The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Firefighter Arrested on Suspicion of Driving Fire Truck Drunk
This department is about 2 hours south of me, what a shame :(
A firefighter for the Lake-Missaukee Fire Department was arrested for driving a fire truck while drunk.
A deputy arrested Doug Shaw while he was pulling the fire truck into the fire barn driveway on December 27th. He was returning from a fire call.
"We got a call from the assistant fire chief of the Lake-Missaukee Fire Department that he believed one of their firefighters was intoxicated and riding one of their trucks," Missaukee County Sheriff Jim Bosscher told 9 & 10 News.
Shaw has since pleaded "not guilty" to misdemeanor drunk driving. He is due back in court on January 26th.
The arrest raises questions regarding the Lake-Missaukee Fire Department. The department's board held a special meeting to look into how a possibly drunk firefighter was allowed to drive a fire truck from the scene of a fire.
9 & 10 News obtained an audio recording of the special meeting held on December 30th to discuss the incident. The recording reveals mistrust between the fire department and some fire board members over the incident -- and mistrust over issues in the past. At times the meeting becomes dysfunctional.
A board member is heard saying "we're here to fact find and evidently we're not going to have the cooperation. So there's no sense in continuing. I'm not going to sit here all night."
Fire Chief Richard Bradley answered few questions in the meeting on advice of an attorney.
Deputy Fire Chief Keith Lounsbery told the board that he was too busy keeping an eye on his firefighters to be aware of a possibly intoxicated firefighter. But he says he called police as soon as it was suggested that Shaw might be drunk.
"It was reported to me and I reported it to the Sheriff's Department that a crime may be occurring," Lounsbery told the board.
The meeting does not address why a firefighter was allowed to drive a fire truck by himself, which is usually against fire department guidelines.
The board and fire department will have a regular scheduled meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00. 9 & 10 News will be there and have continuing coverage on 9 & 10 News at 11.
9 & 10's Ted Haller and Photojournalist Stephanie Adkins report on the arrest of the firefighter.
http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=147588
A firefighter for the Lake-Missaukee Fire Department was arrested for driving a fire truck while drunk.
A deputy arrested Doug Shaw while he was pulling the fire truck into the fire barn driveway on December 27th. He was returning from a fire call.
"We got a call from the assistant fire chief of the Lake-Missaukee Fire Department that he believed one of their firefighters was intoxicated and riding one of their trucks," Missaukee County Sheriff Jim Bosscher told 9 & 10 News.
Shaw has since pleaded "not guilty" to misdemeanor drunk driving. He is due back in court on January 26th.
The arrest raises questions regarding the Lake-Missaukee Fire Department. The department's board held a special meeting to look into how a possibly drunk firefighter was allowed to drive a fire truck from the scene of a fire.
9 & 10 News obtained an audio recording of the special meeting held on December 30th to discuss the incident. The recording reveals mistrust between the fire department and some fire board members over the incident -- and mistrust over issues in the past. At times the meeting becomes dysfunctional.
A board member is heard saying "we're here to fact find and evidently we're not going to have the cooperation. So there's no sense in continuing. I'm not going to sit here all night."
Fire Chief Richard Bradley answered few questions in the meeting on advice of an attorney.
Deputy Fire Chief Keith Lounsbery told the board that he was too busy keeping an eye on his firefighters to be aware of a possibly intoxicated firefighter. But he says he called police as soon as it was suggested that Shaw might be drunk.
"It was reported to me and I reported it to the Sheriff's Department that a crime may be occurring," Lounsbery told the board.
The meeting does not address why a firefighter was allowed to drive a fire truck by himself, which is usually against fire department guidelines.
The board and fire department will have a regular scheduled meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00. 9 & 10 News will be there and have continuing coverage on 9 & 10 News at 11.
9 & 10's Ted Haller and Photojournalist Stephanie Adkins report on the arrest of the firefighter.
http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=147588
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by turk182 on
-
WOW!! do not know what to say!
If that happened in my department and he was intoxicated he would not be driving the trucks anymore.
-
Permalink Reply by T.J. on
-
I guess the FF has already resigned but now their fire board is going after the Chief for allowing him to drive.
-
Permalink Reply by Oldman on
-
"Deputy Fire Chief Keith Lounsbery told the board that he was too busy keeping an eye on his firefighters to be aware of a possibly intoxicated firefighter."
???????? Probably needs to open his other eye!
-
-
"The meeting does not address why a firefighter was allowed to drive a fire truck by himself, which is usually against fire department guidelines."
Does this mean him took the truck by himself to the scene?
If so was it the second truck out the door because there might not have been anyone there to stop him from taking the truck.
But once there when they were made aware of his state why was he allowed to drive it home!
-
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
-
Obviously, we have a highly sophisticated, highly professional and well led department here.
NO ONE should be shocked by this.
It is going to happen again, because some JUST DON'T GET IT!
You know; like that SEATBELT thing?
Two people would be booted. The firefighter AND the chief.
Brothers my arse.
IMHO.
Art
-
-
Thats what I take of it so far, that it was the 2nd out truck and he was there by himself. This thing is all over our local news and let you know more as it goes on.
-
-
Art I totally agree with you on this, my department and board would not tolerate this at all and we actually put a zero tolerance rule out a couple of years ago. This is a real small department of about 15-20 guys with maybe 50-100 calls a year so they probably thought they would never get caught and well they now know.
-
-
I do agree with you Caleb on the Chief thing but you know how "Fire Boards " are they pin everyone to the wall just to make the media happy.
-
Permalink Reply by firechief911 on
-
i think about 4 people should be looking for a job. the chief ,asst.chief , safty officer and the drunk . if they knew at the call he was intoxicated. they should have never let him back in the truck and should have escorted him from the scene .
the dept may need some newer trucks if it takes more than one person to drive them.
-
-
if you think about it they dont have much choice
-
Permalink Reply by Fire Chick on
-
that is crazy...
-
Permalink Reply by Chief 29 on
-
Sounds to me like there was some definite animosity between the Chief and the firefighter at some point. Possibly a prior offense and the chief was looking for a way to get rid of him and found this to be the way. If he knew he was intoxicated there is no way he should have left him drive the rig back. I don't think the Chief realized what he was getting himself into by the way he handled the situation. I don't know all the facts but if I were in his shoes I would have handled it a little different.
Once I found out that he was intoxicated I would have relieved him of his duties whether he was driving or not. The firefighter would then be escorted from the scene, because there is no room for an intoxicated person on the scene. I would no way in hell even consider allowing him to drive the truck back after the call. After I had the firefighter removed from the scene He would have been asked to resign/quit and if he was not willing to go peacefully then I would have him dismissed and press charges if able to.
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
