There is one comment beneath this and then the rest of the letter follows in 4 separate comment sections.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Letter Read to City Council Dec. 12, 2011
To Peru City Council ,
Monday evening I was wrote up by the Peru Fire department for “failure to follow
instruction” and “insubordination” . Last Wednesday Dec. 7th during our meeting we were
handed out new SOG’s with a change pertaining to reporting to calls. Each Squad is either
to report to the scene or the station depending on the month , unless it is a CO call ,
mutual aid , a car accident , or a call on the north side of Interstate 80 . I told the
chief that I don’t carry my gear with me because of my employment and because I’m always
switching vehicles throughout the day . He told me to talk to my Captain “C” . Thursday the
8th they had an officers meeting and Capt “C” called me after it was over and told me I had
to report to the scene this month . I told him I’ve never reported to the scene since I
live 3 blocks from the station and that I don’t carry my gear with me because of my
employment and other restrictions. He said that if I didn’t want to carry my gear with me
to just not to come to calls for the month . I said whatever . He then said I could only
come to calls that were report to the station .
We had a call that day that I responded to and I reported to the station because
I passed it on the way to the scene . The rule is if you pass the scene on the way to the
station you can stop at the scene or if you pass the station on the way to the scene you
can stop there .
On the 10th we had a call where I reported to the station because I passed it on
the way to the scene . When I entered the station Lt. “A” said I was suppose to go to the
scene and I told him my gear is in my locker and I passed the station so I stopped here to
man the 2nd truck . There were only 4 firefighters that responded to that call , 1 of which
was the engineer .
On the 12th we had a call where I left work to respond and passed the station so
I stopped to man the 2nd truck .
On the 12th we had another call and I was out with my mom at the store and came
back to respond with but by the time I got her home and inside the situation was under
control and the chief said he didn’t need anything additional sent to the scene . However
just before this I noticed Captain “A” driving around my block checking to see if I was
home . Both my vehicles were home because I was driving my moms car with her in it . Cpt
“A” didn’t see me coming out of the garage carrying my moms bags inside for her . How is it
that the city of Peru continues to leave this man in such a responsible position when he’s
more interested in driving out of his way to snoop around on other firefighters instead of
doing his job ? If you remember Cpt.”A” is the reason all of this got started
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22 comments:
It sounds to me like there is a major leadership problem going on at the fire station.
There were never problems like this brought up when Gary Ecles was chief. I was on the Peru Fire Department several years ago for a short time but had to leave due to re-locating. I recognize the initials Tom is referring to especially Capt.A and Lt. A
neither one of these two were in leadership positions until the new chief was voted in by Liberty. It's obvious these two were not in leadership positions for the fire department in the past because Gary Ecles ran a tight ship. I never really got along with Gary because he was kind of hot headed but guys did what they had to do. I respected that in Gary as chief tho.
Usually on Friday's you will find Jeff King and other Peru, LaSalle firefighters at Elle's tap drinking and having a merry time. I'm sure they still do that. A good leader does not inner mingle with his employees in that way.
I witnessed the things riordon is saying as far as LT"A" and "capt.A" go. LT.A was not a Lt. when I was on but he would go into station sign the pay book then say he needed to get back to work, or bring his children in with him that were to young to be by themselves to be available to do any fire department duties, in fact, other firefighters with young children would bring them in just to sign the book to be paid but yet not available to perform firefighter duties because they were babysitting. Not sure if that still goes on.
As far as Capt.A goes..... R.A seemed to always be the pot stirrer and instigator. Really not sure how Jeff King could have put these two guys in charge, in fact, I'm not sure why the city allowed them to get rid of Gary Ecles when Gary is a fulltime firefighter and had the time to do what needed to be done as he was paid as a fulltime chief.
Sorry to see the mess over there but things will not change until the leadership does.
I would recommend for the Mayor to appoint Ecles back. Gary seems to be healthy enough to take that on, or The city should appoint someone from out of the department.
He got my brother to quit and move away and I’m still his next target . That’s called HARASSMENT !
Come to find out he told the chief his finding like a little school kid tattling .
At this same call there were other firefighters that came to the station instead of going to the scene . How many of them got wrote up ? NONE !
After this call the chief was heard saying in the radio room “ I’m sick of his Bullshit , all I’m waiting on is the attorney’s permission to fire him “ . Obviously everyone there that nite wasn’t suppose to hear that . I was out in the bay wiping down the trucks .
Also remarks were made at the training that were overheard by others . You never know who’s friends with who when you’re in public with other people that you don’t know .
