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Maryland Firefighters Suspended for Break-Ins
DAVE STATTER
WUSA9/STATter911
Reprinted with Permission
ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) - Russell Dawson admits "it has not been a pleasant time to be chief." Chief Dawson and the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department heard twice in two days last week from the Rockville Police Department that firefighters were found in places where they shouldn't have been.
The most serious incident was around 1:00 Friday morning at the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service logistics and supply building on Dover Road. Dawson tells 9NEWS NOW it was quite a shock to learn that three 17-year-old probationary members were arrested. They were charged with breaking into the building and attempting to steal firefighter gear.
Dawson is asking the public not to judge the more than 200 volunteer members of the department by "the actions of these three." But two other members remain in hot water for an incident that happened earlier in the week.
Police were called Tuesday to a party room at the Fenestra Apartments across the street from the firehouse. Dawson says one of Rockville's volunteer firefighters lives in the apartments and had been hosting get-togethers with fellow firefighters inside the room in recent months. According to Dawson, these events are done off-duty on the firefighters' own time.
The chief says apartment management had recently started shutting the room down at 10:00 PM. The fire department's investigation has determined that seven of the nine firefighters didn't know about the new rules and that entry was made into the locked room before their arrival. The suspensions of the seven have been lifted.
Dawson says the firefighter who lives in the building and another volunteer, who is believed to have forced open the locked door, are still facing a disciplinary hearing.
Chief Dawson is concerned because of incidents involving "a few rogue people" the public will get the wrong impression about the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. He says the volunteers provided more than 140,000 hours of standby-duty last year ready to respond to emergencies.
Written by Dave Statter
9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com
WUSA9/STATter911
Reprinted with Permission
ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) - Russell Dawson admits "it has not been a pleasant time to be chief." Chief Dawson and the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department heard twice in two days last week from the Rockville Police Department that firefighters were found in places where they shouldn't have been.
The most serious incident was around 1:00 Friday morning at the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service logistics and supply building on Dover Road. Dawson tells 9NEWS NOW it was quite a shock to learn that three 17-year-old probationary members were arrested. They were charged with breaking into the building and attempting to steal firefighter gear.
Dawson is asking the public not to judge the more than 200 volunteer members of the department by "the actions of these three." But two other members remain in hot water for an incident that happened earlier in the week.
Police were called Tuesday to a party room at the Fenestra Apartments across the street from the firehouse. Dawson says one of Rockville's volunteer firefighters lives in the apartments and had been hosting get-togethers with fellow firefighters inside the room in recent months. According to Dawson, these events are done off-duty on the firefighters' own time.
The chief says apartment management had recently started shutting the room down at 10:00 PM. The fire department's investigation has determined that seven of the nine firefighters didn't know about the new rules and that entry was made into the locked room before their arrival. The suspensions of the seven have been lifted.
Dawson says the firefighter who lives in the building and another volunteer, who is believed to have forced open the locked door, are still facing a disciplinary hearing.
Chief Dawson is concerned because of incidents involving "a few rogue people" the public will get the wrong impression about the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. He says the volunteers provided more than 140,000 hours of standby-duty last year ready to respond to emergencies.
Written by Dave Statter
9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter Walther on
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wow, is this really happening? i mean, in my training, they stress the importance of being above reproach, making sure that we set a good example, for the department, as well as for the public. Now what is the public gonna think after this? im in awe.....
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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on
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Unbelievable!!!
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