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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

The Rural/Metro division serving Sumter County, FL has a new style of truck and a different color/graphics scheme from what was previously used in Central Florida. The Sumter operation only went on line this past fall after R/M took over the contract from the previous community based provider. The Sumter units are brand new Type 3 modulars on the Chevy/GMC van chassis. The box is quite large with a nice lighting package. Gone are the Ford based "mini modulars". The color scheme is a bright blue with the Chevrons on the back. "Sumter County Emergency Medical Services" is emphasized (there's even the county seal on the cab doors)and "operated by Rural/Metro Ambulance" is in very fine print. There is also a really sharp Chevy Tahoe command vehicle. I believe this is the same color/graphics scheme as some of their operations out west. Rural/Metro's regional headquarters in Orlando also has the new trucks, although in the familiar R/M color scheme of white with lime yellow stripes and blue lettering. Phil

My childhood hometown of Miami Springs, FL had a beautiful old Seagrave like this while I was growing up. Because it was very lightly used (served as second due/reserve through the 70s and early 80s) it was in immaculate condition. As it sat behind the primary pumper in the bay, it was protected from the sun and fading. When the small, municipal F.D. was merged into Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue, the Seagrave was taken out of service and used for training for awhile. I think eventually it was just scrapped. What a shame it could not have been returned to the town and restored. It would have been beautiful for parades, funerals, or displayed at special events. Phil

Yes Joe, the arrest was the top story on Orlando TV news tonight with the footage of the suspect being "escorted" out of the home. The sister in law also commented and kind of acknowledged the inevitable. When I read there is a frozen pond and landfill in the vicinity of the home, I imagined the worst. Hopefully, his colleagues will be able to bring him home, but certainly not in the way they wanted. A very sad story on many levels. The County F.D. that he is on here is one of the most prestigious, progressive, and most competitive to get into. A beautiful wife and two young children. Also, he had apparently survived Iraq. I think there are a lot of "layers" to the case that have yet to be revealed. Phil

I am in Central Florida in the neighboring county. All the Orlando area TV news stations have been covering this extensively and have sent reporters to Maine. Also some of his colleagues from Seminole County F.D. went up to post flyers and help search. The wife held a news conference outside the home yesterday. You hate to give up hope but it certainly doesn't look good at this point. The Orlando/Central Florida area has had a slew of these missing persons incidents over the past few years, although the victims have been mostly children or young women. In most cases the body was never found and the person is declared deceased after a period of time. The most well known (and one in which remains were eventually recovered) was the "Caleigh" case. Phil

I have strong ties to both the Metro Boston area and the southwest suburbs. Some of the smaller "Metrowest" communities like Medway, Millis, Medfield, and Holliston still have combination depts. although more full time staff have been phased in over the years and stations manned. As another poster stated in some of the Metro area cities/towns there is a separate "auxiliary" which operates alongside the career dept. The auxiliary F.D. primarily fill support roles like air, lighting, and rehab, a few have operated a reserve pumper. Some of the Metro communities which still run an auxiliary, I believe, are Cambridge, Arlington, Somerville, Waltham, Woburn, and Medford. I believe there is a "Massachusetts Call, Auxiliary, and Volunteer Fire Association" (?) which has all such departments organized by district/region for the various parts of the state. Phil

My city in Central Florida will not lower flags for public safety personnel, soldiers, politicians, or prominent people in the community. They only time they will is for a state or federally declared period of grieving. However, the P.D. and F.D. fly black and purple "mourning flags" for line of duty/active deaths (local or in state), deaths of retired or former members, etc. F.D and law enforcement also attend military funerals and will hang the U.S. flag from the aerial for the entourage to pass under which I feel is richly deserved. Phil

Florida Highway Patrol is running the '12 Chargers as well as the previous generation. I just saw one today. Not sure about the interior but I think they look so much better with the restyled rear end. The new tailight scheme reminds me of the legendary Chryslers/Dodges/Plymouths I grew up. Even the base/civilian version looks very sharp, although with a V-6 and smaller alloy wheels. The city/town P.D. where I live began transitioning to Impalas around 6 years ago. There are also a couple Tahoes and smaller Trailblazers for the K-9s and shift supervisor. However they are still hanging on to the last Crown Vics (both marked and unmarked) which must be '04s-'05s. Despite the age, the still look immaculate. They also instituted a take home program which seems to expand the lifespan (not being driven around the clock, etc.) Phil