So by this point I knew something was going to happen after training .
So after training was done I was told I was having a meeting with Assist Chief “D” , Capt “C”, and Lt. “F” . We all went into the chiefs office and they told me I was being wrote up for not responding to the scene . I argued my case and then refused to sign it . It’s pretty obvious I’m being singled out . No rules or by-laws , or SOG’s are the same for anybody . The argument of my case is as follows …
· I live 3 blocks from the station and have always been the first to the station and on the first truck or manned the second truck out
· The rules are if you drive by the station on your way to the scene you can report to the station .
· If nothing additional is needed at the scene there is no need to go to the scene .
· Family and Employment come before the fire department
· My insurance will not cover me if I get into an accident going to an emergency scene , or my vehicle is damaged at the scene . They will probly cover my claim then go after the city for repayment.
· Lt “H.” came to the station last week when we had a van fire on Market St. because he went by the station on his way to the call .
· If firefighters are out to dinner or such and don’t have their gear with them and we have a call , they come to the station .
· My gear is always in my locker because I don’t have room in my business vehicle to carry it , or I change vehicles often throughout the day
· When squads were divided up 2 years ago or so , I wasn’t assigned to a specific crew because of my employment , my restrictions on vehicles , my close proximity to the station , and because during the winter months I’m all over the place .
Cpt “A” was my
captain then and told me I was just a floater and to report to the station .
· I was always one of the few guys that never wanted to report to the scene because
it was just quicker and easier to come to the station . We used to start at the top of the
seniority list and give everyone the option to go to the scene or the station until we had
enough guys to report to the scene . It usually worked out that the officers went to the
scene and the guys that lived farthest from the station wanted to go to the scene and the
guys that lived around the station wanted to come to the station .
During my disciplinary meeting I was told that I don’t contribute anything to this
department . I still have one of the highest if not THE highest physical attendance rates
on the department . My gear is always in my locker . So if we have another call , I’m
always willing and ready to go . Not like the fireman (Lt. “A”) that show up on their lunch
breaks in a suit only to sign the book , leave before the call is over and get paid ! I
quit drinking years ago so I was always ready to respond to calls . I’ve done more in the
last year for that department than most guys have ever done . I would use personal favors
with my friends to come down and fix stuff on vehicles and install new lights , etc. . I
would use my businesses snow plow to plow the fire departments and I would always shovel
the sidewalk . I used my snowplow during the blizzard last year to go pick up a city
employees to pull out the fire engine when it was stuck on RT 251 on a call . I took care
of the landscaping , grass cutting , bush trimming , and I never got “owed” calls for what
me and my family members did . Nobody has the right to say I don’t contribute to this fire
department .
I was also told that all I’ve done since my suspension is “buck” the system . I’ve
done nothing to buck the system . I come to calls , do my job , sign the book , and leave
when we’re dismissed . How is that bucking the system . Nobody talks to me except a couple
guys , others have told me they don’t want to be guilty by association , so they talk to me
outside . I’m blamed for all the negative comments on the blog and on NewsTribunes website
. However they did ask me for a donation for the chiefs Christmas gift (which I donated
to). And you know what , I really don’t care if they ignore me , I’m still going to do my
job . When my pager goes off I’m gonna respond and do my job like I always have . I started
this job to help others and my community . And yes this is a job . We all do it because we
get paid for it . Being able to help others , and trying to make a difference are just some
of the finge benefits we get out of it .I applied to it like it was a job , I get paid like
a job , I get disciplined like a job , and I go home from it like a job .
·
My gear stays at the station because I have other responsibilities when I’m not on
a call . I shouldn’t be required to carry my gear everywhere with me . I shouldn’t be told
to drive my car more so I can put my gear in the trunk . I own a snowplow business and
don’t have a lot of extra room in my cab . I carry extra clothes , survival gear , cover
alls , my laptop , my paperwork , etc .
Only a handful of Firefighters in our surrounding communities go to the scene of
an emergency situation in their personal vehicles . Most of them are Officers . Is the
cities liability insurance going to cover any of us if we get in an accident going to the
scene of a call ? Even if we are driving the speed limit and obeying all traffic laws
accidents happen and someone needs to pay to have them fixed . We grudgingly switched from
Liberty employees to City employees because we found out that we had no death benefit if we
got killed at an emergency scene . This is just like that , are we covered if we are
injured , killed , or have property damage while reporting to the scene of a call ?
