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Saturday, June 01, 2013

Volunteers Fear Service Encroachment

The Ocean City Police Commission’s plan to buy military vehicles for water rescue has raised the ire of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, which fears that the move will further encroach on the OCVFC’s rescue responsibilities following an alleged breakdown in communication and several ill-advised rescue attempts during Hurricane Sandy.

OCVFC Chief Bo Duke voiced his concerns to the City Council this week regarding the proposal to buy a surplus military vehicle – either a Humvee or a two-and-a-half ton truck – that could navigate high water and be used for evacuation during flooding events. The idea was recommended to the council last week by the city’s Police Commission.

However, Duke feared that the purchase would further the issues experienced during Hurricane Sandy last fall. The OCVFC, he said, has a number of specially trained personnel with specific equipment such as wetsuits, waders and their own boats specifically outfitted to perform water rescues. But after successfully evacuating a number of stranded people, the fire department stopped receiving such calls for service.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

As an ex military communicator, I have applied several times for openings in Communications. Maybe I'm the wrong gender. I doubt there are many there that have the experience to work in a real emergency. In fact, I have yet to hear anyone on the radio that even can correctly use the phonetic alphabet. It was developed for a reason and that is to minimize confusion when directing command and control.

Anonymous said...

I think I'll go get a haircut. Anybody with me?

Taxpayer of Ocean City said...

This article is not about Communications and by the way the police and fire dispatchers, both women and men, that are employed within Communications aren't required to utilize the phonetic alphabet, only the police officer's have too. And Msp are the only ones that utilize the military phonetic alphabet.

This article seems to be about one of the Assistant Fire Chiefs coplaining about police department getting more then he feels they should. Let's face it people it appears that this Humvee could possibly be free and if not, I'm sure it is not going to cost as much as the new fire boat that the fire department purchased 2 years ago and won't be in service until it gets put on display at the fire convention in July.

Sometimes people who are in a position that other's look up too shouldn't act like children and complain when they know damn right that their department gets taking care of when they ask for things. And all the departments in the city from Fire, Police, Emergency Communications, Waste water, and Public Works, should work together when it comes to rescueing people in need. Not complain that the Police Department and Military are rescueing more people and handling more calls then their department is handling. For Christ Sake grow up, because if you can't handle it then maybe you don't need to be in the position that you are in.

Anonymous said...

Why are these people ALWAYS fighting and complaining?

This crap is old. Do your job, worry about yourself and your performance. You will always have brown nosers in any profession. Get over it and act like adults.

If you don't like your job and/or think you're not appreciated or overlooked, move on. There are 11 million people who are looking for a job. Any of you can be easily replaced.

I, for one, am sick of hearing this stuff.

Anonymous said...

Hurricane season starts June 1st chief Bo Duke! What happen to the previous Dispatch New link?

Anonymous said...

Who says that Fire Departments are the only ones allowed to "rescue" people. This was something else they took on for job security just like they did for EMS. Most fire departments volunteer, career and combination are ran by territorial nut cases.

Anonymous said...

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree little bighead.