I thought that it would be appropriate if this week I weighed in with my comments on the Webster Ma., incident where police officers dressed as firefighters to conduct a raid or police sting operation.

There were many reasons given for this, and I am sure that everyone had really great intentions for doing this, but I do not believe anyone thought this through.

The IAFF, and the IAFC have both released statements that were less than supportive of this activity.

While firefighters may want to do what they can to help out their community and be cooperative with the local police, this action has gone too far.

Firefighters have to welcomed in anyone's residence, and have generally never been concerned about good or bad, when firefighting or handling emergency medical incidents. Firefighter's have attended to all persons equally in most cases.

It would be a shame if someone who needed medical attention or had an emergency was hesitant to either call or let us in to their residence because they felt we were the police.

This type of action has done something to violate the trust that the public has put in us. Mostly in the town of Webster but to all that read this nationwide story being published widely.

(Reference Firehouse dot com)

I contrast this action to the use of a pumper by police during the Columbine Shootings. I can understand this action much more easily as it was obvious that lives were clearly at stake and this extreme situation called for drastic and extreme measures. I do not feel that way about the latest incident in Webster.

The bottom line is simple here; Make sure you appreciate and preserve the trust put into you and your department. The public trust is a very fragile gift and it doesn't take a big incident to shatter it.