Parsonsburg Fire Department Has Issues

The following is a comment left late last night I thoght I'd turn into a Post.

"I have waited for so long for this information to become public without myself being the bearer of bad news. After being involved with this department and one of the most active members for over a decade, I am now ashamed to be a part of what was once a reputable department.

It is solely the decisions made by Chief Steve White that have put these untrained and most importantly inexperienced officers in place. The cold hard truth is that the current officers all lack in one field or another. Meaning the person may have ten years in the fire service but could not pass a ninth grade reading test and have no credible training other than firefighter I.

The other side is the person may have one year of active membership in the fire service as a whole, no other fire department experience and now hold a line officer position. Why? Because Steve feels comfortable with people that will not make decisions without his say so, therefore lacking in competency in mediating an emergency. Steve you better keep your cell phone on they may need to call you if a life saving decision has to be made.

And then you have members with a wealth of knowledge and training and no experience. There are so many variables when considering which of your personal should be leaders. I can quote Steve White on several occasions when he attempts to back his decisions on why he chose someone with a year in the department or someone who has absolutely no training. His words are always the same, I chose this person because he or she has good people skills. Well guess what Einstein, good people skills are not what saves lives in this line of work.

Honestly we have several qualified, over ten or so members that a have at least Fire I & II, Hazmat ops or higher, MFRI Pumps, Rescue Tech or equivalent, and EMT or Paramedic and a minimum of five years in the field experience. Meaning these trained personal have actually applied there training and done so proficiently. Unfortunately only one of these members have been appointed. That person would be Lt. J. Tyler. Other than that we are working under the guidance of people that are far from ready to make decisions concerning life and property and most importantly leading the ones under there command into an inferno.

I challenge any person from the public to ask the chief why these people are where they are and how they got there and do not except any round about answer. Ask for training records, ask yourself one question. If my family was involved in an automobile accident and were trapped in the car would the person in charge have the training to mediate the situation. Dont get me wrong, I like to gamble but not with my loved ones. We could think like the Deputy Chief Mark Rickards. Who responded with this when asked the same question. "I would hope someone else shows up with that training." Thats right lets hope that someone shows up with the knowledge of what to do instead of being prepared.

The truth is the trained individuals who are officer material and have been overlooked or removed from said office are turning there backs when the alarm sounds. It takes time to become cold hearted, to ignore the call for help after doing it for so long. But when your opinions and ideas no longer count and the feeling of being unwanted out weighs your decision to answer the call, it is time for change. Someone has to probe deeper into the actuality of this situation.

As a young man in the fire service the battle of pride between Parsonsburg and Salisbury was ongoing. After much thought and realization I have come to understand the difference between pride and ignorance. Salisbury has undergone many changes and experienced a lot of growing pains over the past decade. However one of the best outcomes was this, all line officers must meet or exceed the minimum requirements set forth by the department. Unfortunately Parsonsburg has no such requirements and any mutual aid company assisting them or requesting there help may very well get a one year unseasoned firefighter as the commanding officer.

How can anyone after reading this 100% factual disposition trust calling on the Parsonsburg Steve White Fire Department, and to those that call Steve White friend remember this. Steve White could sell ice to Eskimos. He is a very convincing man and when he speaks to those without fire department knowledge he could sell the world to them. Ask a few past deputy and assistant chiefs who have since left and moved on to other departments in the county there reasoning for leaving. The truth needs to be known to the public.

Now lets talk about another topic that only a few are informed. The paid Paramedic/Chief that appoints his own committee that oversees his benefits and pay scale. How can no one see the conflict of interest here, or is it such a thing that most are scared to discuss it. Lets think about this for a second, if you deny him a raise or grant one that is less than expected and later in the year ask him for something what might be the outcome? I know for a fact with the current administration he was given a six thousand dollar raise two years ago. Thank you tax payers for the new addition on my home.

And the fact that Steve approves and disapproves the points put in by each individual member that enables that person to vote at the end of the year, on thats right- his position as chief. Would it surprise you to know points have been passed for certain individuals involving medical training that pertains to both ems and nursing however these individuals are no longer ems providers and were lacking in that area for points needed to vote.

Lets put it all on the line, lets discuss a member who barely skated by with enough points to stay in and then voted in as president. To my recollection she signed a legal binding agreement that required her to complete and pass The WOR-WIC Community Colleges paramedic program and then render her services as a paramedic including direct patient care and transport to the hospital to the citizens of the community for no less than three years and a minimum of thirty six calls per year for that period. Notices have been sent for collection to those members who did not fulfill their obligation following the completion or failure of the program. My question is what steps have been taken towards this individual. Are we messing with the untouchables here? I thought the federal government broke up the last of the mafia in the late 90's. I can assure you she did not transport 36 patients to the hospital over the entire three year period. Show me the money!!

I hope that this inside view of the Parsonsburg Fire Dept. was informative, though lacking the other side of the story Im sure the individuals mentioned would love to answer these questions. And to those companies running with the burg be careful, trust only the ones that you know because the chances are the new guys are wearing the white shield and riding the front seat. If you would like to know more just ask, Im sure I got an answer, ENOUGH SAID!!"