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Post by commonsense on Aug 6, 2007 20:47:53 GMT -5
Don
Your right, I haven't heard a thing on here about the Junior FF Academy that took place last week. I got see a lot of old timers & see a group of young Adults get some great Training.
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Post by Brian McCaffrey on Aug 7, 2007 8:38:28 GMT -5
 [gets up to get some fresh popcorn and refill the iced tea]
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Post by hitower on Aug 7, 2007 21:41:36 GMT -5
Les My brother I commend you for encouraging that all keep the individuals name out of their posts. HOWEVER, it was all over the scanner at the time of the stop.
It is sad.... Many Vol wonder why no one yields to the "Courtesy Light". Hell this action has made it difficult for marked patrol units, fire apparatus and EMS.
Again a little COMMON SENSE, goes a long way.
Don't take the privilege away from all that do not abuse it. But you know our State.... this may happen.
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Post by HMWMDSpecialist on Aug 8, 2007 7:37:52 GMT -5
Brother Terry, And to think you used to bust my stones about my lightbars. I never did anything wrong but you used to get a laugh when I got hot about it   . Now you have a single person in this county who misused the privilege of having such a device and scared a woman and her two children. Now she and many others will be weary any time a vehicle with any type of light gets behind them. I say shame shame shame. Les |
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Post by HMWMDSpecialist on Aug 8, 2007 7:44:52 GMT -5
Why do we harp on the negative issues so long? Lets move on!! How come no one ever posts the positive events that occur in our departments? I see lots of cool stuff on the various department websites, but I guess that does not cause people to jump all over things. Ever wonder why people do not come around your stations? Look at yourselves and how you come across. Remember that you only have one chance to make a good first impression. Last thing, there are more than thirty organizations offering fire and EMS opportunities in Franklin county. Some people just do not fit into some stations, but excel well in another. Plain and simple, it is time for a BIG GROUP HUG ;D See you at the top Don E Jr. Foot, Then maybe you should have been the first to post it in the junior member section. You always promote the lead by example model. I applaud these young persons for taking the first steps to their future. Now here comes the BUT...This thread was about how we get hurt by the stupidity of others. The junior members academy was a positive event and should not be lumped into this. I posted what is fact and had hoped to raise awareness of a damaging issue/event so that others would be aware and informed. |
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Post by caveman on Aug 8, 2007 15:01:26 GMT -5
THE WAYNESBORO RECORD HERALD
Local News
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Company expels firefighter
CHAMBERSBURG - A volunteer firefighter charged in connection with an alleged police impersonation incident July 20 in Washington Township has been expelled from Friendship Fire Co.
Gregory Thomas Warne, 21, of 2284 Philadelphia Ave. was charged by Washington Township police with disorderly conduct and a summary traffic violation after he allegedly activated blue lights on his Chevy Blazer while following Sandy Martinez of Waynesboro.
Martinez told police he started to pass her, slowed down and laughed at her through the open passenger side window.
A spokesman said his membership was terminated because his actions, whether they directly affect the fire company or not, are not tolerated.
The lights on Warne's vehicle were installed in conjunction with his membership in the Franklin County Air Unit and not the fire company, the spokesman said.
Warne also was placed on a 30-day suspension from the air unit effective July 26.
Published: Wednesday, August 8, 2007 9:50 AM CDT
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Post by Firefighter33 on Aug 8, 2007 15:20:24 GMT -5
Hats off to the friendships for expelling the named individual.
All departments that he belongs to should do the same for what he has done.
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Post by hitower on Aug 8, 2007 15:45:07 GMT -5
Okay slow down here sports fans....
Lets not be stating the untrue facts.
The subject of this investigation received a Disorderly Conduct Charge along with Summary Traffic Violations. Not "Impersonating a law enforcement or government official."
Bro. Les you know this issue always has chapped my a**. Lets go off of Foots recommendation of talking positive.
Chief Officer's
Please start overseeing and governing what your volunteers put on their vehicles. BLUE LIGHTS do not make the vehicle an emergency vehicle. You are only permitted by Title 75 PA Vehicle Code to install two revolving or flashing BLUE LIGHTS. Also for FYI these lights MUST be registered with the State Police Barrack in your county. You also can only place the "TWO revolving or Flashing BLUE LIGHTS" on one vehicle. If your significant other belongs to a Vol Service (I would suggest reading the section of Title 75 as it designates what services are permitted) then they may also register a vehicle with a BLUE LIGHT.
Another thing I know personally of one individual who is not authorized under the code that is utilizing a "RED/BLUE" combination. This is going to be an issue I am sure. Company's please step up and address the issue.
