Word has it that Lt. Schmidt brought up some serious safety concerns regarding the meth lab fire 18 ran on the C shift. Asking the ESU chief for more training for the entire department due to some unsafe actions/words within the companies that ran the call. Mainly some comments made about wearing SCBAs. Instead of listening to his safety officer and helping the entire department, the ESU chief wanted to make a big deal of what officer said what on scene. Lt Schmidt refused to give up his fellow brothers and since has been taken off the safety car and placed on a 40 hour work after being written up with charges. Am I taking crazy pills?
The men could have been exposed to serious toxins and life altering illnesses while responding to this call and we as a department are going to respond with filing charges against someone for protecting an officer? He was doing his job as a safety officer. Things that happened there could lead to serious problems for a human being. So instead of training the entire department on how to better handle these emergencies we are going to come down on a LT?
Anyone got more info?
For more of the crap these guys could have come in contact with please visit
http://www.efilmgroup.com/AtoZ.html
Atta boy goes out to the Lt. for standing up for the good.
Schmidt your my HERO!!!
ReplyDeleteVery unusual that when someone is brought up on charges they are immediately removed from their assignment and placed on a 40 hour work week. That sounds to me like a form of punishment in itself, which is probably not smart to administer before anyone has been found guilty of anything. I also suspect that Lt. Schmidt is the recipient of retaliation for the comments he has made over the past few years at the chief's town hall forums. We were all told that anyone could speak their mind but many suspected this was not the case and that sooner or later in some shape or form they would be dealt with for speaking out. Lt. Schmidt is one of very few that was not intimidated by this, however it seems our fears are true. This is why god invented lawyers.
ReplyDeleteThis has been done before with Capt pridgin at station 24. He was relieved of his command at the station and was sent down town the same day. Lets play nice in the sand box. My name is zack and I approve of this post. Thanks
DeleteYou can lead a horse to water but not a Lt. to Kool-Aid. There is not a leader @ 201. Well MasterRookie could lead me any time. How can little Robbie and TT think they are leading the department when all they are doing is pushing their pipe dreams on to us?
ReplyDeleteThe Town Hall Meetings, A NOT so Open Forum after all!
ReplyDeleteTwice this year members have been reprimanded or had changes brought against them for things that where said in an OPEN FORUM style meeting. When will we the 804 learn our lesson?
A full Boycott needs to be established!!!! No more members go down for telling the 201 what's wrong. From this day forward we will stand together outside these meetings and dissuade people from being punished.
There is no statute of limitations on this. If you have said anything in the past they will bring it up against you when they find a chance.
Please let me offer my 2 cents. Get as many of your friends. To come to the union meeting. Lets get them to come to the town hall meetings. Lets fill every seat at every meeting that we can. Lets always be respectful at all time even if they are not. If you have a question that you would like to ask,but don't feel you can.please give them to president Andes or myself. This is what your union reps are for. I know others have been called down to the chiefs office after the town hall meeting. This is what's it is..just be respectful at all times and don't drink the kooll aid...smiles.. lets play nice in the sand box. If I post it here I will say it to your face. My name is zack and I approve of this post. Thanks
DeleteI suggest just the opposite. I say we flood the town hall meetings with as many people as possible and EVERY person there ask CRITICAL questions of the fire chief. They can't possibly go after everyone if we all do it. If no one goes in and no one asks any questions then he gets what he wants. It's a victory in the chiefs eyes.
ReplyDeleteAny word on the Lt? Hope he comes out clean and gets out of 201 detention.
ReplyDeleteLooking back in recent history inside the fire department, has anybody been found innocent of departmental charges? Or is it a given that once charges are placed you are automatically guilty. Does this not simply show an abuse of "Officer Entitlement". Just because an officer prefers charges does not make a subordinate guilty. It only means there has been a disagreement between two people, such as in this case. Let me refresh everyone's memory, when we all attended OPEN MIKE NIGHT and the TOWN HALL meetings the chief stated EVERYONE could speak freely without fear of retribution. Nothing will be held against anybody. So, my question is, why has the chief expanded said charges to include things said during these open forums? And if punishment follows then it will show that the chief "LIED" to everybody in the fire department. As we all know MORAL TURPITUDE in the city gets you fired. Lying, cheating or stealing is MORAL TURPITUDE. I believe MasterRookie is being singled out for simply saying his opinions that the fire chief has asked him to voice repeatedly. This is just another case of abuse of power within fire department administration. This fire chief was given a Golden Opportunity when he was appointed fire chief. He severely disappointed so many. As a trusted Lt. said when the announcement of this chiefs appointment came, Be Careful What You Wish For, this will be the worst chief we have ever had. It was true then and is true now. One question for the masses, why have chief officers never had charges placed upon them by subordinates? Is it acceptable for officers to mistreat subordinates with disrespect, and not punish them? I know of problems firefighters have had with officers and the officer always wins? Why? Nobody is perfect yet a set of gold bars or more bars than someone else automatically makes you right and them wrong. MASTERS AND SLAVES ARE GONE. Firefighters are no more or no less than fire chiefs whipping boys.
