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You Make the Call – Command Vehicle – What Happened

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You Make the CallThis tale comes to me from another co-worker and his old department.

It turns out he chose to approach his own supervisor, one not involved, and mention what he believed to be an inappropriate situation.  He brought up the use of the command vehicle and the possibility of an inappropriate on duty relationship.

And wouldn’t you know it, he was officially reprimanded for spreading rumors and falsehoods.  Both parties involved denied the vehicle had been seen there, especially since one of them was married at the time.  The write up was one of the inspirations for his leaving to another department.

A few years later, the two parties who denied their relationship were married.

Regardless of the end result here, bringing this to the attention of your front line supervisor is the right thing to do.  Approaching the parties individually could get messy.  The main point I drew from this situation is that the supervisor is using his duty car on duty to partake in a personal endeavor of questionable appropriateness.

Instead of command vehicle, replace it with Fire Engine or Police Car and see if you feel the same way.

If you said report it, you made his call.

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Posted by Justin Schorr on December 14, 2009 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, You Make the Call • Tagged:
  • topv7051

    Justin, I'll disagree with you on reporting this to a supervisor. What is a LT or Capt going to do about a Deputy Chief screwing around? Nothing. All that did was cause him and his officer trouble. If he insisted on doing something about it, he would have been better off writing an anonymous letter to the mayor/board/city council.

  • Guest

    Justin, I really commend you for your honesty. But the reality is that the only person who's going to be affected by reporting something like this the person doing the reporting, as you saw. Whether it's a public agency, a corporation or politics, there's a different set of rules for the little people and those a little higher in the chain of command. I work for a CA state agency and misappropriation of a state vehicle (akin to the command vehicle), and state time (romantic liaison or not) by the slightly higher ups is nothing. They get away with it all the time. Infuriating but true.

  • Guest

    Justin, I really commend you for your honesty. But the reality is that the only person who's going to be affected by reporting something like this the person doing the reporting, as you saw. Whether it's a public agency, a corporation or politics, there's a different set of rules for the little people and those a little higher in the chain of command. I work for a CA state agency and misappropriation of a state vehicle (akin to the command vehicle), and state time (romantic liaison or not) by the slightly higher ups is nothing. They get away with it all the time. Infuriating but true.

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  • Guest

    Justin, I really commend you for your honesty. But the reality is that the only person who's going to be affected by reporting something like this the person doing the reporting, as you saw. Whether it's a public agency, a corporation or politics, there's a different set of rules for the little people and those a little higher in the chain of command. I work for a CA state agency and misappropriation of a state vehicle (akin to the command vehicle), and state time (romantic liaison or not) by the slightly higher ups is nothing. They get away with it all the time. Infuriating but true.

  • Guest

    Justin, I really commend you for your honesty. But the reality is that the only person who's going to be affected by reporting something like this the person doing the reporting, as you saw. Whether it's a public agency, a corporation or politics, there's a different set of rules for the little people and those a little higher in the chain of command. I work for a CA state agency and misappropriation of a state vehicle (akin to the command vehicle), and state time (romantic liaison or not) by the slightly higher ups is nothing. They get away with it all the time. Infuriating but true.

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