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Post by hitower on Aug 8, 2007 15:53:42 GMT -5
Brother Terry, And to think you used to bust my stones about my light bars. I never did anything wrong but you used to get a laugh when I got hot about it . [ b]Now you have a single person [/b][/u]in this county who misused the privilege of having such a device and scared a woman and her two children. Now she and many others will be weary any time a vehicle with any type of light gets behind them. I say shame shame shame. Les[/quote] This is one of many I am sure..... It is just that this individual had been identified and stopped. BTW why would you try this in Washington Twp, everyone knows how aggressive of a Department they have and that my friends is a great thing. Lets move on to "Brighter" things (no pun intended).................. Hope people learn from mistakes..... we as a nation realized this on 9/11 remember... mistakes hurt. |
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Post by themouthinthesouth on Aug 8, 2007 20:17:31 GMT -5
hitower, your last statement is very true and hits home all the way!!!
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Post by MAYTAG on Aug 11, 2007 19:38:01 GMT -5
Foot, The JR F/F Camp has NOTHING to do with this topic and should not even be part of this dicussion.
This incident is typical and one of the biggest problems in the fire service today. Far too many think emergency services personnel, VFD's, rescue squads, etc are above the law, holier than thou and untouchable.
They also feel that problems, such as this incident should be kept secret at all costs, even if it means going into the damage control/ coer-up, white wash mode. This only makes it worse in the publics eye.
Everyone wants to talk a big talk, but not the walk. So, when no-one wants to resolve issues, problems or worse, it's time for people to speak up and get the word out.
A serious incident happened here and it SHOULD NOT be ignored. The Friendships took swift and proactive actions and they should be commended.
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Post by BigFoot on Aug 12, 2007 8:49:36 GMT -5
Correct-do-mun-do, I agree that this was about the individual act of extreme stupidity. Why do our professional personnel continue to give us black eyes and making all of us look like a bunch of goof-balls.
Where we need the help is with the communications to the public. This initial article started out on page 1, above the fold. The arrest was on page 3, buried among the other random acts of stupidity.
I applaud Friendships for taking a quick and decisive stand, even though they had nothing to do with this since the beacon permission was issued by another department. There lies another issue that seems to happen throughout the volunteer service, when someone is expelled or suspended by one department, they pop up in another company, usually bringing the baggage of problems and issues with them. Some have turned around their lives and are very productive in other surroundings, and others simply forgot to flush the toilet, increasing the smell.
I have often questioned the operations of the Air Wagon, and why does it not have a home? With the NFPA regulations, that all of us follow, all of our departments have an air bottle replacement for each air pack. If you follow the regs to the letter, a firefighter is to go to rehab following the use of their bottle. How many fires last this long before evacuation is ordered? The air unit will bust its butt to get to the fire scene and then sit there to top off bottles for the departments. Is "balls to the walls" response really needed? This is a valuable asset to the county fire service, but is left to set in someones driveway. The county fleet of response vehicles are in a similar situation, parked neatly behind the Courthouse. All the while, most of our municipalities have expanded their garages to park their equipment, to keep it out of the elements, being responsible to the taxpayers.
I spilled a lot of personal thoughts here and they are only my personal thoughts. I think the Air Wagon crew are a fantastic group of dedicated folks that found the specialty operation that they like, which like many of us that have had to adapt to doing other tasks that need to be done.
Don EJr
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Post by MAYTAG on Aug 12, 2007 15:34:39 GMT -5
Don, I agree million % on all and let me vent also. Why is it that when someone in the fire service is accused of doing something wrong, it's front page, above the crease news. Makes the evening news on all the local TV and radio stations, bbut when they're found INNOCENT, it either is not news worthy or it's buried somewhere in the BS sections?  Piss poor media is the answer to that !!!! Just like one of the recent Monday articles on the VFD's. There were two items brought up at the VERY beginning of the artile that #1, NEVER should have been part of the article and #2, the fire dept rep should have stated "NO COMMENT" !!! But oh no, the incidents had to brought up again and in one, mis-information was again given!!!! Now onto the air unit responses. Well that goes hand in hand with alot of things, there are no standards !!!!!!!!! Just another one of the big talker items, but no action !!! |
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Post by 10ENGINE on Aug 28, 2007 18:30:29 GMT -5
I can assure you, the Air Unit and it's operation will be addressed in the future. This unit was funded by the County and has no budget or guidance. Local departments provide fuel for it’s operation, and have no say in how it’s managed. We need to make better use of the services in which it provides and set standards for it's operation.
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Post by sandymartinez on Oct 31, 2007 23:30:38 GMT -5
This Is Sandy Martinez, and all I would like to say is this, I have a tremendous respect for all you do. Yes what Greg Warne did was wrong, but I understand that he is no longer with the dept. His actions reflect poor judgement and immature actions on HIS part. In no way do I think this is a shared form of ammusement to pass the time on your off days. The ONLY anger I still have over this issue is that my 7 year old daughter freaks out everytime she sees ANY vehicle with a light bar, asksing if it's 'going to come after us mommy'. I want her to respect every person especially those who believe in the motto 'TO HONOR AND TO SERVE'. So to all you out there, regardless of 1 persons actions, it shouldn't reflect on a community of people dedicated to our safety.
Thanks for your time.............................~Sandy Martinez
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. Now you have a single person in this county who misused the privilege of having such a device and scared a woman and her two children. Now she and many others will be weary any time a vehicle with any type of light gets behind them.
