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Paramedic shouldn't get job back

Re: City ordered to rehire paramedic, story, Sept. 19.

I have been following the situation with paramedic Trevor Murray and Clearwater Fire Rescue since his incident March 26, 2005, and I am now thoroughly teed off.

Mr. Murray, who was on duty and being paid by the city of Clearwater to respond to dispatches received for potential medical emergencies, arbitrarily and of his own accord decided not to respond to a call because he "thought" that it was a case of a civilian crying wolf.

Our tax money pays for members of Fire Rescue to respond to calls regardless of what their thoughts about the call may be.

Response is defined by most agencies in Florida as the emergency vehicle physically departing the facility or location it is at with all the appropriate personnel on board.

Mr. Murray chose to not respond (which is what he is paid to do) and wait to see what the law enforcement officer responding found. If there had been a traumatic injury on-site, his response would have been so delayed by this blatant disregard for the citizens he is paid to serve that someone with major injuries could have easily died.

Our tax money does not pay for this type of action and subjective decisions that cause a personal disregard of our situation and potential safety. We expect that as paid employees (paid by us), our emergency personnel do their jobs within the nationally accepted standards and requirements - not make up their own rules as they go, as he did in this situation.

Luckily, I do not live in Clearwater, but unfortunately, I have to travel through there frequently and now wonder if I have an emergency, what will or will not happen.

My hat is off to fire Chief Jamie Geer for standing up for the citizens and the level of quality service we have a right, as taxpaying citizens, to expect from our emergency service providers.

To the firefighter union, I cannot believe that you can support this type of complete negligence by a member. By supporting him, you tell the community that you really do not care about taking care of them.

Regardless of whether the actual firing procedures were letter perfect, what Mr. Murray chose to do (or in this case, not to do) reflects directly on all the true, proud professionals in your union.

To the Clearwater City Council, hopefully someone there has the common sense to step in and ensure that employees who provide the potential to let harm come to the citizens and who completely disregard standard established policies and procedures, especially when our lives are on the line, are fired and stay fired.

David McCormick, Tarpon Springs

It's a trip being fire chief - a trip on a roller coaster

Re: City ordered to rehire paramedic, story, Sept. 19.

What a roller coaster ride it is to be the chief of the Clearwater Fire Department.

Poor Chief Jamie Geer. One day the newspaper has a letter from a former subordinate in Tennessee singing praises of how you saved the Franklin, Tenn., Fire Department from the stain of racism.

Then the very next day the same fickle newspaper runs a lengthy story about how some arbitrator has the nerve to tell you that you can't fire black men just because you want to.

How could this happen? You supposedly withheld all the right documents from the city manager that suggested the employee deserved to keep his job. When you did not like being told to retain this employee, you conducted your own private investigative lynching, but doggone it, now some arbitrator is going to make you rehire this guy!

Next thing you know, those women you told to stay out of fires or to whom you denied promotional exams will come back to bite you. What? They already did? Well, maybe you can violate their contract by keeping union members from attending union meetings by denying their time off. Oh, wait. That didn't work out either.

Sheesh. At least you don't have to worry about keeping your job.

Even if you get fired, it doesn't look like anybody stays fired too long at this Fire Department.

David Fraser, Clearwater

Thanks to Coast Guard officer for saving man's life in gulf

My son, Gray, was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sept. 16 in the Gulf of Mexico.

If it were not for Petty Officer Steve Garcia, my son would have bled to death, because by boat it would have taken 2½ hours to reach shore.

My son could not help but praise the brave efforts of Petty Officer Garcia, who made sure he got in the basket and was safe 60 feet in the air, where the Coast Guard chopper was waiting to take him to Tampa General Hospital.

Although my son is a man of the sea, and a certified master diver, accidents happen.

Sincere thank yous to Petty Officer Steven Garcia for saving my son's life. I now have a new respect for the men who protect our seas and I am forever in debt to the Coast Guard for saving my son's life.

Pamela Decker Marino, St. Petersburg

[Last modified September 22, 2006, 00:23:04]