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Detroit firefighter claims retaliation over new rig complaint
One firefighter claimed the seatbelt alarms were too loud and threatened to go to the media; that rig was sent to a different station and another firefighter suspended
Yesterday at 9:28 AM
DETROIT — A new fire truck, out of the 10 delivered to the city, was moved to a different station after one firefighter asked for a modification to the rig.
One firefighter sent a letter to the city last week saying the seatbelt alarms in the new rigs were so loud that crews could miss vital information transmitted over the radio. Fox2Detroit reported that firefighters were stunned by the city's reaction to pull the rig from their station.
In the letter, the firefighter also wrote that he hoped the issue would be resolved quickly due to the department’s workload. He also said he would share the story with the media. The firefighter's superior signed off on the letter.
"It wasn't that I didn't want to wear a seatbelt or that no one wants to wear a seatbelt, it needs to be looked into that was it," the firefighter said.
Fire Chief John King, according to the report, did not like the letter from the firefighter. Chief King allegedly ordered the firefighters at Engine Company 52 to line up for roll call, told them not to move and when a firefighter did move, he suspended him with no pay for six days.
That firefighter is appealing the suspension, as is the union.
Union President Jeff Pegg questions the motivation for the letter, but says it doesn't excuse the over-the-top reaction.
"I'm not sure about the intent of the letter," Pegg said. "But as far as how the chief went over and handed out the discipline, I don't see the reason for that. The way it was handled was wrong.”
"(You're) always afraid when you talk to the media," the firefighter said. "It's a matter of safety for citizens in the neighborhood and for firefighters. So you got to do what you got to do."
City officials were "unhappy that someone was complaining about a new rig" and transferred it from Engine 52 to Engine 59. They called it an "administrative decision," according to the report.
The seatbelt alarms are the same on all 10 of the new rigs and the industry standards, city officials told Fox2Detroit.
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