By Dave Statter
STATter 911
WASHINGTON, D.C. — District of Columbia officials are trying to make sure that Sgt. Michael LaCore only has to focus on getting well and not worry about being forced to retire. LaCore has been watching the calendar since he was critically burned at a house fire on October 29. A 2004 law would require the veteran firefighter to retire after just 64 shifts away from the job.
The DC City Council is expected to submit emergency legislation on Tuesday to extend the deadline for LaCore and Firefighter Charlie Shyab, injured in the same fire. At a press conference on Monday, Mayor Adrian Fenty and Chief Dennis Rubin said they are working toward a more permanent fix.
Chief Rubin believes the law, enacted before he came to Washington, had good intentions, going after those who might abuse the system. But Rubin and Mayor Fenty said it has unfairly targeted some firefighters who have been legitimately hurt serving the city.
Michael LaCore says this really isn't about him. LaCore talks about the plight of people before him, like Joe Morgan. Joe Morgan was critically burned in a 1999 fire that killed two firefighters. Morgan was given a 50% chance of survival. Morgan not only survived, he went back to work at the department's training academy. Because of the law, Joe Morgan was forced to take a disability retirement which provides only about half of his fire department salary.
Chief Rubin and Mayor Fenty both said they hope to propose legislation that will also address those like Morgan, who are unable to work as active firefighters, but can still serve the city.
Mayor Adrian Fenty said the issue was made clear to him by Michael LaCore's mother Madeline (Full disclosure: Madeline LaCore is a co-worker of mine at WUSA-TV).
Another woman has also been lobbying on this issue. Kelly Aldridge has testified before the City Council about her husband Floyd's on-the-job injuries and eventual retirement. Aldridge says her family has been unable to live on income that is less than half of what Floyd Aldridge made as a firefighter.
