We All Wear A Uniform
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Just today I was talking with some folks and in the course of conversation the topic of how well various public safety members get along was brought up. There was a belief put forth that police officers and deputies don’t tend to get along with firefighters all that well, and that firefighters don’t tend to get along so well with EMS Responders. I took issue with that.
While I’ve seen situations wherein firefighters didn’t get along with one another - such as disputes between firehouses that got out of hand - I can’t recall ever seeing a situation wherein firefighters and cops got into it. Sure, we all disagree about something, but to actually start throwing fists? Think about it: that would be an ugly fight: firemen with axes, haligan tools, sledge hammers… cops with nightsticks, OC Spray, TASERs, GUNS… Have you ever seen a fight like that? Who would respond to that call for service? and how?
I’ve done, except for my time as a Military Policeman, all of my police work in Maryland. Here, the fire service is mostly volunteer and the same people who ride the firetrucks also ride the rescue squads and the ambulances. There is no division or line between them. Obviously there can be no dispute between two groups when it’s really only one group. As to the police or deputies? Yeah, we’re a different group of people, but I’ve always extended professional courtesy to firefighters. Why? Purely selfish reasons: When I’m laying in the street with a bullet hole somewhere in my body, I want them to be motivated by professionalism AND friendship to save my life. I don’t want them to be emotionally detached.
Maybe I’m wrong for feeling that way. But to me, we all wear a uniform. We all do public safety work. The days of separated groups, each serving a specific need, are past. I think September 10th, 2001 was the last day that type of thinking was acceptable - if even up until then.
Public safety is a mission that requires more than JUST cops or JUST firemen or JUST EMS responders. It requires all of those, and more, working cohesively together to provide seamless service in a professional fashion.
Don’t you think?
I think that there’s a natural rivalry between cops & firemen. I love to stop by the fire house and poke fun at their “assigned” Barca loungers or tell a rookie that, “this crew has never lost a basement” with a tongue-in-cheek. Of course, they throw something back at me - which is only natural.
We’re all on the same team, just playing different roles. I’d do my best to save their life and I expect they’d do the same for me. That’s just the way it is.
But, like a Michigan State Spartan will always be above a Wolverine from U of M, so it is with cops and firefighters.
My mother taught me why God invnted cops: so that firemen would have heroes.
I’ve seen some occasional goofiness from fire-rescue. On the other hand, I’ve seen LEO’s do goofy stuff that fire-rescue got to witness or deal with. I frankly see more conflict among police agencies than I do between us and fire side.
I have lived in several states and don’t really recall seeing any real conflict between Police, Fire and EMS. I’m in Pennsylvania now, and most of the Fire/EMS is volunteer. I have become good friends with many of the guys at our Fire & Ambulance Co. We joke around, razz each other, but it’s all good fun. Whether we are Police, Fire or EMS we should all look at it as being on the same team. We are all in this for Public Safety, we are just playing different roles.
The only conflict between Police and Fire/EMS that I have really heard of, but don’t recall the details of, was in the aftermath of 9/11 at Ground Zero.
I agree with John. Sure the we poke fun at the fireguys with their turnouts on in 100 degree California weather, but when the chips are down, we are a team.
Deputies vs. Police officers is different ballgame all together. Officers have an appointed official whom answers to an appointed City Manager whom answers to elected officials. Deputies answer to elected sheriffs who really do not have answer to anybody. The CHP answers to a appointed commissioner (what ever that is). Police Officers respond to and investigate everything. Deputies (in California) do not investigate crashes or DUI’s. The CHP (California Highway Patrol) only investigate stuff involved with the road, chasing tail lights and stuff.
Clearly the coolest in the west is the municipal police officer, but hey thats just my opinion I could be wrong.
Most cops have a “dumb firefighter” story to tell, but also most firefighters have a “dumb cop” story to share. We need to actually train together and debrief together. In too many jurisdictions, the two never (literally) talk, let alone jointly train. Even worse, in some places the two services actually hate each other. Sad. It’s the Chiefs’ job to repair that, leading from the top.
It is true, though, that different personality types are attracted to the different services. I can’t imagine wading into a fire replete with toxic chemicals. Many FFs can’t imagine being under fire. Doesn’t mean we can’t and shouldn’t be firends and colleagues. Again: the Chiefs’ have a responsibility here.
I have been in the public safety business for over 25 years as a firefighter, EMT, Paramedic, and a SWAT Team Paramedic / Reserve Police Officer. Frank’s column is right on…we all are serving the same public, with the same goals, facing the same dangers, and working for agencies with the same issues. We may wear different uniforms, carry different equipment, and arrive in different vehicles, but we are all basically the same type of people. We are on the same team. We all know there are bad apples in every group. Rivalries between agencies have existed long before we came to work and will go on long after we have retired. We all wear a uniform and we are all the public’s safety net. It’s healthy for us to kid around and joke with each other in good times, because too many times we have felt the grief over the loss of one of us. Whether Police, Fire, or EMS, we are all in the same field and we need to look out for each other.
I believe there is a contrast between professional firefighters and volunteer. I have had to write citations for volunteer firefighter(usually teenagers) who believe because there firefighters they will not be issued citations. Having a warning, it gets old quick!!
Sgt. Dave, I agree with most of what you say. With one exception. As a Ca. Deputy, Sheriffs can and do investigate crashes and DUIs. Many counties just turn over those cases to the CHP. In contract cities it can be a different story. Many contract cities want the Sheriff to take crashes. Some counties do have policies to turn over DUIs to the CHP, but some do not. Last point, California Law also states that in Counties with a population of over 3 mil. the Sheriff is charged with enforcing the vehicle code in unincorporated areas along with the CHP. Plus, Deputies handle jails (in some counties) and Courts/Civil in most, which has it perks…you are not always stuck in one place your whole career. Oh yeah, being the Sheriff/deputy in a county in California, we are agency of last resort for the county, so if your city does not/can not take a report, a call of service, guess who comes to help (most of the time) the County Sheriff… but Hey, at least police and Sheriffs are real police versus the CHP traffic officers…
If you want to see real cop vs firemen rivalry, go to http://www.pigbowl.com and take a look at that site. This football game began as a rivalry between the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department and the Sacramento Police Department in 1975. In 2001 the city police had to drop their participation after years of a lack of support by their administration and the city. The game looked like it would fade into history when the fire departments in the county stepped forward to make it a game. For the first five years the cops whooped up on the poor fire dogs, showing no mercy and it looked like the end of the contest until last year, when a new fire QB and a couple of good receivers made it a game. With that win, the firemen will be back next year for the 35th annual contest on January 24, 2009. Look for the event to be another great contest.
s
Frank,
I agree with you wholeheartedly that we should work together in concert one with the other. Unity reflects
strength.
It is when we loose sight of the team which also reflects
a perception of division. Sometimes we have to place a
small dot on a sheet of paper and attach it to a post
and then back away from it about 1,000 yards and see if
we can make out the dot. In reality the dot represents
us. No one has it all together where they can boast about being the best trained or educated.
Respectfully,
Rigmaiden
ththe best description of a FireFighter is the only person running into a burning building when everyone else is runnig out. The best desrciption of a Police Officer is the only one running to the sound of gunfire when everyone else is runnig away. I had FF’s call me carzy for handling shots fired calls and I waould reply at I wasn’t the crazy one running into a burning house!