D.C. Mayor Wants Firefighters To Police Streets
By Wyatt Earp | July 14, 2011
Washington, D.C., like most Democrat-run cities, is failing. Their economy is in the toilet, their infrastructure is falling apart, and their schools are glorified day care centers. Crime is rampant, and homicides are commonplace.
Not to worry, though; the mayor has a solution.
Both D.C. firefighters and police officers are upset over a new program that forces the fire department to help fight crime. For the past three weeks, D.C. Fire and EMS personnel have been parking their trucks at high crime neighborhoods.
“It’s to prevent things from bubbling up. The idea is that if you have a fire engine with adults there no one is going to commit a crime,” said D.C. Deputy Mayor Paul Quander.
City officials said they just want firefighters to call 911 if they see suspicious activity.
What happens when that “suspicious activity” leads to a shooting? The firefighters are unarmed, are not issued ballistic vests, and are not on the same radio band as the police department. Their 911 call will be prioritized, and dispatched to the officers . . . eventually.
How many firefighters will be shot by the time assistance arrives?
Topics: WTF? | 16 Comments »
July 14th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Howdy Wyatt! That is the most STUPID idea I’ve heard in a long time.
Seriously -isn’t this the mayor who was caught smoking crack?!?
Just hope the idea doesn’t spread to Philly and requires cops to put out fires!
July 14th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
I have a better idea: They should give the politicians (including the mayor) marked cars and make them sit in the high crime areas and play neighborhood watch. That way, if someone gets shot, it won’t be anyone important, like a firefighter.
July 14th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
In Chicago there was an old saying……
“If ya need a gun pinch stop a firetruck”.
Some of the trucks were better armed than the Police…..
July 14th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
In most large organizations, most people don’t do their own job because they want to do someone else’s job. So this shouldn’t be a problem.
July 14th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Except for the bullets and no vests of course.
July 14th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Real – I think there’s a new mayor in office now, but he definitely kept up Barry’s policies.
John D – Damned fine idea, but you know politicians: do as they say, not as they do.
LDIV – Well, they have axes . . .
AJ – If I were the head of the firefighter’s union, I’d tell my members to ignore the rule.
July 14th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
OT but can anyone name one big city that is well run?
July 14th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Shenanigans!
July 14th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
This is from the “Onion”, right??? This isn’t truly happening?
July 14th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
AJ – None come to mind.
Captain – This is the dictionary definition of the term.
Danny – I wish it was, but no, it’s a legitimate story.
July 14th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Isn’t the busiest engine company in the country in DC? Do they really have a lot of time to park engines somewhere in between calls.
July 15th, 2011 at 12:25 am
Pardon my language – This is asinine! Are they trying to kill off the rest of the city’s infrastructure? It’s not dying off fast enough so they decided to help it along? They (the people, not the officials) need to get their heads out of their a$$e$ and do something about this. This can’t continue.
July 15th, 2011 at 6:08 am
“It’s to prevent things from bubbling up. The idea is that if you have a fire engine with adults there no one is going to commit a crime,” said D.C. Deputy Mayor Paul Quander.
Paul apparently did not read the news story from Illinois where firefighters were shot at with fireworks while they tried to put out a fire. There were cops there as well.
So if a mob is willing to get unruly with firefighters AND a police presence then firefighters alone are sitting ducks.
This policy needs to be changed before something tragic happens.
the link to that story:
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/07/illinois-firefighters-shot-with-fireworks-at-illinois-housing-project-video/
July 15th, 2011 at 6:46 am
Screw ‘em.
I can hump turn-out gear/irons or armor/arms but not both.
To quote (and follow the leadership) of our precedent, “What a jackass”.
July 15th, 2011 at 11:06 am
I think the deputy mayor should put his head back up his ass, since he didn’t give his head enough time to bake crammed up there in the first place. When he pulls it back out later it won’t be so half baked.
July 15th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Wyatt:
Regarding this”idea”…
Dumb don’t BEGIN to cut it!
Astounding asinine concept.
This guy gets paid HOW MUCH, again?
(way too much – and here’s yer sign)
Stay safe.