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City/town PDs and county SOs here in Florida use this concept two ways. There are paid "community service aides" and volunteer "citizens on patrol". The latter tends to be mostly retirees who function like volunteer security guards but who are part of the PD or SO. Both groups wear uniforms (different style and color scheme from sworn officers) and carry portable radios. They drive marked vehicles (often a retired patrol car) with a different graphic scheme and usually a yellow lightbar. I have seen them do things like direct traffic at accidents and events, patrol public parks, and transport mail and other documents. Also the "CSI techs" are generally civilians and are nearly always full time employees. Phil

My apologies if this is a sensitive subject (or if it has already been asked/answered) but aren't the hardest hit areas in Queens and Staten Island (like Breezy Point) among those communities that have "Independent" volunteer FDs in addition to FDNY? Phil

I haven't spotted any of these yet where I am in Central FL, although a few of the new Ford Taurus' have begun to make their appearance among some of the local agencies. I just read that the Chevy Impala is going to be restyled for 2013 and will look somewhat like the new Malibu although larger. Will the new Caprice be even bigger than the Impala? Phil

The Furys/Gran Furys went through numerous changes in size and body style from the early 70s through the mid 80s. My old hometown ran them nearly exclusively during this period. A few however arrived as closely related models like the Chrysler Newport and Dodge Monaco which had minor differences in trim and appearance. My stepfather also once had an 80s era "civilian" Dodge Diplomat. Phil

I recently saw the first of the new Ford Taurus patrol cars here in Central FL, with the Marion County Sheriff's 0ffice. Impalas, Tahoes, Chargers, and the remaining Crown Vics are also popular around here. Phil

It will be interesting and fact that it is from the same producer as the "Law and Order" franchise can't hurt. It looks like it will portray the firefighting, technical rescue, and EMS aspects although how accurately remains to be seen. Some of the fire sequences look an awful lot like "a certain movie" about the Chicago F.D. from a few years back. I assume the Squad is a Heavy Rescue/Special Operations company? Some of the stars look a little too "perfect" but that is the case with any profession that is portrayed in TV and movies. Most of the recent shows about the fire and EMS services have been disappointing, even Rescue Me became very outlandish in the later seasons. I would like to see something more along the lines of "Blue Bloods" or "NYPD Blue". Phil

I always loved these Macks. Some of the places here in FL that had them were Orange County, the City of Hialeah, and Miami-Dade (inherited from a small municipal FD that was merged into M-D). I don't think any are still around. Phil

We never cut the cables, always disconnected them from the posts with a pliers, wrench, or ratchet. This was done anytime the vehicle was not driveable/had to be towed or there was extrication. Yes, sometimes the connections were very tight or down on the side and hard to get to. A funny story. I got to be so adept at this that I could change the batteries on our own cars. One time when I brought the battery home I found that the posts were on the opposite side, front instead of rear or vice versa. So the cables wouldn't reach! Of course I had to exchange it. Now I know to take note of this. Phil

By the time I retired from my former dept., all 4 of the large suppression apparatus (including the platform tower) had the shallow tray with the "trashline" in the front bumper. This seemed to replace the "booster reels" which were no longer being ordered. This came in very handy for vehicle, brush, and dumpster fires rather than pulling one of the side preconnects. The front lines were 100 ft. and could be loaded in two rolls that could be "bowled out" with the nozzle on the end. I can't remember exactly how this worked. I have seen pictures of rigs that have two full 150/200 ft. "minuteman" loads on the front bumper. That would appear to be the case here. Phil

Such sad news always. We are seeing the scenario far too frequently of firefighters or EMS providers going down in the station or being found deceased in bed after their shift. We lost a friend of mine this way. And as evidenced by these two cases, it's not just the older/middle aged guys. I'm not sure what the answer is, better health screenings, more emphasis on wellness programs? Phil

Yes, those R/M ran down here were the Ford/Wheeled Coach mini-mods. Chrome wheels, nice lighting package,and sharp color/graphics scheme. I understood they had some limitations. A "retired" one would probably make a good support unit (rehab, air, lighting, etc). The agency I served as reserve EMT with has almost exclusively run the Ford/Wheeled Coach Diesel F series for nearly the past 25 years. The current trucks are all 350s or 450s. The 450s are more "jacked up" looking, almost as if they were 4 wheel drive. I always preferred these to the former Type 3 van modulars. They just rode better and you felt more secure in the cab. Phil

Rural/Metro Central Florida division ran the "mini-modulars" on the Ford van chassis for several years. I always thought they were sharp looking and space innovative despite the smaller size. They have transitioned to a much bigger box similar to the fire service and community based providers and on the GMC/Chevy van chassis. I'm not sure who the manufacturer is/was (Wheeled Coach maybe). Phil

Most of the fire and EMS agencies where I am in Central FL have the MDTs now in all vehicles, including wireless internet access. These are like those that have been in law enforcement vehicles for the past several years. The non fire EMS provider has something like an "I-Pad" with a touch screen feature that the run reports are completed on and uploaded to headquarters, ER, etc. They also come in handy for doing informed refusals on the scene. Phil

Down here in FL they are called by all the different titles. On my former department, the Pierce with the 65 ft. "skyboom" was designated "Ladder" although it is not what one would consider a true ladder truck. The supply hosebed was limited due to the aerial device and the ground ladders were mounted so high on the side they were very difficult to remove. The Pierce with the 85 ft. tower/platform was designated "Truck" and had a pump, tank, attack and supply hoselines as well as the assortment of larger ground ladders. These two are on the same cab/chassis (Dash?)and only around two years apart. The "Ladder" was a single rear axle while the "Truck" had dual and the all steer feature. The other two suppression apparatus,Pierce rescue pumpers without any aerial capabilities, wore the "Engine" label. I believe Miami-Dade Fire Rescue calls their 65 footers "Aerial" while anything higher is either Ladder or Platform, regardless of the presence of a pump/tank. Phil

I like the new graphics/color scheme and lighting package. I will have to look out for it, although AMR does not have a presence in my part of Central FL. Phil