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Tucson Firefighter Refused To Respond To Giffords Shooting; Memo Questions "Political Bantering" And Delay
TUCSON, Ariz. - A veteran firefighter refused to respond to last month's deadly shooting spree that left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wounded because he had different political views than his colleagues and "did not want to be part of it," according to internal city memos.
In this Jan. 8, 2011 file photo, emergency personnel work at the scene where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and others were shot outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Ariz. Veteran firefighter Mark Ekstrum refused to respond to the deadly shooting spree because of "political bantering," and it may have delayed his unit's assignment to help, according to internal city memos. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
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Mark Ekstrum's insubordination may have delayed his unit's response because firefighters had to stop at another station to pick up a replacement for him, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
While the crew was not among the first called to the supermarket where six people were killed and 13 others wounded, a memo from Ekstrum's supervisor said his actions caused "confusion and delay" during the emergency.
Ekstrum's team, which is specially trained to handle large medical emergencies, was dispatched to assist 90 minutes after the Jan. 8 shooting.
The 28-year veteran of the Tucson Fire Department retired two days later while his supervisors were still considering how to discipline him, according to the Star, which obtained the memos about the incident through a public records request.
Capt. Ben Williams wrote in a report that when Ekstrum first said he would not go on the call, "he mentioned something about `political bantering' and he did not want to be part of it."
Williams said in the report that he told the 56-year-old firefighter that he could not refuse a call for that reason and then talked to the firefighter privately in his office. He said Ekstrum "started to say something about how he had a much different political viewpoint than the rest of the crew and he was concerned."
Despite being told that was not acceptable, Williams said Ekstrum informed him he was going home "sick," so they answered the call without him.
Ekstrum's crew had been dispatched at 12:03 p.m., seven minutes after the last patient arrived at the hospital, said Joe Gulotta, an assistant fire chief. The team was responding as a support crew with a large delivery truck with tents, medical supplies, water and cots used to assist those who were not seriously injured.
Ekstrum declined to comment on the Star's story and refused to elaborate on any details of the memos when reached at his home Thursday by The Associated Press.
"I have nothing else to say about it," Ekstrum said.
But the Star said Ekstrum gave a statement Wednesday to the Fire Department saying he was distraught over the shootings and was "distracted to the point of not being able to perform my routine station duties to such an extent that I seriously doubted my ability to focus on an emergency call."
Ekstrum also said in the statement that he had no problem with Giffords and even voted for her in the last election.
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Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In this Jan. 8, 2011 file photo, emergency personnel work at the scene where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and others were shot outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Ariz. Veteran firefighter Mark Ekstrum refused to respond to the deadly shooting spree because of "political bantering," and it may have delayed his unit's assignment to help, according to internal city memos. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
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Mark Ekstrum's insubordination may have delayed his unit's response because firefighters had to stop at another station to pick up a replacement for him, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
While the crew was not among the first called to the supermarket where six people were killed and 13 others wounded, a memo from Ekstrum's supervisor said his actions caused "confusion and delay" during the emergency.
Ekstrum's team, which is specially trained to handle large medical emergencies, was dispatched to assist 90 minutes after the Jan. 8 shooting.
The 28-year veteran of the Tucson Fire Department retired two days later while his supervisors were still considering how to discipline him, according to the Star, which obtained the memos about the incident through a public records request.
Capt. Ben Williams wrote in a report that when Ekstrum first said he would not go on the call, "he mentioned something about `political bantering' and he did not want to be part of it."
Williams said in the report that he told the 56-year-old firefighter that he could not refuse a call for that reason and then talked to the firefighter privately in his office. He said Ekstrum "started to say something about how he had a much different political viewpoint than the rest of the crew and he was concerned."
Despite being told that was not acceptable, Williams said Ekstrum informed him he was going home "sick," so they answered the call without him.
Ekstrum's crew had been dispatched at 12:03 p.m., seven minutes after the last patient arrived at the hospital, said Joe Gulotta, an assistant fire chief. The team was responding as a support crew with a large delivery truck with tents, medical supplies, water and cots used to assist those who were not seriously injured.
Ekstrum declined to comment on the Star's story and refused to elaborate on any details of the memos when reached at his home Thursday by The Associated Press.
"I have nothing else to say about it," Ekstrum said.
But the Star said Ekstrum gave a statement Wednesday to the Fire Department saying he was distraught over the shootings and was "distracted to the point of not being able to perform my routine station duties to such an extent that I seriously doubted my ability to focus on an emergency call."
Ekstrum also said in the statement that he had no problem with Giffords and even voted for her in the last election.
