The Board of Public Safety has issued a statement that it recognizes routine visits to grocery stores, pharmacies and other businesses “are required (by firefighters) to maintain suitable and safe …
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The Board of Public Safety has issued a statement that it recognizes routine visits to grocery stores, pharmacies and other businesses “are required (by firefighters) to maintain suitable and safe working conditions.”
Further, it states such visits aid in the familiarization of department personnel to the layout of stores and provides “valuable income” to area businesses.
The board also approved a policy setting forth conditions for the use of fire apparatus for shopping trips.
Approved Jan. 12, the policy comes in response of inquiries made by Warwick resident Robert Cote, who has videotaped firefighters using apparatus to do their shopping at local supermarkets. Two summers ago, Cote also caught videos of a special hazards truck at a local marina where a barbecue was being held.
The policy also includes a statement from the firefighters’ union saying the shopping visits will be limited to the necessities and “should be scheduled together,” and that “it is important to conserve city resources by not abusing this right/privilege.”
But despite those statements, Cote said Saturday he spotted a ladder truck at a supermarket. He said he learned firefighters bought four slices of ham and two slices of cheese from the deli during the stop.
“It’s abusive,” he said, “these trucks shouldn’t be going anywhere unless it’s a fire.”
That’s not the way the Board of Public Safety views it. The statement issued by the board says it recognizes the inability of firefighters to take work breaks, the need to maintain fire crew integrity and the inability to have normal eating and working conditions.
The policy allows the use of apparatus to make shopping runs; states that the company commander shall have the right to determine when trips are appropriate; and requires that trips will be within the district of the station unless otherwise approved by the battalion chief.
The policy sets forth a series of other requirements, including that food and beverages purchased from a restaurant or coffee shop must be consumed after departure; that one member of the crew remain with the apparatus at all times; and that the apparatus be parked so as to allow immediate exit from the business parking lot.
In an email, Chief James McLaughlin said the policy applies to all apparatus, including ladder trucks.
The board said it is the responsibility of the chief and the administration of the Warwick Fire Department to enforce the policy “and any related disciplinary action.”
12 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Justanidiot
Time to change the policy and have the firemen shop on their own time. Like the rest of us.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
JRollins
Justanidiot, do you get a lunch break at work? do you work 24 hr shifts sometimes at your job? Do you even work? I actually admire this Rob guy, usually kids get excited to see the fire trucks he gets so excited he has to ask what kind of meat they eat.....
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
Actually I do work 24/7. I plan my meals out accordingly and mom brings them down to the basement like clockwork.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
JRollins
Solid plan, moms know best.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
The entire idea is just another form of waste that Scott Avedisian has allowed for the purpose of obtaining votes. Last Sunday night at 8:41pm ladder one with 3 men left the Greenwich Ave. Stop & Shop with a birthday cake and candles. The new ridiculous policy set forth by the 3 member appointed board of public safety has now allowed shopping on the clock " for essentials only". The letter I sent to the chief was answered as follows:
From Mclaughlin - Mr. Cote, I wanted to provide a follow-up to you regarding the incident on March 15 at the Stop & Shop on Greenwich Avenue.I was made aware of the incident that night and I met with the personnel involved the next night, March 16, at approximately 1730 hours at Fire Headquarters. As you are now aware the Department does have a policy that was adopted by the Board of Public Safety on January 12, 2016. After investigating the facts of this particular incident I came to the conclusion that discipline was, in fact, warranted. Although I am not disclosing the particulars of the discipline, I assure you Mr. Cote that appropriate disciplinary action was given to the responsible parties by me personally within 24 hours of the time of the incident.
Thank you.
James G. McLaughlin
Chief of Department
Warwick Fire Department
Sunday Engine 6 went to Dave's Market at 10:30 purchased 2 slices of cheese and 4 slices of ham. Are these essentials? 30 minutes later ladder 3 went to the same Dave's and purchased a similar amount of cold cuts and 2 bulky rolls. Is this considered essentials?
Wen Ladder 1 goes to Stop & Shop in Meadowbrook and buys 1 bag of popcorn kernels, is this considered essentials?
On average the WFD spends 84 hrs per week at the local markets shopping. The notion that it familiarizes the manpower with the layout of the market is a statement that could only be made by an absolute moron. It infers that without these shopping trips, these men would never have an opportunity to enter a market in Warwick. Stop the nonsense already. It would be nice if the mayor grew a set of gonads and had the fiscal discipline to put his foot down on the abuse but as we all know, he is gonad less.
