Firefigher Cartoon in CA newspaper.

[CAPTFBFD]

This very disrespectful cartoon was in the Sacremento Bee newspaper. I saw this on another board and though that is needed to be posted on here. I have also have passed on the email address where the idiots that made this can be reached.








Artist- rbabin@sacbee.com
Editor- publiceditor@sacbee.com

[burning85]

lol im ready to get angry. but i see no cartoon??

[CAPTFBFD]

For some reason I can't get it to attach. I am working on it LOL

[burning85]

thats ok...i'd offer you my help, but i am pretty clueless when it comes to things like that!

[CAPTFBFD]

I think there is a problem with TWD. Old pics on other threads are not showing up. I think that may be why I cannot get the pic to attach.

[CAPTFBFD]

Here is the link to take you to the pic.



http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/cartoons/babin/story/11943342p-12830175c.html

[Emtmom]

I think there is a problem with TWD. Old pics on other threads are not showing up. I think that may be why I cannot get the pic to attach.
Here's the link to the pic, I went and found it on the net.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/cartoons/babin/story/11943342p-12830175c.html

[scfire86]

If you've been following this story. Some of our brethren in Sac exercised some very poor judgement while on duty. While I don't like this cartoon either, it is unfortunately based on some factual events.

[burning85]

wow!! i have nothing to say..yet anyways...*disgusted*

[CAPTFBFD]

While I agree that what some of those firefighters have done is wrong.....
That still does not provide any excuse to use scenes from 2 tragic events. I wounder how the families of the FF's that died in 911 feel about this of the family of that small child that died in the OK bombing.

[Snowman]

What exactly did our brothers do to draw Mr. Babin's attention?

[Phantom]

The short story would be hug out at strip clubs on duty.

[scfire86]

What exactly did our brothers do to draw Mr. Babin's attention?

This article pretty much sums it up.



This story is taken from Courts/legal at sacbee.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Civil claim names city, firefighters
Woman says she was assaulted by two on-duty men July 2.
By Elizabeth Hume -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 30, 2004

A civil claim filed Wednesday adds a new version of an alleged sexual assault by firefighters at the Porn Star Costume Ball, a day after the city of Sacramento released details of the July event and other misconduct.
The claim, a precursor to a civil lawsuit, seeks unspecified damages and names the city and firefighters Thomas Mitchell and Scott Singleton. It also lists other, unnamed individuals. If the claim is not answered within 45 days, a lawsuit can be filed.

The filing alleges that on July 2, a 24-year-old photographer, who is not named, was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Mitchell and Singleton in a truck outside the Radisson Hotel.

Neither could be reached for comment.

Though the allegations prompted a wider internal investigation into the department, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office decided there was insufficient evidence to file criminal sexual assault charges against the firefighters.

The woman's attorney, Wendy York, said her client was dismayed by the wayshe and the alleged assault were portrayed to the public by the city and the Fire Department.

"They omitted things, such as being a photographer, that caused a false impression to be created of her," York said Wednesday.

The woman, who knew Singleton from another event, was taking pictures of people at the ball, but went outside to photograph the firefighters on their truck where she was then assaulted, according to the claim. When another person approached the truck, she fled, the claim said.

"The city of Sacramento and the Sacramento Fire Department have had policies in place where captains and firefighters were permitted to take trucks and engine trucks to bars and parties, and with captains present, pick up women and taking women on their trucks," the claim said.

"The City of Sacramento and Sacramento Fire Department firefighters took advantage of their status as firefighters and the post-9/11 public sentiment perception that firefighters are 'heroes,'" the claim said.

Singleton was one of five firefighters who got their jobs back after being sent termination letters.

The letters were released Tuesday at the request of The Bee and include accounts of drinking on duty, using fire engines for bar hopping and giving women joy rides.

The investigation appeared to have culminated in October, when Sacramento Fire Chief Julius "Joe" Cherry announced at a press conference that nine firefighters had been terminated or had resigned.

Two days later, he signed letters reinstating five of them, the documents obtained by The Bee show.

The letters from Cherry saved the jobs of Singleton, Apparatus Operator Charles D. Clayborne, Firefighter Anthony Ramirez and Firefighter Troy Doehrer. As punishment, each received 240 hours of unpaid suspensions.