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Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ray Purcell on
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This kind of thing hurts the fire service. This man showed a complete lack of professionalism and integrity. Whether you agree with someone's political, religious, or cultural views, you are there to do your job. This man should be disciplined to the fullest extent possible, to include criminal charges if applicable. As far as him having different political views from his co-workers, that's part of life. Everyone has different political views. Man up and do your duty.
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Permalink Reply by Sam Neilson on
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What was there to focus on? It was two hours after the event and they were going to set up tents. Its not like rushing in under gun fire to save anybody. Isn't this the job he signed up to do? If you can't do the job with out distraction then maybe it's time to find another less stressful job.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Hogwash. The issue took place an hour and a half after the initial 9/11 call, and that is plenty of time for someone who is not there, but who is listening to the call on the radio to realize that he is distraught over the call and that he would hamper the response by being part of it.
Discipline??? You've got to be kidding me. He's already retired.
Criminal charges? What criminal charges do you fire against someone for being distraught and taking sick leave?
"Man up and do your job."??? It's not his job any more. He retired.
An excellent take on this issue is at Firehouse Zen. Please read it.
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He already did. He retired. That is stated in the story above.
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He didn't throw away anything. He retired.
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So, are you saying that you don't believe in due process?
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Hogwash. He was simply too distraught to operate safely on that call. He went home sick.
If you had your way, any time a firefighter takes sick leave for a "mental health day" then that firefighter is a "shirker" and a "piece of trash".
He earned the right to retire before going to work that day. The fact that he had an emotional response to a high-stress event while at work in no way should disqualify him from retirement benefits that he'd already earned.
As for the firefighters and EMS personnel that responded, they KNEW that they wouldn't be in the line of fire. They staged a safe distance away until PD secured the scene.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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From http://firehousezen.com/2011/02/18/tuscon-there-but-for-the-grace-o...
"The human mind is an amazing place; some of you should visit it sometime."
I'm absolutely astonished at how quick to convict people can be. Moreover I'm appalled that some will do so without READING ALL OF THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION. Talk about knee-jerk (pun intended) reactions.
But then, when you see yourself putting on a super hero cape to do your job it maybe shouldn't come as any surprise. Super heroes aren't allowed to fail, be weak, or even human.
A final word of advice from firehousezen:
"...maybe you should STFU in the hopes that if this, God forbid, happens to you someday, you won’t have your guts pulled out and spread to the four corners of the planet like some many of you are willing to do on a regular basis."
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Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on
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Could you look me in the eye and honestly tell me that everything you've ever seen hasn't affected you in your 29(?) year career, kept you up at night or even reduced you to tears?
It's 30 years.. and yes, I have had tears in my eyes and lost some sleep.. but I got over it by talking to our Pshrink who handles the City's EAP.
I wasn't using that term the way you were thinking of. Political correctness as in when to respond and not to - know your limits. Politically correct as in he made the right choice and even the politicians cannot whine.
Sorry... but if one is a professional... they respond regardless. I work with a few guys that make Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck look like bleeding heart liberals, on the other side of the spectrum, there are a few firefighters on my FD that make Nancy Pelosi's political views look like Atilla the Hun's... yet when the tones drop, politics are put aside and we go to work.
Exactly but shit happens, doesn't it
Shit happens every day... you can wallow in it or deal with it in a professional manner. I prefer the latter.
By the way..I was NOT one of Ekstrum's detractors. If I have to define what a firefighter is to you.. then I wonder if you are truly a Brother or a troll...
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Permalink Reply by Russ on
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This dope should be fired. we serve people, PERIOD! Hmmm 56 years old, i wonder who in society he has refused to help in his years of service that the department "does not" know about.
with all the ballyhoo about the benifit structure in the recession this is all we need. in my carrear i have treated people that have been openly hostile to me and i have been physically assaluted. i took care of them as best i could then went on with my life. i even got one one sent to prison. battery on a PSO is a felony in florida
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Permalink Reply by Ricky Davis on
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I disagree with you Ben. He threw away any RESPECT he had for himself, his firefighting brothers, the public he swore to protect, and this profession.
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Tyler,
"...a new time low since Mike Schlags's post."
At 18 you don't have the right to criticize much, much less the opinion of a 30+ year VETERAN firefighter/CAPTAIN. I can, without qualification state that Captain Schlag has forgotten more than you will probably ever know. That you disagree with him is your right, but at ONLY 18 you need to be respectful of Captain Schlag's YEARS of experience and knowledge. The man RETIRED after an extensive paid career. That alone DEMANDS a level of respect that, given your rather arrogant and condescending attitude you will NEVER achieve.
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