Each time I have documented this behavior I get a letter form the mayor or the chief telling me that the men have been disciplined. How bad can the discipline be if they keep doing it? The incident buy the popcorn resulted in the men being told to park the truck behind the building. That's discipline alright. Your kidding right? Can you imagine if we had a mayor that had to produce a payroll and justify expenses?
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
JRollins
Rob, one simple statement proves the liar you are "ladder 1 with 3 men". FYI ladders have 2 people. No one cares about your videos...
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
My mistake,
According to the document by public safety " all trucks require 3 men and the truck must maintain 1 man in it at all times while shopping. I have the photos and videos of both men at the register with the birthday cake. would you like to see it? So in other words, you are stating that the men violated protocol by leaving the truck unattended. Thanks for the tip, I will forward it to Jimmy.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
JRollins,
Thank you for correcting me. Below is the letter to the chief I have sent on your behalf.
Dear Mayor and Chief,
In response to the article in the Warwick Beacon of March 29th, one of the WFD members that goes by the screen name of JRollins has stated that I am a liar because of my statement
"Last Sunday night at 8:41pm ladder 1 with 3 men left the Greenwich Ave. Stop & Shop with a birthday cake and candles. The individual states that all ladder trucks are manned by 2 firefighters. I would refer your attention to section 13 of the new statute that states that all trucks shall be manned during the "shopping expeditions". I do apologize for stating that 3 men where at the Stop & Shop, as I took it for granted that no responsible fire fighter crew would leave a $700,000 rig running and unattended. Since this individual has educated me to the fact that ladder trucks have only 2 men, and since the videos and the still photos clearly indicate 2 men inside the market, I would hope that the men are disciplined for leaving a rig unattended and running.
Further, doing my due diligence as a concerned taxpayer, the next time I see a piece of apparatus unattended I will proceed to lock the apparatus so as to insure its protection, and contact the police immediately and notify them of the taxpayer owned vehicle that is unattended while the purchase of birthday cake and candles is completed. I am sure that the police dept. will be all to happy to baby sit the rig while the men select the appropriate candles for the cake.
Please contact me when you have the time to review the video and the still photos. I thank your member for correcting my error in assumption.
Best regards,
Rob Cote
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
JRollins
Rob, where did I say I was a firefighter in warwick? I am a knowledgeable person. What document says " "all trucks require 3 men".? According to contract online Ladder trucks require 2. Yes I would like to see video.
Your good Friend
Jimmy
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 Report this
RISchadenfreude
Like many policies, this one is and has been abused for some time; there's a new Chief at the helm, and he's addressing this and other abuses of protocol. That being said, shopping for the crew has been a part of firehouse routine as far back as anyone knows in Warwick, and innumerable other fire departments across the country.
Although Mr. Cote's diligence is commendable, it also seems to have passed the point of obsession-perhaps a new hobby such as crocheting doilies or a paid job in private investigation would help fill his idle hours (noting how many hours the trucks are at the stores requires a lot of idle time). Before embarking on a PI position, though, I'd suggest a notebook and pencil to jot down your observations- it seems your recall of what you've observed just hours before often doesn't pass muster when compared to the facts. Just be happy your observations aren't being used for court testimony- the opposing lawyer would tear you apart.
Congratulations and best wishes to Chief McLaughlin in his new position.
"Thecaptain"...of what?!
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Report this
TheBump
First of all I'm a Warwick taxpayer and I do have a full time job and would never follow a fire truck to a supermarket!!! Get a life Mr Cote,I see them in the market from time to time and I could care less that they are spending money in a local business that pays there salary.The only thing I care about it ,when my elderly neighbor was having a heart attack they were right there and saved him to this day he's still my neighbor!! So again leave them alone and get a life sir. Also I'd like to point out I saw a cop in subway the other night he actually took his sandwich and ate it in his cruiser I thought was ridiculous he should have sat down and ate at a table but probably was in fear mr Cote would film him maybe
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Report this
davebarry109
Let them go to the store once per shift. It's no different than cops having to take their cars to eat somewhere when they are working. The FF have to have the engine with them in case they are called.
Thursday, March 31, 2016 Report this