Firefighter Patrick Willard also got his job back; he received 120 hours of suspension without pay. All five were allowed to have the time taken from their vacation pay.

Mitchell and Firefighter Daniel Kennedy resigned rather than be fired. Two captains are appealing their terminations.

Explaining their reinstatement, Cherry said in a November telephone interview that the five were "salvageable employees."

He declined interview requests by The Bee this week about the termination letters.

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Thomas M. Cecil on Tuesday denied a request by the firefighters union to block release of the letters. The letters show how the disciplined firefighters falsified reports, confronted colleagues about statements to investigators and "failed to respond truthfully, fully, and honestly" in interviews.

Deputy City Manager Richard Ramirez said the union and its members cooperated with the investigation.

The the letters of termination make it clear that firefighters testified against other firefighters, and even provided evidence of their own misconduct, Ramirez said.

The city and department have said the rogue activity is limited compared with the more than 500 city firefighters who do their jobs honorably.

"When we talk about this, we're talking about a very small group of a people and not the hundreds that are on the job every night," Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy said Wednesday.

The documents released Tuesday show that among that small group, the unauthorized activity was not a one-time event.

While the Porn Star Costume Ball generated the most notoriety, the documents show firefighters at Station 6 in Oak Park repeatedly used engines to cruise bars and pick up women.

On the night of June 25, they took out two engines, prompting a citizen to write a letter of complaint about the misuse of city equipment.

Four firefighters - including Clayborne and Ramirez - cruised midtown bars in the bright red-and- white Engine 6. At their first stop, Ink Eats & Drinks, they picked up four women and gave them a ride.

After a short cruise by the Blue Cue at 2730 J St., Harlow's Restaurant & Night Club at 2708 J St. and Empire Nightclub at 1417 R St., they dropped off the women and headed to the Zebra Club at 1900 P St., picking up two more female riders.

After a short joy ride, the Engine 6 crew returned to the Zebra Club, dropped off the two and retrieved the four women from Ink.

Outside the Zebra Club, the Engine 6 crew met four more onduty firefighters from Engine 1, who gave "unauthorized rides to two females," the documents state. Engine 1 is based at Station 1 downtown.

Fire officials Wednesday refused to release any information about any discipline given to Engine 1 firefighters.

The Engine 6 crew picked up two more women at the Zebra Club. The letter addressed to firefighter Anthony Ramirez states, "During this ride, two females rode on your lap and were not fully seat belted."

A total of six women were aboard when Engine 6 took a quick trip around the block. This time, Clayborne, who's assigned to drive, sat in the back cab with the unauthorized passengers. After dropping off two women at the Zebra Club, the firefighters and the remaining four went back to Station 6.

From the station house, the engine responded to a structure fire, a grass fire and a vehicle fire. The four women rode along, speeding through city streets with red light flashing and siren sounding.

At the structure fire, Anthony Ramirez told the women to "duck down in the cab, so that they would not be seen by a Chief Officer."

Their activity did not go unnoticed. A woman at the Zebra Club confronted the firefighters.

She asked the crew why they were giving rides to the women. The termination letters state, "She commented she did not like the way her tax dollars were being spent."

The next weekend, firefighters attending the Porn Star Costume Ball generated more complaints, including the allegation of a sexual assault, leading to the biggest internal investigation in the department's 131-year history.


About the writer:
The Bee's Elizabeth Hume can be reached at (916) 321-1203 or ehume@sacbee.com.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Go to: Sacbee / Back to story

This article is protected by copyright and should not be printed or distributed for anything except personal use.
The Sacramento Bee, 2100 Q St., P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852
Phone: (916) 321-1000

Copyright © The Sacramento Bee

[Chia6004]

Knowing about the story that is pretty funny. What pisses me off is the actions of those morons. They deserve to be called out and asked to answer for their crimes, they may be FF's but it doesn't change the fact that what they did was wrong and they deserve some prison time.

[STEALTH MODE]

Prison time? Maybe I read the article wrong, but - oh wait, for the assault? Ok, I agree - If they are found guilty for the assault, yes I agree. If they are NOT found guilty of the assault, are we still talking prison time (or was that comment for the assault)? If prison time is for more than the alleged assault, please explain ... thanks!

[ofd226]

the assault charges were dropped months ago for both lack of evidence and also the fact that the girl recanted her story.....