ReplyDeleteLt. Schmidt is a good man! Hope he sticks to his guns and fights the cronies downtown who are out to get him for previous comments he [may have] made during open forums. You got my respect Lt. Schmidt for not throwing a fellow brother under the bus.... unlike MANY other Kool-Aide drinking officers who would have in a heartbeat. Kudos sir!
ReplyDeleteLet me offer you a different perspective. How about a simple word called insubordination? How about gathering all the facts before you jump to conclusions? It's amazing to see how many of you have time to come post on this board about who may or may not be a leader. A true leader knows that there are two sides to every story and would do their due diligence gathering information before making blind accusations.
ReplyDeleteNo form of insubordinaton should be tolerated. Especially for an organization that is considered para-military.
Do you have more facts for us? Please enlighten us
ReplyDeleteQuote "Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteLet me offer you a different perspective. How about a simple word called insubordination? How about gathering all the facts before you jump to conclusions? It's amazing to see how many of you have time to come post on this board about who may or may not be a leader. A true leader knows that there are two sides to every story and would do their due diligence gathering information before making blind accusations.
No form of insubordinaton should be tolerated. Especially for an organization that is considered para-military."
A truly good officer would have stopped the conversation, arguement, spat or whatever this was.
Conduct unbecoming an officer should have been placed upon the officer Master Rookie argued with also. Period!
First of all we have not been Para-military for some time now. I for one agree....It is amazing how many are veiwing this site in such a short aount of time. This should probably tell you something "different perspective". Firefighters in this department are fed up. I sat down with Lt Schmidt and spoke with him regarding his situation. Thats fact enough for me. If you have something to add please do. The sad part is that this all stems from Lt Schmidt attempting to stand up for his fellow firefighters. How many of the operational shortcomings brought to the attention of ESU1 by Lt Schmidt have been addressed. Airpacks are still failing, Fireifighters are still walking around in contaminated gear, etc..
ReplyDeleteInsubordination? Blind accusations? The facts are straight. It is much easier to focus on one individual than try and fix any of the multiple problems we have currently. You may not support his actions and that is your right, but I for one do. Stay safe and when you hear of a vital piece of equipment failing, know there are individuals out there trying to prevent it.
No form of insubordinaton should be tolerated. Especially for an organization that is considered para-military.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Insubordination should not be tolerated. But there is a line between insubordination and being vocal on a safety issue. Passion for being safe should never be grounds for charges. Having your feeling hurt because you not like what someone has said about a safety issue. what? are we all 12? Yes, we need to repectfull.If it was a true safety issue, investigate it, fix it, put steps in place that it does not happen again,and say thank you. It is all of our jobs to make sure WE ALL GO HOME IN THE MORNING. This is my 2 cents on this.
To the anonymous poster on January 8 at 4:13 PM. Insubordination is a relative term in this department. Different people get different treatment based on a complex algorithm of sex, race, relation, rank and personal standing with the Fire Chief. There are very few officers that conduct themselves as officers and even fewer leaders amongst the officer ranks. I'm not buying the insubordination charge. Lt. Schmidt has too much knowledge, backbone, integrity, and an unfortunate lack of tact when dealing with "officers" in this department. I think bullying would more accurately describe what happened with Lt Schmidt.
ReplyDeleteSchmidt is a good guy. I'm glad to see him looking out for others and standing up for what is right.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Lt Schmidt is a good person and a well motivated officer. I hope everything works out for him.please lets all play nice in the sand box. My jammed is zack and I approve this post.
ReplyDelete