation described, the OP and the FF in question are employed by different agencies. Typically, inter-agency problems in para-military organizations are supposed to be handled via the "chain of command". This is exactly the type of issue that should be handled that way rather than as a one on one bonding session.
As presented, this is not a situation were a provider is in need of assistance from a peer to improve their patient care. He appears to be providing NO patient care if the patient is not a specific race. That requires immediate action by his superiors, NOT peer counseling.

You're right. For those involved in the WTC, nothing will ever compare to that. In fact nothing will ever compare to that day. The plane crash in Shanksville, Pa. The Pentagon. All air traffic shut down. People fleeing Manhattan. People helping people. Hospitals as far away as New Haven, Ct preparing for injuried to be brought in on trains.
That beautiful day became Americas darkest cloud. September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten. Over 3,000 innocent people were murdered that day in a few short hours. Many have passed on from the effects of that day. Many are still suffering with breathing and sinus problems.
How can anything else compare ?

So many calls, one of the few that did not involve someones loss of property, life or severe injury... In 1994, I had the pleasure of being part of crew that delivered a healthy baby boy in their house. I still remember going back out to the bus to get the stretcher when the Mount Pleasant PD officer on scene told his dispatch "A healthy baby boy was just delivered, I need the official time." The dispatcher responded "0113 hours". At that point the officer looked up, it was also his shield number.

So many calls, one of the few that did not involve someones loss of property, life or severe injury... In 1994, I had the pleasure of being part of crew that delivered a healthy baby boy in their house. I still remember going back out to the bus to get the stretcher when the Mount Pleasant PD officer on scene told his dispatch "A healthy baby boy was just delivered, I need the official time." The dispatcher responded "0113 hours". At that point the officer looked up, it was also his shield number.

So many calls, one of the few that did not involve someones loss of property, life or severe injury... In 1994, I had the pleasure of being part of crew that delivered a healthy baby boy in their house. I still remember going back out to the bus to get the stretcher when the Mount Pleasant PD officer on scene told his dispatch "A healthy baby boy was just delivered, I need the official time." The dispatcher responded "0113 hours". At that point the officer looked up, it was also his shield number.

So many calls, one of the few that did not involve someones loss of property, life or severe injury... In 1994, I had the pleasure of being part of crew that delivered a healthy baby boy in their house. I still remember going back out to the bus to get the stretcher when the Mount Pleasant PD officer on scene told his dispatch "A healthy baby boy was just delivered, I need the official time." The dispatcher responded "0113 hours". At that point the officer looked up, it was also his shield number.