[STEALTH MODE]

That's what I thought - charges dropped and story recanted. So, curious - what the "prison time" would be for. Just trying to get clear on the opinions of Chia I guess - prison time for giving joy rides? Picking up females in bars? Drinking on duty? I mean, yeah - those things are all wrong, but "prison time"?
I'm not trying to make anyone's opinion seem small or not worthy of hearing OR giving - maybe I'm just confused?

[BigGreasy]

Still doesn't excuse this cartoonist in using a pic of 9/11. If he showed women riding the truck etc. no problem thats whats reported as happening, but to show F.F. at 9/11 raising a playboy flag is as insulting to all fire departments and has no factual reason to be there.

[blstxi]

The flag part of the cartoon is definitely wrong. The rest is status quo for fire, ems, and pd. As far as the joy rides, drinking, and picking up women with the rigs, that's just outright ignorant, maybe not "prison time" ignorant, but more than just slap-on-the-wrist dismissal then reinstatement ignorant. Let's stop thinking with the little brain and start using the one on the shoulders. Do all the above off duty, don't drag your personal actions into the station. As they say, "what's at home leave at home, what's at work leave at work".

[STEALTH MODE]

I agree - using the Flag scene from 9-11 is in very poor taste - that scene has become the symbol for that day and all the heroes who lost their lives attempting to save the lives of so many - very bad taste by that writer!
I agree with everything said - yeah, they should be punished (definitely more than a "slap on the wrist") - but wanted to post my disagreement to the "prison time" thing for "joyriding", etc. Definitely punished though, and the cartoon use, VERY bad! Shame on the cartoonist, but I'm sure he knows that by now!

[NoNameGhost]

I'm just here to play devils advocate... I don't think anyone will disagree that drinking on duty is wrong and stupid. I have gone into a bar on duty before, but it's been to pick up food. I would not even eat the food at the bar, because it's just a bad image for the public. But...
There are very few single young male firefighters, EMT's, or cops that I have met who have not attempted to pick up a woman on duty. You take the pumper to get food after a call, you're still in your bunker pants. A hottie gives you the eye, so you walk over and say hi! What's wrong with that? Hell! I've even seen my female partner (back when I was on the ambo) try to pick up a teacher at a school on a stand-by detail.
Second, most stations I've worked/volly'ed at have policy's that keep us from moving the equipment with ANYone other then fire personel on board. But I know I have shown my newest fling the engine once or twice. Sometimes they oh! and Ah! and sometimes they don't. It's harmless fun, as long as it doesn't interfer with the job. If the Dept. allowed it I know me and the guys would take a cuttie out for a spin (not hot of course.)
Just my opinion, but I don't think the hitting on women part of this story is bad. Assault=bad
Drinking on duty=bad
hitting on women (or men)=NOT bad as long as it's not harrassing, rude, or obscene.

[STEALTH MODE]

Just my opinion, but I don't think the hitting on women part of this story is bad. Assault=bad
Drinking on duty=bad
hitting on women (or men)=NOT bad as long as it's not harrassing, rude, or obscene.

I agree 100%...

[ofd226]

what may be the worst part of this actually may be that the medic unit involved in this incident "refused" to respond to a Code 3 Call. They said that they were out of position, when in fact they were just at the party....

thats disgraceful. when things begin to TRULY interfere with your job performance (i.e. things that you are getting PAID to do) you need to re-evaluate your priorities............ :mad:

STILL - does not excuse the artist........

[scfire86]

hitting on women (or men)=NOT bad as long as it's not harrassing, rude, or obscene.

I disagree a 100%. I believe making overtures is unprofessional. If the other party is interested you will know and should act accordingly. But making the first move while in uniform on duty is something I would never do. It is done under of authority. In my mind that violates professional and ethical behavior. I knew a couple of PM's who called patients back using the phone number from the call sheet. They didn't get anything more than a verbal reprimand, but the point was made.

[Executioner]

Prison time? Maybe I read the article wrong, but - oh wait, for the assault? Ok, I agree - If they are found guilty for the assault, yes I agree.

If the assault charges are true, then take time for that. Jeez, some people think they can accuse anyone nowadays and get away with it... I'm talking about the woman doing the accusing, not the FFs defending.

