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Editorial cartoon backgrounder
In July 2004, 7 members of the Sacramento Fire
Department (Sacramento is the capital of California, USA) were suspended and were
being investigated along with other policemen and firefighters for sexual assault
at an event known as "Porn Star Costume Ball." The firefighters attended the
event using two fire trucks while on duty, although they were not responding to
any call, and never compromised city services at that time. When investigations
became public, other allegations emerged. A woman has claimed that fire crews
would park outside bars and nightclubs offering women joyrides.
Resignations and terminations followed, but civil cases have been lodged
against the offending personnel. The attorney for one of the complainants, a
former female firefighter, has said, "There is a lack of supervision and a lack
of management in this department. It shows a pattern where this department does
not take care of its own if the people who are doing the conduct are part of the
'good old boys' club."
Countless good works by the fire department, such as toy drives and food
drives, as well as the standard fire protection and fire safety services, are
rendered worthless when personnel engage in non-sanctioned and dangerous
activities such as joyriding to nightclubs and drinking while on duty. In the
Philippines, a number of government and volunteer fire stations and brigades
have also been reported to engage in these activities. Whatever your personnel
want to do should be fine, but not when on duty, and not using organizational
resources. Whether government, corporate or volunteer, do not let your
firefighting group come to this.
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