There are too many rules for different people at the fire station . There are
rules for officers , rules for firefighters , and rules for TOM RIORDAN . This policy
change only took place last week and not everyone wants to respond with their squads .
There are guys going to the scene when they are “ report to station” calls . There are guys
going to the station when they are on the report to scene squad . I respond to the station
because I drive by the station 95% of the time or the “no additional equipment needed” is
said over the radio . Yet nobody else is getting wrote up . the officers say they don’t
notice anybody else , that’s because they are all driving by my house like Cpt “A” , or
watching me waiting for me to do something wrong .
It’s been said I’m an agitator ,and a trouble maker by certain individuals who
are out to nail me . My question is what have I done since I’ve been back from suspension
that would classify me as a trouble maker . These rules and exception that I speak of are
true , but obviously you the council are told otherwise . I proved that you were told lies
resulting in my suspension being upheld but you did nothing to step in and stop what is
going on . Those of you that have been consulting with the attorney waiting for his
blessing to fire me aren’t getting the whole story . There is a lot that you aren’t being
told .
Some may say that why can’t I just follow the policy ? I pushed so hard for
Cpt”A”’s wife to stop parking in the fire department lot illegally , that why should I not
have to follow the rules . For starters , Cpt”A”s wife was breaking the law . This policy
only went into effect last week and it’s pretty obvious that it was wrote for me . Not
everyone has been following it , yet I’m the only one disciplined for it . Besides the
reasons I reported to the station are acceptable incidences where you would go to the
station instead of the scene . However now they say those were never rules for someone not
to go to the scene , but I have also provided proof that for certain officers and fireman
they are . I’m being singled out and Harassed all because of an incident that happened last
January and has spiraled out of control . It’s pretty obvious this is true since I have a
fire officer (Cpt. “A”) driving around my house checking up on me and then reporting back
to the chief
I’ve only came to the station on a call like once in the seven years I’ve been on
the department , that I wasn’t able to respond and that’s because I was wearing a Santa
suit . However now I’m being told that I can only respond to calls when they are “report to
station “calls. This is going to affect my attendance and my paycheck. Yet other
firefighters come to the station all the time and aren’t able to respond because of no
gear , they have their kids with them , have their spouse or girlfriend with them , driving
a different vehicle and no gear , or they are working in a suit and only stopped by on
their lunch break . Once again I’m being singled out because I’m always ready to go .
Like I said in my last letter … I will not stand for bullying , favoritism ,
harassment , intimidation , and now stalking in my place of employment . If that makes me a
trouble maker than so be it !
Tom Riordan
Wow this kid could write speeches for a living . Very well written . Feel sorry for King and the City !
make sure to read the comments under "Peru Reviewing Insurance Bids" from this blog a few days ago for more on this issue . The anticipation of waiting and watching this play out is better than the OJ trial ! I love rooting for David going against Goliath .
This is Outrageous ! Us tax payers pay to train good firefighters like this only to be Harassed and chased away because of a few turds . This city better step in to fix this or the next election will have more change .
This city has gotten way out of hand . Come on , are you kidding me ? King needs to lose his job , not be made a fulltimer getting paid by me and getting benefits ! This is so ridiculous . Wake up city officials and do your job .
How is it that this blog appears to be so one sided in regards to the fire department and the allegations made against it? Is it because everything that comes in is pro Tom Reardon and anti fire department administrators - fire chief and certain officers? If the fire chief and officers had any case previously I think they would have defended themselves but the longer and more they become dormant the greater is the appearance that they are guilty as accused. The time has arrived for city officials to inform the citizens of what knowledge they have and what activism they propose to take. If this is allowed to become a lawsuit and a state investigation of Peru and its fire department it would indeed be a tragedy created by a few and enabled by those who hold positions which are supposed to be protecting the citizen from such.
One position that should be giving direction is the local fire marshal whom I have not heard being involved as yet? Is there a reason for this and who is the local fire marshal? Now that I have asked the question I hope that the answer is not whom I am thinking it is? I sincerely pray I am wrong as I would be sorely disappointed to believe that local politics could be as tightly woven as a spiders web. Once again a spiders web greater than the checks and balances in government bodies which are created to prevent the constant episodes in the daily soaps known as Peru government.
Is the answer to the Peru Fire Department to create a end so it can be taken back to a new beginning and started over? A committee of experienced public servants such as Mayor Scot Harl, Aldermen Dave Pothoff, Gary Echols. Glenn Fredrickson, Bob Borostowsi, Russell Reed, Alderman-Fireman and public health and safety committee member Rodney Perez, public health and safety committee member Tony Ferrari would be qualified to handle this problem here at home with a strong beneficial ending to any problems.