[Chia6004]

I agree with SC. When your on duty you don't pick up on women. It presents an Image to the public that we don't need. I had a volie Fired for doing that crap, back when I was a volie.

I said prison time for the assualt charges, the other things are worthy of demotion are termantion IMO.

[Incident]

But back tot he whole point, the cartoonist made fun of two very significant, traumatic and defining moments in recent American history. It shows a complete disregard for the integrity and valor of the service. And for the leadership of the Sacramento Bee to not say they won't punish the person, BUT TO SUPPORT the images, that shows a complete disrespect for anyone other than themselves. I cannot honestly believe that someone would think that using 9/11 in a farcical way would be deemed okay, and not get out to the press aroud the nation. Maybe SFD have disgraced themselves, but people who are paid to report fact and provide occasional opinion should not have pegged all of us as the same. I hope someone out in Sacramento is going after them for an apology at minimum. Or maybe even Rudy Guiliani willhave something to say about it.

[mohican]

I disagree a 100%. I believe making overtures is unprofessional. If the other party is interested you will know and should act accordingly. ....

And I agree with you
Vollie or pro, what you do/how you act in public while on the job is a reflection on you, your dept. members, and your department as a whole

I even felt that way years ago, as a newbie, when I chased almost everything shemale......... :D

[hog]

But back tot he whole point, the cartoonist made fun of two very significant, traumatic and defining moments in recent American history. It shows a complete disregard for the integrity and valor of the service. And for the leadership of the Sacramento Bee to not say they won't punish the person, BUT TO SUPPORT the images, that shows a complete disrespect for anyone other than themselves. I cannot honestly believe that someone would think that using 9/11 in a farcical way would be deemed okay, and not get out to the press aroud the nation. Maybe SFD have disgraced themselves, but people who are paid to report fact and provide occasional opinion should not have pegged all of us as the same. I hope someone out in Sacramento is going after them for an apology at minimum. Or maybe even Rudy Guiliani willhave something to say about it.
i agree ....9/11 shouldn`t be made light of.......

[omahaorange]

Let's step back and take another look at the cartoon. This appears to be an editorial cartoon published on the opinion page of the Sacramento Bee. The cartoonist is not making fun of either 9/11 or the Oklahoma bombing(at least as I see it), but is using these events to poke fun/make a point regarding the Sacramento FD. Maybe he is using the memory of those events, of those who made the sacrifices then, to show his displeasure toward SFD for disgracing themselves and the public that trusts and supports them? To unfavorably compare those members of the SFD to the men and women involved in those events? There is nothing wrong with a little harmless flirtation, most of us have done that (nurses, waitresses, etc.), but what these guys did was unprofessional and could have had disastrous results had they not been so lucky. The assault charges were dropped? Those allegations don't happen if you don't put yourself in a position to be accused. I see many posters on this forum talk about their rights to express an opinion. The cartoonist has the same right. Except he didn't post on this forum, someone else did.

[STEALTH MODE]

Just so I'm clear - I'm not saying it's OK for these guys in uniform, on duty (paid)? to go out and chase women - I was ONLY speaking of the "prison time" thing. If they took a woman on the fire truck and sexually assaulted her, then YES, prison time (if CONVICTED - and we now know that those charges were dropped and she recanted her story).
Earlier in the post I thought we were talking about "prison time" for chasing women, hitting on women while on duty, etc. Yep, suspend them, demote them, fire them - whatever. I was unclear and thought someone said they deserved prison time for this. I agreed that it was bad, but disagreed that they deserved "prison time" for that particular accusation ... sorry for the confusion!

Again, shame on the cartoonist!

[scfire86]

I have mixed feelings about writing the cartoonist. Here's why.

My next door neighbor works in public affairs. And she knows a lot if not all the major and minor players in the local media here in the LA OC area. I was talking to her about the media and its bias whether the entity be liberal or conservative. I was talking to her about one of the local Op Ed writers for our local newspaper. Which BTW is very conservative. Hates govt, hates civil servants, and is the source of the quote I laid out on my "Red State" thread.

And before I forget. The SacBee editorials continually blast away at the same two groups. So this story just plays into their hands.

So my neighbor tells me she was at a political function attended by one of the OC Register Op Ed columnists and he is feeling no pain....if you know what I mean. He tells her his job is to write a column that stirs up the s***. And he judges his success or failure by how much hate mail he receives.

