DC firefighters deployed in anti-crime initiatives

[x635 4,066]

This is ridiculous! Especially considering the companies are the busiest in the city, and one of the busiest houses in the country. DCFD is one screwed up department. Now they are intentionally putting firefighters into dangerous situations, and using them to make up for police.

WASHINGTON -
A small group of D.C. firefighters has been given the unusual assignment of sitting in their trucks at specific intersections in the city in an effort to deter crime.

Since last Friday, an engine company and a truck company from the Trinidad section of Northeast D.C. have been ordered out of their firehouse in the overnight hours and take up what is called a "soft post" on the street.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24292727/dc-firefighters-deployed-in-anti-crime-initiatives#ixzz2oW6yTK9C

[AFS1970 504]

I don't even see the value of this project. FD units in \various cities have been on scene or near criminal acts before. In adition to questioning this assignment on its lack of merits, I question how efective it would be even if it were a good thing.

[PEMO3 523]

The thought process behind this does not appear well reviewed. First having personnel sit in a rig overnight can not do much for moral. Secondly, publicizing such an idea places this personnel in harm's way while attempting to score political brownie points. An interesting side question would be if a crime does occur in front of the crew and they do not act since they are not armed would the city be liable for their inaction. Conversely, if they did act and were injured would they be penalized for acting outside their job description.

[10512 214]

This is a classic example of something, that if you do not look very far, that looks good on paper.

Like I said, it looks good if you do not look too far into it. For a politician, it is good because it looks like you are doing something and it generates publicity.

If you look more than one layer into it, it is asinine. But, if you think back, how many ideas that politicians have come up with that have been asinine? This fits right in.

Remember, this was the city that re-elected Marion Barry.