Monday Dec 19, 2011 7:30P.m. Peru City Council Meeting:
Bring your Christmas Wish List and/or Bucket List all requests will be granted. Guaranteed as evidenced by no refusals to new trucks, city equipment (full or partial orders), pay increases with a shortened work week and additional department personnel per department in the last year.
Is there any truth to the rumor that in three more years years the Assistant Building Inspector will be eligible for a pension from this job? A pension from a part time occupation that he is reporting 32 to 36 work hours per week and he is his own boss.
The number of closed sessions a government entity conducts has to be a good bar to utilize for judgement of the entities openness, transparency and efficiency.
Hahahahaha , and the fire Marshall is ..... drum roll ......Jeff King . what a joke
No, Capt "A" don't keep playing "Hail to the KING" it was asked that you play "Little Drummer Boy". Please Capt take your drums and go home you are completely out of tune. A Ra TATA Boom A Ra TaTa Boom. Capt quit crying Santa will move his sleigh out of your parking spot.
Wow now these guys get paid for Parades. Only fire dept that i know that does that
10:25 Apparently, according to chief King, they have been getting paid but in a different manner.
To anon 6:19...
I see no qualified "public servants" on this list...
Is the answer to the Peru Fire Department to create a end so it can be taken back to a new beginning and started over? A committee of experienced public servants such as Mayor Scot Harl, Aldermen Dave Pothoff, Gary Echols. Glenn Fredrickson, Bob Borostowsi, Russell Reed, Alderman-Fireman and public health and safety committee member Rodney Perez, public health and safety committee member Tony Ferrari would be qualified to handle this problem here at home with a strong beneficial ending to any problems.
Well we either pay them the legal way or how it was done before illegally ? Now that they have been getting paid we can't take that away now or it would be chaos , we better all learn to fight fires because if we piss off the firemen where will we be ? If the police get paid the fireman need to get paid . fair is fair . At least the fireman don't want overtime .
12:54PM
All this has only developed within the last 2 years when King became Fire Chief. There still are some firemen who refuse to go along with the system of being paid for "owed" calls and volunteer because they want to. Yes we can go back to an honest system and if need be have ONE fireman drive ONE truck in the Halloween and Christmas Santa parade. Surely we can find one volunteer in the entire dept. If we can't we have bigger problems than I thought.
and these people are trying to rid the city of the PVAS ambulance service and take it over? Is this a good idea when daily lives are being saved and cared for? I don't think so!
@ 2:10 , There always were volunteers that did what needed to be done . No matter what time of the day or nite there were always a couple guys that did all the late nite escorts , and last minute jobs and never worried about getting paid . I was on the department and recently left and you could always count on about 4 guys . And sad to say these guys have been harassed and pissed off to the point that they stopped doing it to help and thats why the fire department had started cancelling fire prevention activities , and missed parades because noone else would step in and do it . Sad that the good guys aren't in the clan and are outcasts and the citizens pay the price now .
finally someone had the courage to enlighten the city of peru councilmen and the TAXPAYERS. Maybe a internal audit of the fire department regarding payroll for liberty fire company. How can a person who owns a business that is out of town make over $7,500.00 gross for making fire calls (pay per call)? Surprise? are they being signed in by another firemen so the can pad their paycheck?? Should a firemen be paid $32 dollars when he/she shows up with a couple minutes left of a call? Also, regarding drinking at establishments. Nothing is wrong with drinking some cocktails, but let me assure you that firemen have showed up at calls after they have had a few. Would this present a problem? I'm sure there are those who are in a position of higher up who have also done this. Also, let me enlighten you, the blogs are "pretty accurate," Mr. King stated in thursdays dec. 29 news tribune artical that some residents comments are inaccurate!!!!!!Notice the word "some." This word covers him, the truth needs to be spit out. A investigation into any of the issues regarding the peru fire department can be asked of past and present firefighters on a one to one conversation with a councilmen, not in a group setting. Some will tell the truth and some will not. In my opinion ass. chief duncan should be the chief if not a return of eccles. But, if truth be known asst. chief duncan covers all the time for chief king. Ask duncan if he is at most fire calls compared to king., Hopefully he will be honest. In closing one deception leads to another, another, and another. Bless the firemen with intregity, honesty and leadership, and serve their community with leadership and compassion for their service.
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