Wednesday, June 19, 2002
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Wednesday, June 19, 2002 |
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Our turn to put out a fire in department By
SALLIE SATTERTHWAITE
Traditionally, a fire department's primary mission is to put out fires. Modern departments would probably update that mandate by adding fire-prevention using tools like education and vigilance. Today it's the fire department Peachtree City's with a crisis. With what tools I have, I come to help put out the fire. Last week's headlines dealt a devastating blow to this close-knit family of public servants. Devastating, not deadly. Because of an ongoing investigation into charges of child molestation within the department-sponsored Explorer Post, members of the department can say nothing more than the official statements released by law enforcement. In that I am a life member of the department, I feel constrained by the same restrictions. But there are some things I want you to know, albeit through my bias toward Peachtree City firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. Seventeen years' service and a hand in founding the rescue squad here make that bias reasonable. They also give me a certain cachet. First of all, nothing good is going to come from this, regardless of how it plays out. The most precious attribute in human relations trust has been shattered. I am confident, however, that it will eventually be rebuilt in the areas that matter most: the relationships between parent and child, between members of the department, and among troop leaders, parents, and children. And especially between the department and the general public. Secondly, the almost universal response to the realization that something very bad may have happened was self-blame. Parents and members of the department (and many are both) are "beating themselves up," as one put it, for not having seen signs of possible malfeasance. They were all there. In 20/20 retrospect, these caring adults can see fingerprints as though under ultra-violet light, where indelible but invisible marks were made on their sons' lives. Why would they not trust a volunteer of 20 years' standing, a ____ (fill in the blank) of the Year, an Eagle Scout, for heavens' sake, an Explorer Post adviser? The head of several regional Scouting committees, a Ham radio operator who helped create emergency communications and a Web site for the SkyWarn program associated with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City? Why would they not trust a person who was involved in emergency communications for Fayette County's 911 center and worked as a dispatcher for the Peachtree City Police Department, later hiring on with Delta Air Lines? For that exacting employer, one has to pass entry requirements notorious for weeding out potential miscreants. Delta who awarded him numerous "volunteer" commendations certainly didn't see this possibility coming, and their screeners are professionals. Who wouldn't trust such a model citizen? Then there are the Explorers themselves. Consensus among them, their parents, and the department is overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining Explorer Post 209. As nearly as I can ascertain, only one boy has dropped out since the investigation began, and the long list of applicants has not changed. I remember well the skepticism that met the 1988 proposal to attach an Explorer Post to the fire department. Concerns ran from "Theyíll get in our way" to downright fear of liability. These worries faded as we watched these young volunteers working alongside firefighters in safe, though often boring, duties such as mopping up after fires and accidents. In addition, they participated in training almost as rigorous as that which the adults undertake. They've become a rich pool of applicants for the department. Many sons of firefighters themselves volunteer as soon as they are old enough, and several have been hired as career firefighters in this department and others. The majority go on to college, many on scholarships, and some have joined the military as officers after graduating. I can't tell you how proud of them we have been. As citizens, we need to let these kids know that they absolutely were not responsible for what allegedly happened to them or to their friends. And we need to let their parents and other members of the department know that they too have our whole-hearted support and friendship. You should know that the Flint River Council of Boy Scouts of America is standing firmly beside department officials and has discharged its responsibilities commendably. Additionally, the three fire department chaplains have made themselves available both to parents and young people, as well as members of the department. If more help than that is needed, it will be provided. Be aware, please, that in an atmosphere as highly charged as the one surrounding this sad situation, rumors fly and even the news media do not always get it right. One Atlanta TV station got it very wrong when they put up links on their Web site that revealed names of members of the Explorer Post, most of them minor children. Local officials were able to break those links, but not before more evil was allowed to escape the genie's bottle. You should know too that, regardless of news reports that the investigation is only two weeks old, enough evidence of alleged wrongdoing had surfaced to prompt the department to contact authorities and, in coordination with them, to suspend the accused person's membership on March 26. I do not remember so extreme an action ever being taken before. Because no charges had yet been filed, this move opened department officials to serious criticism. They believed, however, that the integrity of the department and the well-being of the Explorers were more important than any risk to themselves. For your information, The Citizen received a tip on March 29, but responsibly opted not to publish hurtful rumor when no charges had yet been made. Moreover, no official comments were forthcoming from law or fire spokespersons due to the ongoing investigation. And need I remind you that there's one particular mother and a sister for whom this situation is overwhelming, heartbreaking? If you know them, comfort them with your presence. You don't need words; there aren't any. It's our turn now, as residents of two communities the city and the county served by fire and rescue organizations with proud histories. These heroes have always been there for us, whether our calls were serious or trivial. They answer false alarms with the same dedication as they answer multi-alarm incidents. Now we can help put out a fire. This one does not appear to be a false alarm. No good will come out of this. But the rebuilding of trust will begin as the citizens of Peachtree City and Fayette County demonstrate their allegiance to an organization that has never failed to respond to the needs of others.
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