While I find the use of OKC and 9/11 images abhorent in the context used in this cartoon, I fear we are playing right to the ego of the cartoonist and his Op Ed board.

Any thoughts?

[Incident]

Well, they definitely did their job. They stirred controversy. But it was in very poor political taste. It would be like using either of the Shuttle disasters as a caricature, or using the beheading of innocent civilians in Iraq as a example of how the first amendment is being restricted by the government. It's called TASTELESS. The thing that shocks me is that this one writing is being condoned by a significant number of poeple. Okay, so the turkey firefighters and medics did something to disgrace the department, by this guy goes and destroys the image of the entire fire service, not just his city. I aree that those who were in the wrong should be punished (I am appalled that they were hired back on in the department, someone must know something). But it was still inappropriate to characterize it sin such a way. Every once in a while, the press gets to make fun of people for dumb things, but do you see caricatures of John Q. Officeworker doing someone on his desk in the paper? Don't see any of the mailperson, or other delivery person in the same light....Come on. This guy used way to public of a symbol to get the point across. I hope the photographer for both the 9/11 pic and the OK City pic go after him legally. Of course, it's probably free speech, so they can't....

[medic5]

Side Note: Chia, how exactly did you have a "vollie" fired for doing the same things these guys in SF were doing? Did you tell him "bad boy, stop coming to help at bingo, no more ding-ding rides for you?" If someone is VOLUNTEERING their time and energy for an as-desired position/hobby, how do you fire them?

[blstxi]

Just because one is a volunteer has nothing to do with whether or not one should be fired. Volunteer or paid, newbie or senior officer, if you do something as unprofessional, disrespectful, irresponsible, and ignorant as the guys in SF did you should be punished as the situation warrants. You may be volunteering your time but you're still expected to be a professional. Any unprofessional behavior harms not only that department but emergency services in general. Volunteers are expected to follow procedures, rules, regulations, standards, and protocols. Adherence to these doesn't stop when the call is over. If you have fire or rescue license plates, wear company apparel (from uniforms to casual wear), or have anything denoting your affiliation with a fire and/or rescue organization, your behavior reflects positively or negatively on that organization when in public. When that behavior is negative, the organization has an obligation to protect itself, its members, and its duty to the public by making you responsible for your actions. Volunteering is no more of an excuse to act like an ignorant jerk in public than being paid is an excuse to mistreat volunteers.

[StirringStick]

I see Sacramento's Bravest have yet again, made the Fire Service look like a bunch of sex-starved drooling cavemen. Check the front page of Firehouse.com for the story. A few of them got caught having sex while on duty in the station....what a shame.

[mohican]

Side Note: Chia, how exactly did you have a "vollie" fired for doing the same things these guys in SF were doing? Did you tell him "bad boy, stop coming to help at bingo, no more ding-ding rides for you?" If someone is VOLUNTEERING their time and energy for an as-desired position/hobby, how do you fire them?

The same way you would fire a full time firefighter who had a transgression you couldn't live with.

[Engine4Member]

I see Sacramento's Bravest have yet again, made the Fire Service look like a bunch of sex-starved drooling cavemen. Check the front page of Firehouse.com for the story. A few of them got caught having sex while on duty in the station....what a shame.


It is bound to happen sooner than later. Even if the station didn't have females as members or on duty, somebody is going to slip a female in and they will have an event. I remember years back, one of the guys wife use to go by a certian station, not his, and see another member. They had all sorts of contact and it didn't come to light until some in the hood dropped a dime one day to the office down town!!! :o ;)

These guys in California are no different than any other member in any of the other 49 states. Things happen. Too bad the local rag is playing this to the hilt. Must be a slow news day for them. Besides, there are plenty of other news stories in the bay area!!!!! ;) :D

[Chia6004]

Side Note: Chia, how exactly did you have a "vollie" fired for doing the same things these guys in SF were doing? Did you tell him "bad boy, stop coming to help at bingo, no more ding-ding rides for you?" If someone is VOLUNTEERING their time and energy for an as-desired position/hobby, how do you fire them?

Easy I brought a motion to fire him as he viloated the companys bylaws and the motion passed. 7-4. We have a tighter control over are vollies/pcfs here in RCOFD.