CANDIDATE: Moron steals ladder truck parts

Recently, I and my campaign manager stopped in for a visit at one of the city’s four firehouses. It was off the cuff and not planned. It was also an eye-opening experience. The crew was just getting back from lunch, so we sat and discussed things around its dining table. I was impressed with the dedication and concern our firefighters have for our city. I was also concerned with some of the things found.

In the event of a fire, our city is dispatched by the Phoenix Fire Department. It’s a computer-aided dispatch system that moves men, women and apparatus where needed in all of the areas it serves. Occasionally, we’ve all seen other cities’ fire trucks moving about. The Goodyear brush crews are pretty commonly seen (just go to the QT and you are virtually guaranteed to see them fueling up just about every day). Sun Lakes and Chandler are down here quite often, as well.

Some of the time, it’s to back up our city when one of our crews is responding to an incident (assuring the residents of our city that when someone dials 911, apparatus is dispatched), other times it is for training. Our crews also go to other cities for backup or training, as well. It is truly an impressive system, seeing how firefighters from each city will support the others, just for the sake of public safety and service.

We’ve come to know that our firefighters and police officers are people just like you and me, but beyond that will risk their lives and limbs for the safety of persons and property – but not unreasonably. They get injured, and see things the average person will never see. Some of their wounds heal, while others are ingrained in their psyche and never forgotten.

Recently, our city’s ladder truck was down for maintenance. It is the only one we have. It was sitting on its jacks in front of the maintenance bay at fire administration for several days.

However, some smart-ass SOB decided that pieces off the truck were more valuable to him than to the people of the city or the firefighters who would have to use the apparatus to save a life.

The incredulous SOB stole parts off a fire truck.

Granted, the parts weren’t seen as high value, but the items were high utility, and without them, the truck couldn’t be driven. Fortunately, our fire department volunteers went out of their way to get the replacement parts. However, it cost the taxpayers of the city precious time and money to replace those devices. Not to mention the additional time our truck is down due to that theft may cost property or a life.

Most fire department emergency calls involve the need for medical aid. Each engine carries two paramedics and two EMT firefighters on the crew. The crew responsibility until the ambulance is able to transport the patient is significant. The whole system depends on teamwork and the ability to work in adverse conditions. Every piece of apparatus must be available, in good working order, and manned. Our firefighters and department personnel are doing quite a job keeping things together.

It’s a sad state of affairs when people steal from fire trucks. It also shows a lack of integrity and personal responsibility that someone stealing emergency equipment can say, “Oops” and leave the rest of us abandoned and flapping in the wind.

Steal tools from a fire truck and the tools may be replaced. But what if the same idiot who stole from our city’s ladder truck stole an ambulance from the scene of an accident? Victims can’t get transported to the hospital on the hose rack of a fire engine, so if someone needs to be transported at that time, they’ll just have to wait for a replacement ambulance. Or die.

We need to support our firefighters. Extending the life of certain mechanical devices and vehicles is one thing, but stealing from those who really could use help (i.e.: the person trapped in a burning building) is another. Timing is everything. Waiting for help is expected. Waiting for someone to show up without the right equipment because it was stolen could be deadly. Not being able to respond at all will be deadly.

And the moron, or morons, who stole the equipment from the ladder truck? He or they still haven’t been caught, but I guess in their mind the amount they hocked the stolen lug nuts was good money at someone else’s expense – yours and mine.