v85

I think the issue that makes this situation different from upgrading sidearms or ESU long arms is the possibility for collateral damage (ie, where is the wreckage going to be falling). It would be interesting though to see an AG's opinion on whether this would fall under Article 35. I personally think it could in certain situations. I also would like to see if there is any federal law or CFR section about shoot-down authority resting solely with the feds

I didn't mean it to sound like a conspiracy theory, just I wasn't too sure on the legality of it. But now I'm even questioning that. Would an incident like that be covered under Article 35 (use of deadly force to protect a third party, people in a building or on the ground, from imminent harm, or no, because of the number of non-involved persons on the aircraft.

I think that there needs to be a full investigation into this. Specifically: 1. Who in the federal government gave the NYPD the authority for this 2. Who issues the orders 3. Were funds diverted from other, more traditional and legal, areas of the NYPD, for this project The next question, is should anything be done (ie. impeachment or removal from office) Just as an aside, maybe the ONLY possible time it would be acceptable for a civilian LE agency to use something like this is if the President has issued the shoot-down order, and the fighters are too far away , but even then it is problematic. The .50 cal thing was also mentioned on a previous TV special about the NYPD, so it may be more than a rumor. Maybe that is what they are talking about.

Yet this is the same NYPD that is still using typewriters for reports, has some violent precincts covered by 2 or 3 sectors, and has stationhouses falling apart???

My ambulance corps, all volunteer, still uses VAC, but not as a primary name. Our official name is Warwick Community Ambulance Service, Inc. and our uniforms say Warwick EMS.

I would think so that the incident can have a dedicated dispatcher, and the regular dispatch center can handle other, unrelated traffic.

I thought those advanced practice paramedics were allowed to administer sutures too. I also didn't realize it was the same kind of program, for some reason that one seemed a lot more public safety based, while this seemed a lot more social work based.

One question I have is how would you figure out how many visits equal an avoided call? Is it a 1:1 ratio, or something else? It is very hard to prove or quantify a negative. My second question is operational. The skills mentioned in the article, taking blood pressures, glucose levels, going to pharmacies to pick up prescriptions, etc. are not ALS skills, in fact with the exception of glucometry they are not even BLS skills. Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides perform the exact same functions. If EMS agencies and companies want to get into the "community paramedicine" business, I wonder if it would be more cost/manpower effective to hire HHA's and PCA's, than to take highly skilled paramedics off of the road, especially in areas where ALS providers are already in short supply.

I know that Westchester Community College was mentioned on the board for offering an accelerated class, take a look at this http://webserver.ouboces.org/CTE/News/10_11news/2011_CTE_FFIcourse.cfm They also apparently have their own engine. This is in addition to certifications in: ICS-100 Confined Space Awarenss and Safety Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness HAZMAT First Responder Ops Scene Support Operations http://ouboces.org/CTE/CareerAcademies/firescience.cfm

Why can't the county use PSEF members for parks patrol details, or at least as an armed supplement to the rangers and full-time officer(s).

Of course. Totally ignore the fact that reports suggest the park rangers were breaking up a fight BETWEEN group members when they got hurt, and the fact you were told about the regulations and CHOSE to ignore them.

Considering there were apparently a few of these collapses over the summer; I have to ask if these structures are required to meet building codes, and if so, are they being inspected on a regular basis?

Could it have something to do with the Indian Point siren system?

http://www.cs.state.ny.us/announ/tentative_schedule.cfm Some of note: Fire Protection Specialist Trainee Agency Safety and Health Rep. Safety and Health Inspector Trainee Fire and Safety Rep Senior Training Technician (Police) Communications Technician 1 (State Police Dispatcher)

My department(s) have the same requirements 21+ Driver's License for at least X(forget the actual number of years) Clean Driver's License Completion of EVOC or CEVO class Those are also the minimum requirements. You also need to be signed off on by the command staff, and if they have any doubts they will not sign off. They do seem to work pretty well for us. Danger: I totally agree with you. I remember thinking I was going to become a police officer at 18 in a state where you could. Now, at almost 21, I don't think I am ready for another couple of years.

Date: 07/07/2011<BR>Time: 0607<BR>Location: Interstate 84 Westbound, MM 36<BR>Frequency: <BR>Units Operating: Winona Lake FD, Oranage Lake FD,Newburgh EMS, Mobile Life ALS, Medevac, T/Newburgh PD 313, 316, NYSP 2F83 <BR>Weather Conditions: <BR>Description Of Incident: Tractor Trailer down embankment w/ confirmed entrapment<BR>Reporters: BFD1054<BR>Writer: v85

I don't understand what Grand Jury's are used for in California. They seem to be almost like a court of public opinion deciding issues much different from if there is enough probable cause for a felony indictiment.

While I understand why they changed policy, wouldn't the better solution be to reconsider the budget situation and fund water rescue equipment/training again? So, the policy now allows for "commander discretion". Discretion for what, getting his people hurt? If a situation was objectivley too dangerous to handle without special equipment and training one week, it will still be too dangerous next week. Or was it not that dangerous to begin with?

From the NYS VTL Section 1104 § 1104. © Except for an authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle or bicycle, the exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when audible signals are sounded from any said vehicle while in motion by bell, horn, siren, electronic device or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp so that from any direction, under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet from such vehicle, at least one red light will be displayed and visible. While I've always heard the "lights on siren on" rule as well, a strict reading of the VTL seems to suggest otherwise

Date: 6/3/2011 Time: 1740 Location: 4939 St Route 17M Frequency: 154.205; 46.16 Units Operating: New Hampton FD, Slate Hill FD( 1 Engine, 1 Tanker in quarters), 36-17, 36-109, 36-1114 Weather Conditions: Nice Description Of Incident: Structure Fire at Days Inn Hotel Reporters: Writer: v85 1740: New Hampton dispatched for possible structure fire 1744: New Hampton resounded for confirmed structure fire. Began as brush fire then extended to structure 1749: Slate Hill FD w/ 1 Engine and 1 Tanker to standby in own quarters 1750: Fire Investigators Requested to Scene

I agree that the problem is no matter how many threads we make about the issues in emergency services here on EMTBravo, the solutions we talk about require action at a much higher level than our forum members (i.e. elected and appointed officials). Unfortunatley, I am not really sure how to bring pressure on the decision makers.

I was lucky enough to get to attend a BOCES program. Not only is it great for "trades" careers, it is also great for emergency services careers, and should be embraced as a recruiting/retention tool. I attended mine for law enforcement as well as the New Visions in Law and Government program. Through this program I earned my 8 hour NYS Security Guard certificate and Firearms Safety Certificate. If I stayed for the second year of law enforcement I would have earned my 16 hr. security certificate as well. By transferring to New Visions I earned 18 college credits, FOR FREE. Orange Ulster BOCES also has a fire science program. Through this program a student earns: NIMS/FEMA: ICS-100 FEAT/FIREMON Confined Space Awareness and Safety Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Scene Support Operations http://ouboces.org/CTE/CareerAcademies/firescience.cfm

I definately agree. There is a big difference between dropping outdated, outmoded, and often unsafe and ineffective techniques or equipment in favor of ones that do work or adopting a new technique or equipment after careful review; and getting rid of tried and true practices for a whiz-bang, high-tech one just because it looks "cool" or some salesperson or magazine gave it a rave review.

I have to wonder, do the Henrys' actually believe what they are saying, that their son was shot because he was black (like the officer could tell inside a car, at night) and that there is a racist conspiracy by PPD, WCPD, WCDA, NYSP etc to cover it up, or are they just trying to make money off of their son's death?

911 technology by Walmart.... Now that's a scary thought.