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My thoughts and prayers for PO Osso and his family,

Just reading this, I think it is asinine to charge this man for assisting police in catching a suspect. How can the police call it reckless to help them. While it may not have been the smartest idea to crash an ambulance, especially if there was a patient on board, but you have to admire this guys willingness to aid law enforcement. Of course im not a police officer so what are your thoughts on the subject? Would you want this type of help? or would it do more harm than good?

I agree to some extent with people calling these phrases silly and unneeded, but there is nothing wrong with having a sense of pride and responsibility.

I wish the officer a Speedy recovery. its just sad that there's not more attention payed when a Police Officer risks there life but when the police dare defend themselves from the dangers they face they risk being thrown in jail. Anyway best wishes for the officer and his family.

There was no need for this bill to extend coverage. A majority of these people that you mention including children already qualify for medicaid, SCHIP, or other government assistance programs. All this bill is going to do is pave the way for a single payer system which will bankrupt this country.

What do you suggest for accountability? You bring up a lot of good points as to the flaws of a tag system. I just want to know how you do accountability and why you find that it is a good way?

Come on give me, and the paramedics, a break. What they did may not be protocol but in my opinion it didnt harm anybody and it kept the kid calm in a stressful situation. Im not saying they should do it again but to pursue these guys like they are criminals is just wrong.

I can think of many more services that the county provides than the Town does. The town of Greenburgh needs to strongly consider limiting its own role. In a town where most people live in villages that provide key services there is no need for the town to be middle man.

Why do you always feel the need to stir the same pot a hundred times? The issue that this thred discusses is not volly vs. career. we have had this argument many times before. LET IT BE

You make a great point. But do we really need a law telling us to enforce a law? We already have a law on the books its just a shame that when we find out that someone is not obeying it is when there life is on the line. Just a question whose job is it to issue summonses, the police, the fire department building inspector?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100228/ap_on_re_us/us_snow911_death Reading this story makes me sick. Any other opinions? Could/ has an event like this happened around here?

What I find disturbing is the breakdown in communication among dispatch teams and the responders. A question for the dispatchers out there, What is the procedure,if any, for keeping track of an incident with multiple calls for help?

The funds come from a variety of sources. Wether they be member dues, donations to the company or money made in return from social events that the Fire company sponsors there is no required contribution from anyone (i.e taxes).

This is not a valid response. Volunteer Fire Departments use private funds that the fire company controls not the department.

I find it ironic that there are spelling errors in a post criticizing spelling errors.

Mutual aid is a luxury not a right. What would of happened if the surrounding departments were not available? Would the fire department just stand there while the house burns to the ground? Departments should look at themselves and determine whether or not they can handle a standard single family house fire by themselves. This is not to say that mutual aid should never be called in 99 percent of incidents it should. Mutual aid is a great thing and should be utilized but if the department is relying on other departments to pick up the slack then there are serious issues that need to be addressed.

Spot on.

I agree in bulk what your saying with one exception. I do believe that people should be getting as much training as possible in the first year or so. This is especially true for volunteer firefighters. In NY FF1 is 87 hours not nearly enough to learn everything. That is why I personally took as many fire related classes as possible when I first joined. I am definitely a better FF for it. Even if you do not plan on being on a FAST team the FAST course is an excellent way of preparing yourself for self rescue or in aiding the FAST team if you should god forbid need one. And back to the 5 years part. Just because you have been on the department for 5 years does not guarantee quality experience. But thats what training is for. I know nothing can simulate the real thing but in a world where fires are decreasing(thankfully) training is our best friend. In my opinion every firefighter who enters a burning building should have the same training as the people standing by reasy to help him or her if the should need it. Everyone should be fast trained because even if your not on the team you might still have to make a rescue.

I dont think it is something we can avoid. As the number of fires decrease the amount of actual fireground training that we can get decreases as well. I think that we have to recognize that training is what we have to rely on now. Even though the NYS FAST training is short it is still beneficial. I think that Departments should strive to have FASTeams that are fully trained and have as much experience as possible. However you have to remember years on the job does not equal experience. Therefore training is key... train, train and train some more.

Why does it matter if its career or paid? If the organization can roll a fully staffed bus to the call then thats all that counts.