Monday, July 14, 2008
Chief Gordon Routley has some strong words about Kentland
J. Gordon Routley
When I recently posted details of a blood drive sponsored by Kentland VFD, I joked how there was the possibility my mention of Kentland could spark another endless thread on thewatchdesk.com. Well, it wasn't the blood drive. It's the videos.
By Sunday evening the new thread in the Prince George's County, MD forum had almost 8000 views and 79 replies.
On Firehouse.com's Firefighters Forum, under the heading, "Our favorite department", another thread dissects this latest chapter.
There are another 40 or so comments on STATter 911 and I have received plenty of emails on the topic. Most of the emails are from people who don't want me to publish their names and most of the comments on all of the forums are anonymous.
One person who contacted me last week, willing to go on the record about the controversies at Kentland, is no stranger to Prince George's County and is a familiar name to firefighters. J. Gordon Routley, who led the panel investigating the Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston and has authored many other important reports for the fire service, publicly expresses a point of view that has surfaced in the various forums.
Here is what Chief Routley sent to STATter 911:
One again our "brothers" from Kentland have demonstrated their immaturity and their ability to publicly embarrass the fire service. If we cannot convince them to change, let's at least stop treating them like harmless class clowns.
We have witnessed this type of activity for years and made allowances because they are such dedicated and invincible firefighters and because they assert their 100% volunteer independence from any external authority. They continue to promote anarchy and provide the worst form of role models for young and impressionable members of the fire service because we continue to tolerate their irresponsible stupidity, in the firehouse, on the streets and on the fireground.
Maybe there is an uninhabited desert island somewhere that would provide a suitable environment for the KVFD to practice their particular form of dedicated service, beyond the sight of the news media and safely removed from any serious fire service organization that provides adult supervision.
As always, we encourage other responsible parties willing to go on the record with opposing views to contact STATter 911 at dstatter@wusa9.com. STATter 911 also extended this offer to Kentland VFD President Don Aker.
Man, Chief Routley you're right on the money. We should send those dedicated, thousands of hours giving, aggressively minded, aggressively trained, members of that department you dealt with 15 to 20 years ago to a secluded island!
But, the only problem is...... we would have to send 90 percent of the United States fire service with them. Reason being that the same things go on in almost every firehouse nationwide. Yes, these guys had the spot light brought on them because of this video (and most likely by the labor union and others in the same capacity), but that gives us no reason to cast stones in our glass (fire) houses. Everyone reading this, whether they will openly admit it or not, has, will and is doing these kind of activities. Whether we condone them or not. It has happened for decades. These guys aren't animals. There just always looked at with a telescope. If they look wrong, someone complains about it. Case and point, all of the media attention they get for any and everything. Good or bad.
By the way....... you state that they are doing stupid things on the fireground as well. My question is, when was the last time you ran a call with these guys? When was the last time you even got you're hands dirty running a call period. No disrespect, just keeping things in perspective. Its easy to remember things the way you saw them years ago. How can you blast what they do on a day-to-day basis, just by hear say from the pissed off P.G. career folks that respond on these forums. Remember, these political agenda's go back to the days of you're time in the County. You're aware of all this. I just would expect that you would have more of an open mind to the REAL truth behind the REAL shenanigans (and you know what I'm speaking about) in P.G. County, MD. You are a nationally recognized fire service icon and even you are spending time to put these fellows under the microscope. Think about it.....
: July 14, 2008 2:47 AM : July 14, 2008 9:29 AM The actions on the video probably have happened in most firehouses at one time or another but its the endless parade of Kentland did this, kentland did that,etc,etc that are the cause for concern. When does this pattern constitute a problem and how much culpability can be excused with the 100% volunteer defense.
Finally, you need to think about it. Routely is a fire service icon. If he's concerned enough to publically comment on the issue to Statter, what message is the FS trying to send to 33
: July 14, 2008 11:21 AM : July 14, 2008 12:06 PM Way to put the Fire Chief on the spot when we was not an even an officer. Congratulations, Fox!
This too shall pass.
: July 14, 2008 3:16 PM The real shame of this situation is not the contents of the video, but the manner in which the video is being used for petty politics.
: July 14, 2008 4:01 PM Hey I wish someone had video of the last day PGFD payroll was distributed. I would love to see how much money is being wasted on the batallion chiefs, division chiefs, majors and Fire Lieutenants and Captains who are working overtime. That is the crime, not some horseplay.
: July 14, 2008 4:26 PM : July 14, 2008 5:45 PM : July 15, 2008 9:45 AM : July 15, 2008 10:19 AM Links to this post:
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