The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Volunteer Firefighter charged with 2 counts of Arson and 1 count Capital Murder!!!
House Fire in Union County Kills One; Volunteer Fireman Charged
UNION COUNTY, Mississippi (WLOV) - Two houses go up in flames and authorities said they have the person in custody who is responsible for it all...a volunteer fireman.
It happened Saturday September 5th, 2009 at 1:00 a.m., in the Alpine community, off Hwy 9 North.
Two fires at two houses less than a mile apart leaves one community shocked and authorities gathering information. One house was vacant, the other was occupied by Myrtle Owen, 89, who died trying to save her own life.
Owen's daughter tells WLOV News her mother was a respected member of the community. She said it's hard to understand why anyone would hurt her.
The strange twist, the person who authorities say is to blame is William Lambert, 22, of Guntown. Lambert is a volunteer fire fighter. Authorities say Lambert reported the blaze and he even knocked on Owen's daughter's door to tell her, her mother's home was on fire.
Officials said after questioning they can only think of one reason why he did it. Officials said the think Lambert liked to set buildings on fire, then he would try to put the fires out.
Owen's daughter said if she could talk to Lambert face to face she would ask one question, "Why?"
Lambert is currently in jail awaiting his first court appearance. He will be charged with two counts of first degree arson and one count of capital murder.
Owen's daughter said her mother was about to turn 90 years old soon, they were planning for her birthday.
UNION COUNTY, Mississippi (WLOV) - Two houses go up in flames and authorities said they have the person in custody who is responsible for it all...a volunteer fireman.
It happened Saturday September 5th, 2009 at 1:00 a.m., in the Alpine community, off Hwy 9 North.
Two fires at two houses less than a mile apart leaves one community shocked and authorities gathering information. One house was vacant, the other was occupied by Myrtle Owen, 89, who died trying to save her own life.
Owen's daughter tells WLOV News her mother was a respected member of the community. She said it's hard to understand why anyone would hurt her.
The strange twist, the person who authorities say is to blame is William Lambert, 22, of Guntown. Lambert is a volunteer fire fighter. Authorities say Lambert reported the blaze and he even knocked on Owen's daughter's door to tell her, her mother's home was on fire.
Officials said after questioning they can only think of one reason why he did it. Officials said the think Lambert liked to set buildings on fire, then he would try to put the fires out.
Owen's daughter said if she could talk to Lambert face to face she would ask one question, "Why?"
Lambert is currently in jail awaiting his first court appearance. He will be charged with two counts of first degree arson and one count of capital murder.
Owen's daughter said her mother was about to turn 90 years old soon, they were planning for her birthday.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Bobby King on
-
You can do all the background checks you would like.. The fact is hard and cold. You never know what somebody is going to do until they do it. My department has THE most strictest background check possible. They run You through the state get your rap sheet and then if theres anything on there Suspicious they do the Federal. You got so much as a speeding ticket thats unpaid your not allowed on our department.
That being said.. We still had a member commit a burglary. He had never done anything like that before he just got it in his head one day that he was going to do it and did. The next day My phone is lit up by the PD and Im being asked about this person.
While I do agree that the State and Federal Background check is Necessary.. I think that a Psychological prescreening should ultimately be offered from each states Fire commission for Volunteer agencies as well as Polygraph examinations. And again.. even if a recruit makes it through all of this there is nothing to say that he or she wont commit arson..
I am reminded of the Craigs list murderer. The guy had a promising career after all of his schooling the son of a dentist supposedly came from good stock.. and look at what this guy did.
it just goes to show You that No matter how many profiling exams you give a person they still can throw a wrench into the works
Sgt. Bobby J. King
EMD/Firefighter/Engineer
Madison County Div of Emergency Svcs
9-1-1
Richmond Kentucky
Kirksville Vol. Fire ENG3INE
Madison County Rescue RES1CUE
-
Permalink Reply by FETC on
-
Sorry but thats lame WP. So we as an overall service must accept that individuals who do this, like lighting fires, endanger the public and us so they can respond to the fire, or get into a DWI accident while in a FD vehicle, or better yet, a kid who has had alot of tickets, or may have lost his license prior to knocking on the chiefs door, and gets into a LODD accident that may take innocent brothers or civilians... so your saying we should accept that potentially some chiefs have calculated the risk verse gain.
Hogwash... some chiefs can't calculate risk verse gain at a fire. We still are losing brothers in born losers and now you are suggesting some chiefs are trying to forecast the future.... wow in my opinion thats a stretch.
Hope for the best... half full kinda guy huh
-
-
What type of background and profiling did they do for the career in which the craigs list killer? Sorry you don't just wake up one day and decide to rape and murder women... Thats a poor example.
-
Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
-
SAD!
-
Permalink Reply by blair4630 on
-
There was a debate on jems-connect a few weeks ago about psychological screening for EMS, and also a mention of polygraphs (which met with more resistance). But yeah, it's an idea for sure. I think the psychological testing would cost the departments money, unlike having the applicants get their own bakcground checks and turn them in, but it would definitely be a huge step in preventing undesirables into a department, and as someone else mentioned before, the very thought of going up against a state, federal check, then a sit down with a psychologist would probably send most problem children right around from where they came from.
-
-
So some think adding polygraphs will help.
We do polygraphs tests at my fulltime FD. I didn't mention it in how to increase your background checks for VFD's that are currently doing nothing. Why? because they cost money. Unless your local PD is set-up to do their own but very few are. Privately they cost about 1000. per person. So I doubt many will take that route.
Here is another thought on them, seeing we have some experience. What would be the criteria for using them as a PASS or FAIL? WHo would set the standard for pass or fail in YOUR organization. Who would be willing to be sued when a candidate says he wants to challenge his or her results of the test and the departments standard. You see the PD has standards for making sure their police officer candidate would stand up in court as a credible arresting officer, and the results of a poly are permissible for witness credibility or discrediting the officer from his views or opinions.
The PD criteria is very strict for pass or fail. In the beginning we used their criteria and failed about the first dozen... The other thought is they have also been proven to be unreliable and can be beat by the end user... a pathological liar who dillusionally believes his lies are truths can beat the poly due the lack of physco response to the questions.
-
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
-
I think that this case should be the poster child for every department out there who thinks that they have to take anyone to put butts in the seats.
Didn't know about his past? You never know what you get? Who could have predicted it? There's no way of knowing for sure about someone's intent? He seemed like a nice enough guy and was on two other departments!
How can you belong on THREE volunteer departments and hold down a full time job? Were these departments POC?
Regardless; the damage is done.
Chalk up another "firefighter arsonist" and now murderer headline.
But hey; it's not a black mark on the entire service, is it?
TCSS.
Art
-
-
I know a few people that run with 2 or 3 departments. Each of them is in a situation where they live one place, spend alot of time in another (parents, girlfriend, etc.), or moved but still keeps their gear for the occasional call, etc.
I will say this though, I could see that being a flag, which among other things could warrant a check-up on hiring or even as a check-up on a current member. Like any other flag, it could turn out to be nothing, but every once in a while it might get a legitimate hit.
Also, like someone else said, the shortage of volunteers in many, many departments causes them to keep standards such as physicals and background checks to a minimum. Not the way it should be, but the way it is.
-
Permalink Reply by Cory P. Taylor on
-
In my own opinion there should be a very in depth application procedure. I agree with background checks. It would help to have references. Go out ask neighbors, teachers, friends, parents, family members, and other people about the person that is filling out the application for the volunteer department.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
