By Matt Thompson
The Blade
PERRYSBURG, Ohio — At times this year, Perrysburg Fire Chief Jeff Klein did not know his firefighters and their trucks were at events. Now, a policy change has been made for next year to ensure that doesn’t happen again.
It has the city administration and the firefighters at odds.
Effective Jan. 1, firefighters cannot leave the station for anything other than a fire or emergency call without approval of the chief. Also, the policy says the firefighters have been told they cannot talk negatively while on duty and in the public about the city’s fire services or administration.
“I have had calls from citizens interacting with firefighters where they said derogatory things about elected officials, administration, and administration decisions, while on duty and in uniform,” said Bridgette Kabat, city administrator. “That is not appropriate.”
Firefighters were able at times in the past to make public appearances at events, without permission. Now, however, Mr. Klein will have to be told in advance about such an appearance and have to agree to it. The policy does not allow on-duty firefighters to attend children sporting events or block parties or do personal shopping.
Pete Scarborough, fire union representative, said the policy is a tactic to silence the firefighters who might get too much attention at such public appearances.
“I’m frustrated because this removes us from being a part of the community,” said Mr. Scarborough, the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3331. “We’ll follow the rules and be locked in the station.”
Mr. Scarborough and the firefighters have been upset with the fire chief and city administration for several months because of the decision to reduce the minimum staffing level this year, from five firefighters to four, and about the issue of whether another fire station is needed.
“We had instances late last summer when the chief was unaware our apparatus were relocated in the city without permission from him,” Ms. Kabat said. “We want a clear chain of command.”
The policy allows firefighters to go buy food or shop for on-duty purposes, within reason. Ms. Kabat said that, if firefighters are coming back from ProMedica St. Luke’s Hospital and want to stop at McDonald’s for a meal, that is OK. But it is not acceptable if they travel across town and have a two-hour sit-down dinner away from the station, she said.
Emergencies, training, apparatus checks, and approved public relations events are examples of travels away from the station that are permitted.
Mr. Scarborough objects to the constraints, because he said it is important for the firefighters to attend Little League events to be a part of the community and interact with children.
“It is good for little kids to know we care,” he said. “I don’t want their first experience with a firefighter with his mom hurt, or (the child is) hurt.”
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