SQDBOSS

With the News 12 report of HQ being condemned and vacated as per the City Engineer as of 0800 this morning. Can anyone shed light as to where the companies were relocated?

Steve wrote:
"What I am not clear about, is that I read there were over 200 calls to 911 about this gang driving recklessly all over the city.
I was viewing video prior to the incident on the Westside Highway. This gang was driving reckless ( driving on sidewalks, driving in the opposite lane of traffic and not stopping at red lights, to list a few) all over the city way before this incident occured.
Why was there not more done by the NYPD to control this gang?"
The city is a big place, while they met at Times Square, and were chased out of there, they came from all over, including from NJ. There were probably numerous incidents in numerous locations. There were bikes from all over coming from all directions. When they dispersed, they dispersed to all directions. As far as the number of 911 calls go, a big problem is evident in the video. Look at the speed they are travelling. A call will come in, but give it two minutes later, they are 25 blocks away, generating more 911 calls from every location in between as they go about their merry way. Where do you send the cars to? When you get there, what are the cars going to do, engage them in chases? By the time the RMP's get there, they are no longer there, the only way to possibly keep up with them is to chase them. This is not a group that will all pull over when you pull up behind them and turn your lights on. Get that thought out of your head.
Look at what happened last year when the NYPD chased one of the j*ckazzes in the Bronx, and the rider was killed, the cops were left looking at criminal charges. Would you be itching to chase these morons when your job and the DA's office are stuck in that mode of thinking?
These were not isolated incidents. This happens in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. I have never worked on Staten Island, but I am sure it happens there also. This has been happening for years, maybe not with this number of bikers, but groups of 10, 20, 50 or more are not uncommon. In the past, the powers that be decided they would rather not have the cops engage them.
They ignored the problem, hoping it would go away. It, very predictably, got worse.
Some bikes have no plates on them, some have the plates bent up so they are difficult to see. Many of these bikes to not have the proper plates on them, if you run them, they come back to other bikes, are expired, number altered, so just running the plate will do you no good, you have to catch the biker on it, which is a very difficult thing to do. They accelerate quicker, turn quicker, can make u-turns unto sidewalks and virtually any other maneuver they want, things a car cannot do. It is difficult to catch a single rider, imagine what happens when there are 10, 20, 50 or more, and they go separate directions. These azzhats are willing to run, eager actually.
The way they drive is self-destructive, they do not give a sh*t.
It would be great if the chase ended with the bike hitting an El pillar or a concrete bridge abutment (I have seen that happen, it was great!), but the problem with that thinking is that it is more likely to hit a pedestrian or innocent passenger car. I have chased a few and I have seen more than one incident where we gave up chasing due to safety considerations, and have seen the bikers stop or slow down to give us a chance to catch up to them again. Many want to be chased, I guess they think it is fun. That is a very difficult mindset to deal with. The cost are high, but they do not care. We have rules to follow and we have consequences to consider, they are not held by those considerations. The Department, in the past, has not been open to cops chasing bikes.
And, to add insult to injury, in the past, when we have caught them, they have been treated just like minor motor vehicle violations by the court systems. I have seen charges such as reckless endangerment, attempted assault, resisting arrest and so on reduced by the courts. It was not considered a big deal.
I guess now, with all the media attention, they will crack down on it now, but look what it took.

I understand guys feel FAST should be a rapid search, basic package, and drag this guy as fast as we can. BUT, not every scenario should be treated this way, not every scenario CAN be treated this way. Besides, we have all heard the stories of techniques like this causing more problems than solving.
In my own opinion, FAST is all about thinking outside the box. If FAST were about getting this guy out by simply dragging his @ss down a hallway then it simply would have been done already by the primary companies! It does not always have to consist of your most senior firefighters, but it for sure cannot consist of your newest.
I feel it is very important the team coming into district is a TEAM. By team I mean a group of Firefighters who train together and who respond together when requested. Not 2 engine companies in the community being placed out of service to respond as the FAST Team. (And Im not singling anyone out). As lame as it sounds, these teams should CONSTANTLY be drilling on the latest and buffiest YouTube video techniques available on the internet. You know, the videos of those know it all firemen trying to find the next best thing for the service. It helps, and it makes us think outside the box like I said I believe we should be doing.
They can be simple packaging & Denver drill maneuvers or even breaching a wall to a room of refuge for our victim. Hey, if we can simply drag him out than so be it. But back to what I was trying to say earlier...the through the hole drills, removal off the roof drills, the Blindfolded RIT-Pak familiarization drills, etc, etc, etc all NEED to be done. These are the FAST teams you want responding to your fire ground.
I believe the simple answer to the original question is XYZ department may be able to provide a bad @ss down and dirty basic Engine or Truck Company. But not every department can provide F.A.S.T. service and are smart enough to decline any request if they truly cannot provide a dedicated FAST Team.

I recently met the cousin of FF Galasso at my Department's Annual Memorial Service in May, whereas FF Galasso was also a Member of the West Harrison FD. She shared this story with me prior to our Services. I was taken aback by her story and the unfortunate situation surrounding his death. Great post, Thank You

As I complete my second full year as Chief of the West Harrison FD. This program is probably my proudest achievement. To see these men work and the interest they take in my Department and the fire service is second to none. This is the future of this Department, and the future for this community. I wholeheartedly commend my Program Coordinators/ Advisors, for the time and effort you put into this program and Thank my Junior Members for being there... Nice Job, boys!!

As I complete my second full year as Chief of the West Harrison FD. This program is probably my proudest achievement. To see these men work and the interest they take in my Department and the fire service is second to none. This is the future of this Department, and the future for this community. I wholeheartedly commend my Program Coordinators/ Advisors, for the time and effort you put into this program and Thank my Junior Members for being there... Nice Job, boys!!

As I complete my second full year as Chief of the West Harrison FD. This program is probably my proudest achievement. To see these men work and the interest they take in my Department and the fire service is second to none. This is the future of this Department, and the future for this community. I wholeheartedly commend my Program Coordinators/ Advisors, for the time and effort you put into this program and Thank my Junior Members for being there... Nice Job, boys!!

As I complete my second full year as Chief of the West Harrison FD. This program is probably my proudest achievement. To see these men work and the interest they take in my Department and the fire service is second to none. This is the future of this Department, and the future for this community. I wholeheartedly commend my Program Coordinators/ Advisors, for the time and effort you put into this program and Thank my Junior Members for being there... Nice Job, boys!!

good to see some that would rather use there time to train then march in a parade! goodd job to all involved!