http://www.torringtontelegram.com/main.php?story_id=5818&page=23
From the Torrington Telegram:
Firefighters cited after responding to structure fire
BY BESS CARNAHAN
On July 12, a dry lightning storm sparked several fires in north Goshen County.
Several agencies were called to respond to the various fires. Lingle was paged to respond to a fire with structures in danger.
Lingle firefighters, Jack Cannon and Dave O’Shel were clocked in a 20 mile per hour zone, traveling 30 and 31 miles per hour by Lingle police officer Kenny Elwood. Elwood clocked the radar and did not interfere with the firefighter’s response, but waited until the firefighters returned to the fire hall and issued each one a citation. Fines for that speed were $100 and $103.
The incident sparked an emotional outburst from emergency response personnel on both sides of the issue and has become a countywide issue. In the recent past, there have been situations where firefighters have received citations for traveling in an emergent fashion after the emergency had been cancelled. There was also an incident where an emergency responder was involved in a high-speed chase of a patient who refused treatment. These incidents have left police officials in a quandary on how to protect citizens from potential hazards due to inappropriate and/or unnecessary speeding by emergency responders.
Lingle firefighters were united as a group to defend O’Shel and Cannon. Lingle fire chief Joe Wells said he was prepared to go the distance to back up his firefighters.
The situation came to a head at the Lingle town council meeting on July 19. Several Lingle firefighters attended the meeting to support O’Shel and Cannon. However, the Lingle council would not hear comments or discuss the matter in the open meeting. Instead, the meeting was adjourned to executive session and all non-essential persons were asked to leave the town hall.
During the executive session, Lingle firefighters commented on the incident outside on the sidewalk. The consensus was that based on distances and time, everyone in all departments tries to respond in a responsible manner as quickly as possible. Getting a jump on the emergency, whether fire or medical, as quickly as possible makes the difference between life and death and fire containment. The firefighters felt that Elwood had deliberately set up a radar trap at the fire hall for the purpose of issuing the citations.
The firefighters united behind O’Shel and Cannon and offered to pay for them to fight the citations and said they would cover any lost salaries for the two.
At the end of the executive session, the meeting continued with no further mention of the incident. After the meeting, Elwood invited the Lingle firefighters into his office for a private meeting.
There had been comments that Goshen County Sheriff Don Murphy had been advising Elwood to trap speeding firefighters prior to July 12.
Murphy said he had no knowledge of the incident until after the fact. Murphy went on to say he felt the incident might be used to clear the air of the confusing variety of unwritten understandings concerning emergency response by firefighters and EMTs. He said law enforcement is required to follow Wyoming statutes when enforcing laws.
“The statutes provide regulations for emergency response and each municipality or county commissioners may give emergency response agencies permission for emergent response by emergency personnel in their private vehicles,” Murphy said.
As County Sheriff, Murphy said he could not make any of the agreements.
“It must come from the governing bodies,” he said.
All parties who were involved in the executive session have declined comment on what was said during the session.
Elwood admitted to issuing the two citations.
“Both citations have since been dismissed by me due to other circumstances that were discussed in the executive session,” Elwood said. “I believe the fire and emergency responders do an excellent job. They volunteer without compensation for training and emergency response. I am proud of the services they provide and the job they do and hope we can continue to work together in the future.”
County Attorney Patrick Korell said he has been contacted about the incident.
“I have offered to visit with city attorneys, police chiefs, fire chiefs and governing bodies to set up a policy for Goshen County and municipalities that will work for everyone,” Korell said. “Balances are needed for law enforcement to protect the communities and for emergency personnel to safely serve the communities.”
From the Torrington Telegram:
Firefighters cited after responding to structure fire
BY BESS CARNAHAN
On July 12, a dry lightning storm sparked several fires in north Goshen County.
Several agencies were called to respond to the various fires. Lingle was paged to respond to a fire with structures in danger.
Lingle firefighters, Jack Cannon and Dave O’Shel were clocked in a 20 mile per hour zone, traveling 30 and 31 miles per hour by Lingle police officer Kenny Elwood. Elwood clocked the radar and did not interfere with the firefighter’s response, but waited until the firefighters returned to the fire hall and issued each one a citation. Fines for that speed were $100 and $103.
The incident sparked an emotional outburst from emergency response personnel on both sides of the issue and has become a countywide issue. In the recent past, there have been situations where firefighters have received citations for traveling in an emergent fashion after the emergency had been cancelled. There was also an incident where an emergency responder was involved in a high-speed chase of a patient who refused treatment. These incidents have left police officials in a quandary on how to protect citizens from potential hazards due to inappropriate and/or unnecessary speeding by emergency responders.
Lingle firefighters were united as a group to defend O’Shel and Cannon. Lingle fire chief Joe Wells said he was prepared to go the distance to back up his firefighters.
The situation came to a head at the Lingle town council meeting on July 19. Several Lingle firefighters attended the meeting to support O’Shel and Cannon. However, the Lingle council would not hear comments or discuss the matter in the open meeting. Instead, the meeting was adjourned to executive session and all non-essential persons were asked to leave the town hall.
During the executive session, Lingle firefighters commented on the incident outside on the sidewalk. The consensus was that based on distances and time, everyone in all departments tries to respond in a responsible manner as quickly as possible. Getting a jump on the emergency, whether fire or medical, as quickly as possible makes the difference between life and death and fire containment. The firefighters felt that Elwood had deliberately set up a radar trap at the fire hall for the purpose of issuing the citations.
The firefighters united behind O’Shel and Cannon and offered to pay for them to fight the citations and said they would cover any lost salaries for the two.
At the end of the executive session, the meeting continued with no further mention of the incident. After the meeting, Elwood invited the Lingle firefighters into his office for a private meeting.
There had been comments that Goshen County Sheriff Don Murphy had been advising Elwood to trap speeding firefighters prior to July 12.
Murphy said he had no knowledge of the incident until after the fact. Murphy went on to say he felt the incident might be used to clear the air of the confusing variety of unwritten understandings concerning emergency response by firefighters and EMTs. He said law enforcement is required to follow Wyoming statutes when enforcing laws.
“The statutes provide regulations for emergency response and each municipality or county commissioners may give emergency response agencies permission for emergent response by emergency personnel in their private vehicles,” Murphy said.
As County Sheriff, Murphy said he could not make any of the agreements.
“It must come from the governing bodies,” he said.
All parties who were involved in the executive session have declined comment on what was said during the session.
Elwood admitted to issuing the two citations.
“Both citations have since been dismissed by me due to other circumstances that were discussed in the executive session,” Elwood said. “I believe the fire and emergency responders do an excellent job. They volunteer without compensation for training and emergency response. I am proud of the services they provide and the job they do and hope we can continue to work together in the future.”
County Attorney Patrick Korell said he has been contacted about the incident.
“I have offered to visit with city attorneys, police chiefs, fire chiefs and governing bodies to set up a policy for Goshen County and municipalities that will work for everyone,” Korell said. “Balances are needed for law enforcement to protect the communities and for emergency personnel to safely serve the communities.”
