There is a
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer from San Diego that
needs to be given a time out. Some CHP egos need to be deflated and
the purpose of work done by public servants needs to be put into
perspective for them. It seems a CHP officer arrested a firefighter
who was trying to rescue someone in a crashed vehicle. The
firefighter was told to move a firetruck. When he didn't, the CHP
officer arrested him. Let's think about this for a moment. A man
who is helping victims of a car crash is put under arrest. (Sarcasm
Alert) I wonder what would've happened if the firefighter was rescuing a person from a burning
building? Would CHP be tempted to call in a SWAT team?
What would a tax paying citizen want to say to such a police officer? Should I be able to speak with the CHP officer responsible for this I would be very emotional. I would yell “Grow up. Citizens are paying for this. Would you be so quick to arrest a firefighter who refused to move his firetruck because he was putting out a fire at your home? I don't think so. What kind of trained and experienced mind doesn't know how to handle this situation in any other way? I'm just a regular citizen. I bet there are many regular citizens just like me who believe there is more to being a CHP officer than riding around looking good wearing sunglasses. I think the citizens of California have a right to expect better judgement from those they authorize to carry guns and arrest bad people. I've never worked in law enforcement so correct me if I'm wrong. Is it safe to assume that a firefighter helping a car crash victim is not classified as one of the bad guys.”
Excerpts from the Daily Mail story are in bold.
I think the citizens in California should go down to the CHP headquarters and ask a few important questions. “What's going on with you guys? You're arresting firefighters who are helping car crash victims? What's next? Hearse drivers on their way to funerals?”
(Sarcasm Alert)
“I see that you're going through red lights.”
“Officer, the law permits us to do such a thing on our way to a funeral.”
“Oh yeah, I'm still giving you a ticket. Any firefighters involved in the funeral procession?
“There may be a few.”
“That's another ticket. Get them up here. They're under arrest.”
“For what?”
“We'll worry about that later. I'm sure they did something. If there's an accident on the way to the grave site they could jump out and start saving people. Can't have that now can we?”
“Huh?”
The story only gets worse.
I think it's safe to say this CHP officer lost all perspective concerning the purpose of his job. Asking a paramedic to leave before being done giving first aid? This is like telling a policeman to go away before a criminal under arrest is put in handcuffs. I think administering first aid and arresting criminals are not things that can be done correctly with an attitude of “Ah, it's good enough for now.”
This story also tells us how these types of incidents have been handled in the past. Being discussed in a court of law.
Is there a good chance the $17,000 was paid by taxpayers? So let's see if I understand this situation correctly. A firefighter who is paid by taxpayers is arrested by a police officer who is also paid by taxpayers. They have a conflict and go to court, which is also paid for by taxpayers. One side wins and is given an award. This is also probably paid by taxpayers. I think there's a pattern here. I guess if it was easy to being a taxpayer everyone would do it.
I believe the lesson here is that public safety should take a backseat to public egos. It's also very expensive and dangerous when these things happen. I think it's about time some responsible adults got involved here and changed a few things.
Daily Mail Story
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What would a tax paying citizen want to say to such a police officer? Should I be able to speak with the CHP officer responsible for this I would be very emotional. I would yell “Grow up. Citizens are paying for this. Would you be so quick to arrest a firefighter who refused to move his firetruck because he was putting out a fire at your home? I don't think so. What kind of trained and experienced mind doesn't know how to handle this situation in any other way? I'm just a regular citizen. I bet there are many regular citizens just like me who believe there is more to being a CHP officer than riding around looking good wearing sunglasses. I think the citizens of California have a right to expect better judgement from those they authorize to carry guns and arrest bad people. I've never worked in law enforcement so correct me if I'm wrong. Is it safe to assume that a firefighter helping a car crash victim is not classified as one of the bad guys.”
Excerpts from the Daily Mail story are in bold.
Video
from the accident scene shows a California Highway Patrol officer
arresting Chula Vista firefighter Jacob Gregoire, 36, after refusing
to move a fire truck positioned to shield rescue workers and accident
victims from fast moving traffic along the side of a busy freeway.
The
unidentified CHP officer cuffed the first responder and put him in
the back of a squad car for 30 minutes...CHP officers and
firefighters have battled over accident scene protocol in the past.
I think the citizens in California should go down to the CHP headquarters and ask a few important questions. “What's going on with you guys? You're arresting firefighters who are helping car crash victims? What's next? Hearse drivers on their way to funerals?”
(Sarcasm Alert)
“I see that you're going through red lights.”
“Officer, the law permits us to do such a thing on our way to a funeral.”
“Oh yeah, I'm still giving you a ticket. Any firefighters involved in the funeral procession?
“There may be a few.”
“That's another ticket. Get them up here. They're under arrest.”
“For what?”
“We'll worry about that later. I'm sure they did something. If there's an accident on the way to the grave site they could jump out and start saving people. Can't have that now can we?”
“Huh?”
The story only gets worse.
A
CHP spokesperson told the station that Gregoire’s fire truck was
the only one out of three not moved in compliance with the officer’s
request, but fire officials say he was within his rights to not move
the truck.
‘My
engineers and all the crews did exactly what they're trained to do,’
Hanneman told the station.
Fire
officials also said the police officer also ordered a fire truck with
an on duty paramedic to leave before first aid was finished being
administered.
I think it's safe to say this CHP officer lost all perspective concerning the purpose of his job. Asking a paramedic to leave before being done giving first aid? This is like telling a policeman to go away before a criminal under arrest is put in handcuffs. I think administering first aid and arresting criminals are not things that can be done correctly with an attitude of “Ah, it's good enough for now.”
This story also tells us how these types of incidents have been handled in the past. Being discussed in a court of law.
In
2008, a Missouri jury awarded a firefighter more than $17,000 for a
false arrest over a similar incident,
Is there a good chance the $17,000 was paid by taxpayers? So let's see if I understand this situation correctly. A firefighter who is paid by taxpayers is arrested by a police officer who is also paid by taxpayers. They have a conflict and go to court, which is also paid for by taxpayers. One side wins and is given an award. This is also probably paid by taxpayers. I think there's a pattern here. I guess if it was easy to being a taxpayer everyone would do it.
I believe the lesson here is that public safety should take a backseat to public egos. It's also very expensive and dangerous when these things happen. I think it's about time some responsible adults got involved here and changed a few things.
Daily Mail Story
CHECK OUT MY PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS
DoingThings Their Way
Department of Homeland Insecurity
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