The one thing almost unanimous on Facebook when talking about volunteers for the LMRFD was Background Checks and the Arizona Revised Statutes 48-805 agrees.
When I volunteered for the NACFD the first thing the chief did was send me down to the sheriff's office to have fingerprints taken for a background check.
When I volunteered for the LMRFD
No background check was done
I asked Chief Bonnee about background checks. He said he "didn't do a background check on me because he knew me". At that time I had met the chief about 5 times, he knew nothing about me except what he read on Facebook and much of that he disagreed with before deleting posts.
The Law says the FIRE DISTRICT SHALL:
Require probationary employees in a paid sworn firefighter position, a reserve firefighter, or a volunteer position to submit a full set of fingerprints to the fire district for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check. §48-805
ARS 48-805 Require all current and prospective employees and volunteers to submit a full set of fingerprints to the fire district, joint powers authority, fire authority, fire and medical authority or fire and ambulance authority that is formed with that fire district pursuant to section 48-805.01.
48-805.01, fire authority, fire and medical authority or fire and ambulance authority shall submit the fingerprints to the department of public safety for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check.
It doesn't say what the fire district is required to do once they obtain the background check. The chief said "everybody deserves a second chance". I believe as long as the crime doesn't violate the public's trust, people deserve a second chance.
Drug Testing
When I joined LMRFD as a volunteer I told Chief Bonnee I used medical marijuana, he said, "I don't care what you do at home".
I drove fire trucks for the LMRFD as a volunteer for many months. But because 80% of our calls are medical and not fire calls I pushed to use my Emergency Medical Responder so I could drive the ambulance when we need a second ambulance.
After months of driving fire trucks now I had to take a drug test to drive the ambulance because the Bureau of EMS & Trauma System required it.
Again the chief doesn't understand the law.
Actually the only mention of drug testing in the Bureau of EMS & Trauma System Statutes and Rules is in ARS 36-2204.02. Emergency medical services providers will do investigations after an allegation of illegal drug use.
Drug testing today is a policy matter and many agencies including DEA have changed their policy and are choosing to find employees.
As an Emergency Medical Responder I could have been driving the second ambulance since I joined months ago. Then middle of November the chief said he would have EMR protocols by Christmas so I could drive the ambulance. Christmas came and went.
Email to Chief Bonnee January 4th
Tim
Did you get the EMR Protocols done?
Chief's answer January 6th
Jay,I am still putting them together I was in phoenix for training and was out sick I am still working on it I haven't forgot about you and I'm not sure what continued education you are looking for but river medical puts on a BLS refresher
He forgot to mention he was gone hunting rather than writing protocols so our second ambulance could be in service.
I think LMRFD had a $10,000 for training should the "chief" know what continuing education was needed for his people?
I never got any of the required continuing education from the LMRFD and I guess it's moot now since Chief Bonnee fired me a couple weeks ago. I guess you be a yes man because if you don't agree with the chief you get fire as a volunteer...
Firefighters have a long history with alcohol use and abuse. I believe firefighters should have a choice to use medical marijuana. I said so when interviewed in this 2013 CBS News Investigation Medical marijuana rules unclear for First Responders
Physical Examinations
While at NACFD I saw doctors two times for a firefighter physical. A doctor in a 5th wheel came to Kingman to do the physicals for fire departments.
When I joined the LMRFD nothing was ever said about taking a physical. In the 9 months since joining nothing has been said about taking the annual physical.
This is very important because we have several firefighters who weigh over 300 pounds and if they have a heart condition we need to know.
In the case of a firefighters death resulting from heart attack or stroke, after participation in emergency response or training activity within the 24-hour timeframe before the cardiovascular event it's considered a LODD Line of Duty Death.
Background checks and physicians need to be done on all new LMRFD employees and volunteers.
Because they had a background check years ago when joining another fire district doesn't mean anything. The law is pretty specific The Fire District Shall require all current and prospective employees and volunteers to submit a full set of fingerprints
What was the specific reason he fired you, Jay? That doesn't seem right to fire a volunteer who actually WANTS to comply with regulations that the chief isn't even asking for..... sorry that happened to you. Really curious as to what the reason for him firing you was.
ReplyDeleteHe likes yes men, people who agree with all his decisions. I would want someone around who challenges me on decisions and makes me think. It's the chiefs decision on what he does, I think he needs more than one view...
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