Remember585

It sounds like the vote didn't go as hoped for by the AFD. Good luck guys.

Please elaborate.

Congrats and the best of luck to you Chief. It has been a pleasure working on the other side of the radio with you! Lt. John Munson - 60 Control #642

Why is this in the Law Enforcement section? First of all, I totally agree in required training for Officers. We recently implemented requirements for our officers, which followed the recommendations of OFPC (DHSES, whatever they are now) and/or NYSAFC (I forget who). We added some other stuff. In order to be flexible to the masses, we had to let former officers be allowed to hold positions again for another two years to give guys time to meet the new requirements, provided the past officer isn't moving up, in which case they must meet the new requirements. Second, and I swear by this - it doesn't matter what classes or training someone has. If the guy/gal hasn't been around long enough to earn their peers' respect on and off the fireground - they don't belong in the ranks. Experience, training, attendance above that of the minimum, common sense and a mindset of doing the greater good for their company/department are the attributes of a good officer. Third, you can have someone who either does or does not have a lot of training run your department into the ground. We have suffered quite a few poor Chiefs and poor Company Officers over the years, and I am sure we'll make those mistakes again. (Hopefully I am wrong) You can have a Chief who does nothing at all for two years, followed by one that does a ton and changes things for the good for two, then have another flapjack come in and set you all back in time again for two years. Realistically, term limits should be looked at and if the majority is content with their leadership - why change it because it is someone else's turn? If a guy is in say, 5 years, and the majority has had their fill of him, VOTE HIM OUT. It isn't rocket science to me, but I am part of the minority. Westchester-area Career Officers generally get FDNY's FLIP school, right? Man I would give my left nut for that kind of program. The officer courses offered to the rest of us don't tell you how to handle your calls - they just tell you how to avoid getting sued and show you ways to earn your members' respect (which is fine, but where the f*** is the REAL TRAINNG?!?!) I think there are plenty of people in this county - paid and volunteer - that could put together an amazing officer program for both sides of the fence which would cover your soup to nuts. Then, and only then, could any of us really feel "trained & prepared." /rant

I'm sure the MENSA contingent on Capitol Hill will add a clause to remove volunteers from the ACA. Not to get political or anything, but ramming the ACA down everyones' throats before working out every angle is typical government stupidity. In due time, people will either look back at this as a great idea, or future governments will do away with it. Fear not, for our elected leaders can never steer us wrong...

Croton-on-Hudson FD Chief: Bill Vlad (3rd time) 1st Asst Chief: Matt Mansfield 2nd Asst Chief: Chris Colombo

Croton-on-Hudson: Rescue 18 - 1993 International/Cayel Craft - committee working on replacement, slated for 2014/2015 Fiscal Year. Engine 118 - 1993 HME/Saulsbury - committee working on replacement, slated for 2015/2016 Fiscal Year.

Any particulars on what they're looking for?

Nicely done, Nucky.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...

Nothing. Nothing.

Yeah... but how many of you have been blamed for something you never even said? I bet I take the cake there!

And that's happened more times then I care to remember...

Non-Emergency, Rescue & Engine. This gives you two meters and adequate manpower to fulfill the Two In, Two Out. We used to send Rescue only until we had more than one incident where a CO Detector was actually a smoke detector. CO w/ Symptoms get's Two Engines, Truck, Rescue & EMS. This provides units to locate a source, vent the premises and assist EMS with removing / assisting patients.

My username isn't my real name (obviously) but is a reminder of my late Uncle killed in the line of duty. However, my real name and location are posted underneath. I like the thought process that if you can't say it to someone's face, don't post it behind an alias.

It is ALWAYS a person with an ax to grind that creates problems. Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has them but do we really need to hear from them?

"I'm from the State and I'm here to help you."

Same rumor we've heard... We'll know when someone new walks in I guess...

Drive fast, take chances.

I know this topic usually generates some debate, so here goes. Often, when a department is operating at a major / prolonged incident, the IC requests apparatus to move up and cover that department / area. For larger departments you will here some units from that department go to different stations. Smaller departments call Mutual Aid to fill out this request. Here's my questions. 1. What dictates what you are moving in / moving around? Is there an old charter from your municipality or a By-Law that requires a certain number of units at all times? Is it based on call volume or an anticipated need for that resource at the scene and you want it closer? 2. Should units moving up to another station / department only to sit in their station be using Lights & Sirens? 3. Should you send an apparatus that you feel is so vital to your home field that you need to bring someone else in to cover you? (IE you have one Truck that you relocate to Department 2, then you request Department 3 to backfill your station). I'm not pointing fingers or saying one way is right, just looking for input. Thanks.

More! LOL

Our local EMS agency won't send the paid EMT to only one Mutual Aid agency, but will send it to others. I am told this was because the agency in question was pulling our Paid EMT too often and refuses to resolve their own issues. If they get two volunteers to cover the call, they will respond. Not sure how I feel about it, but it does make sense, even if it's partial sense.

I believe you have more uses from Class B foam than you would Class A. Not being a foam expert, but I believe Class A can't be used on liquid fires, where Class B could be used on many Class A type fires.

The real crime in Westchester is the piss-poor 911 system, with it's DOZENS of PSAPs with people handling those 911 calls with seriously different levels of training to do so. I do not believe that having the "locals" answer 911 calls has much advantage, since they routinely get calls from a caller not in their jurisdiction, then turf the call to another PD/FD or even 60 Control, simply because they have no idea who the call really should be routed to. Consolidating cops... sensitive subject. If we do, there really is advantages, and there will be some disadvantages. I can name no less than one dozen police departments in Westchester that do not need to exist, and could easily become part of a county or regional system. They either offer little in the way of special services, have antiquated supervisory staff or - here is something often overlooked - lack the support of their municipality to provide better services. If you took these smaller or under-funded/under-supported departments and put them under a larger umbrella, they could become something much better. It isn't usually the fault of the rank and file officers, it's their (mis)management from their own brass and the municipality they work for. Same applies to fire departments, for that matter.