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maddog411
07-04-08, 07:47
Did you guys hear about the City of Davis? So what if they sleep in the station. They are OFF DUTY and the station is their home away from home. What should they do? Drive drunk instead? No way.

I cannot believe it went to a county grand jury. What do you guys think?

Here is some of the article:
A downtown firehouse was misused by off-duty personnel who used the facility to "sleep off" nights of drinking, according to a Yolo County grand jury report.

Other citizen complaints about the Davis Fire Department were brought to the grand jury, including allegations of a hostile working environment, inconsistent promotion practices and a strained relationship with the Davis Police Department.

The report claims some off-duty Davis firefighters would sleep at the downtown firehouse, Station 31, after going out drinking rather than drive home.

The report said the chief supported the practice.

However, Davis Fire Chief Rose Conway would not comment on the report.

"While it may be preferable for them to be sleeping in the firehouse rather than driving on the road, the city prohibits 'being under the influence during work hours, at the work site, or in uniform,'" the report said.

The report also said firefighters -- some seen intoxicated downtown, and known to be sleeping at the firehouse after hours -- reflect poorly on the department and the city.

"Serious issues have been raised. We've hired an independent investigation to analyze what's valid in the report," city manager Bill Emlen said.

The grand jury recommended that the city's Drug and Alcohol Administrative Policy be posted publicly, and that all department personnel read and sign off on the documents.

The report also said all city and department policies related to drug and alcohol use should be enforced.

"I was really surprised and concerned that there's something amiss in our fire department," Mayor Ruth Asmundson said.

However, resident Chris Fields suggested that the department allow everyone to sleep in the fire stations if they are too drunk to drive.

TaylorMade
07-05-08, 17:06
It is probably not the best decision to get intoxicated and crash out at the fire station on a regular basis. But were they causing any problems for anyone? Probably not. This was a common practice of fire brigades years ago. This seems to have been blown out of control.

jude23
07-06-08, 17:44
Hopefully the Davis guys weren't drinking and driving...but if they got a cab ride to the station, why didn't they just get a cab ride home? If they walked to the station from the bars, why didn't they catch a cab home? Have you never been the one on shift at the station when the drunk guys come in?!...ANNOYING! Do you have extra recliners or beds at the station for them so they don't take yours?! It's the appearance of wrong-doing that must be avoided. As fellow firemen we know they were off duty and not expected to perform, but when the "never wanting to make controversy" media reports it to the general public, they see it as if the firemen were drinking on duty.
Riding tailboard was a common practice not too long ago, also. The times have changed and we need to get on board...or in a seat with a seatbelt.

Ash702
07-07-08, 20:58
I have "benefited" from my station being close to downtown before. I even have parked my truck there and gotten a ride, come back and crashed out in the TV room. Never asked for permission, but I figure better to ask for forgiveness than permission!! But I also don't broadcast the fact that I have done this either.
So, that being said, I am in favor of having guys crash out if the want/need to. As long as they don't wake me up in the process (i am always quiet when i have done it). Maybe just keep it on the DL, you know what I mean:cool:

fatcobra
07-13-08, 13:03
Hey Ash,

For a guy that doesnt broadcast it, what the heck are you doing right now.

And though you do not wake anyone up if/when you use the tv room, you certainly have no problem calling the station and letting everyone know how much fun you are having.
suckittrebec

Ash702
07-14-08, 12:16
Hey Ash,

For a guy that doesnt broadcast it, what the heck are you doing right now.

And though you do not wake anyone up if/when you use the tv room, you certainly have no problem calling the station and letting everyone know how much fun you are having.
suckittrebec

I meant broadcast it to admin and to Captains @ the station. When I said "Broadcast" it was more along the lines of saying @ muster "Hey, I got F'ed up last night and crashed out in the TV room." I don't exactly do that!! You picking up what I'm throwing down?
But I have also taken people to the airport early in the morning (4ish) and come back to the station and crashed for a few hours before my shift started. That is another advantage. Sotally Tober and everything!!

fatcobra
08-10-08, 16:36
i get what you are throwing down. Im sure we have all taken advantage of what this job offers us.

GirlMedic03
08-11-08, 00:18
I just don't drink. It seems like I don't have to worry about those kinds of problems.

Personally, these guys should call a cab and go home. The station is a public building even though it is home away from home. It should only be slept in by off duty intoxicated personnel as a last resort.

HB of CJ
09-17-08, 20:22
Perhaps you very young people do not understand what you are missing. Way way back (a LONG time ago) we always used the "house" for sleeping off a good one, especially if you were scheduled to be at work at the same station at 8 am the next morning.

I mean it made common sense. Why go home and run the risk of missing roll call. Many a time we would line up and say "Joe Blow" is here, but he is still sacked out. No problem. We had very good officers who knew what was going on. They did it too.

What I see here is a greater sign/syptom of the new way of managing an institution that has its deep roots more in alignment with our old military than with the new fangled way of managing and not leading. The fire chief should have done his job.....

....correctly and kept this whole thing "in house". It should have never seen the light of day. Weak leadership skills (in my opinion) resulted in this being blown way out of porportion. And city hall should have known when to lay off a problem. Thanks. :) :) :)