Pixiq

Well, if the truth be known they DON'T have to a. holes but it sure does seem that in some jurisdictions they get extra points for it from whoever is doing the hiring.

Unfortunately, those that are tend to draw more attention to themselves. I don't know for fact whether they're a minority or a majority, but I strongly suspect they are a minority.

This has been done to death.

I guess it can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but they absolutely have the right to establish a perimeter; that's why we have 'FIRE SCENE DO NOT CROSS' tape *rolls eyes* - to keep civilians at a safe distance.

What is utterly NOT OK under any circumstances is for those taking photos or shooting video to be *singled out* for removal. If the public can be there, the public can shoot.

Mike

When I was involved in a volunteer fire department, they spent time training us in incident command structure and protocol. One of the details of this protocol is that only the information officer talks to the press. Everyone else is to pretend the press is not there, unless the press speaks first. If the press speaks first, you are to direct them to the information officer, and not answer or comment in any other way.

*sigh*

Didn't you already apologize to the mods for fighting with Mike? So why are you now picking another one?

Please don't make this place devolve into Slashdot.

Well said. That's so totally not our job - we establish the perimeter, 99% of people respect that and play nice. For the occasional problem individual who doesn't, get the cops on the job.

The EMT in the incident posted was so far out of line they were in the next county IMHO.

Mike

You can ask all you want but outside the perimeter I have no obligations, inside the perimeter all I can be obligated to do is go outside. And if you are trying to push me back while leaving the people beside me you are going to have a problem. We all move back or none..

But you are right, let the cops do the work, they actually have the training and sometimes know the actual laws.. If your focus is on me and I'm not in danger, then you are focused on the wrong thing, get to the life saving.

Where I am from, there are things we try to be respectful about filming and we give EMS/EMT a lot of leeway, but that doesn't change the legalities if someone wants to NOT be respectful. In a free society they can chose to be disrespectful and about all we can do is show our disapproval..

Pete have you ever had the police remove some one who was not breaking any laws. The photog in the video was not violating any established perimeter and was well with in his rights. Do you think the EMT in the video should have been charged and arrested for assault?

Really? Dennis Leary maybe, but that's on TV.

Lol. You haven't heard cop/firefighter banter, have you?

Look, there's nothing wrong with being a cop. It's a perfectly good and respectable career... for a guy who can't make the grade as a firefighter :D

Google 'blue canary'

Seriously, we love our jobs, I don't think many of either service would want to swap. You go by your experience if you like, but polls consistently show that firefighters are the most trusted professionals:

http://www.gfk.com/group/press_information/press_releases/004151/index.e...

Mike

Some of my friends call these folks "wackers".

Yes, there are wackers amongst the volunteer departments. Sad, but true.

Although I have not been in a volunteer department for some seventeen years or so, I can tell you, for a fact, that the wackers are a minority. I can also tell you, without hesitation, that the rest of us did our level best to reign them in, but when the shit has hit the fan and the scene is active, we have better things to be doing.