Shaun Foley has quit his post as Fair Haven’s fire chief following a bizarre series of incidents Sunday night that began with a car crash and ended with a massive effort to rescue him from the Navesink River, according to the Asbury Park Press.
The 27-year-old Foley has also retained a lawyer and plans to plead not guilty to charges of drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and reckless driving in Rumson, where he was a police dispatcher and special police officer —jobs that he also resigned Tuesday, the Press reports.
From the Press, quoting defense attorney Mitchell Ansell of Ocean Township:
“He felt this was the most prudent course of action that he could take based on the situation,” Ansell said. “We just got copies of the complaint. We haven’t reviewed the police reports or discovery.”
More:
He declined to elaborate further about what happened Sunday night, but said Foley hasn’t talked to his fellow firefighters except to tend his resignation.
“Shaun does look forward to moving on an putting this behind him,” he said.
Ansell tells the newspaper that he will seek a change of venue from Rumson municipal court when Foley is scheduled to make his first appearance on the charges, scheduled for December 9.
Shaun, good luck with your life. You were a great chief when not drinking. I know you didn’t answer calls drunk, but still this was not right. Maybe you will piece your life together and stop drinking with the boys. I honestly feel bad this all happened, I am happy you didn’t hurt anyone else. Now it is time to let this young man find a way to handle his issues on his own. It is no longer anyone’s business how this ends. Good Luck and I hope you get help for your drinking problem. FYI, Fire Companies pay out of their own pockets (not fundraiser money) for the alcohol at the fire houses. Also, teachers work 8am-3pm and do a great job, but a VOLUNTEER is on call 24/7/365. Trust me, there are days you will have an event to attend and the pager goes off all day long. Most areas (including Fair Haven) have at least one EMS or Fire call a day. That means even if it is nothing, people come to help. It would cost you thousands of dollars more each home to have a paid service to have a 24/7 response service. Remember the volunteers don’t take days off either. This Thanksgiving they will be the people who come running to save your house when you burn your turkey. Let this cool down, let Shaun Foley deal with his issues on his own, and remember one person isn’t the whole company.
sadfact:AMEN to your comment very well put.
This is an outrage. There is a widespread cover up and conspiracy at work here and it’s time it is exposed.
Had this been any ordinary citizen, he would have charged with DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, failure to report an accident. He would have to retain an attorney and appear in court. He would have been forced to resign from the police department and the fire department too.
The preferential treatment received by this man, and all cops and firemen in the peninsula in general must be stopped!
Oh, wait….
Creating the appearance of justice for the benefit of the public is far different than “justice” processed in the back room dealings of partisan controlled judges and crony politically connected law firms .
I don’t care that the volunteer firemen pay for their BOOZE out of their own pockets-it should not be consumed at a firehouse. I am surprised insurance regulations allow such actions and I bet the insurance bill to the firehouse goes up -of which us tax payers pay.
If this was a tax supported fire company-no BOOZE would be allowed. Why doesn’t the fire company put an end to drinking in the house. Is it that important? Are you all drunks off duty. Do you continue to drink at the firehouse when a call comes in and the others come to save my life and property? Please! I would assume that the macho firemaan attitude with some volunteers certainly comes into play and they jump in their own cars, sirens ablazing and high rate of spped to jump into a fire. That is why most do it. It is a thrill and we all know that.
I would hate to see someone get hurt, firefighter or civilian if a reoccurance of something like this happens again.
DNH. Read APP.com he was charged no cover up
Reader: Does your mommy know you are missing school and playing on the internet? What an ignorant comment! Your investment advisor could be sipping the sauce while he is analyzing your portfolio from your years of your hard income…your kid’s teacher could be hitting the wine bottle after school…your doctor, who who trust with your life, could be taking prescription drugs while practicing…wake up…there are addicts everywhere, all walks of life, all professions! Do some real reading, Reader!!!
charges can and do create the appearance that justice will be served. The end result in court is what counts. This kid will be fine with the “connections” he has.
Reader. Your taxes do not pay for most of the things at a fire house like insurance. The guys raise the money ie: firemens fair to pay for this stuff. Not only do they give their time for free they raise the money to pay for stuff. This keeps your taxes down. Know the facts before you shout out
to everyone who thinks the towns own the firehouses your WRONG alot of towns own the firehouses and property and the boro’s rent the bays for the trucks to be kept in also the town doesnt pay anythng at all for the firehouses. fire departments FUND RAISE to get their money some like fair haven have fairs to get their money and some like little silver have christmas tree sales to fund their money…towns people DO NOT fund anything for the FIRE HOUSES they are department owned!
and READER think and read before you post you now sound like a horses ass because your statements are so ludicris
Am I missing something. You all defend drinking in a firehouse!If my financial adviser makes a bad decision while drinking on the job the worst that is happeningis that I lose my invenstments. If a teacher is drunk on the job, my kid does not get a good education for that year. If a fireman is drunk,I potentially lose my life! Booze-firehouse–don’t mix no matter how you want to spin it
get rid of the booze.
Next you are going to tell me that all those at the bar with e the chief would have continued drinking there if a fire call came in. Come on, get real-
I have an honest question,
When I attend a fireman’s fair, put a few bucks in the boot, or send something in an envelope, I assume this money goes to additional equipment, fire house up-keep, etc. Does this money also fund the beer supply? For me, I could care less and I mean that in all honesty. In my strange code, the concept of buying a volunteer fireman a beer is almost a moral obligation. (And no this is not endorsement of drunks fighting fires or driving trucks into poles then joining the Irish swim team.)
I only ask, because I wonder what many people would think if the answer to that question was yes. Do you think people would consider it a proper use of their donation? I read where “firefighter” claims that towns people DO NOT fund anything for the FIRE HOUSES. Either he is really stupid or can’t connect simple dots. The towns people buy the Christmas Trees from the fire department instead of the guy in Spirits parking lot to fund the fire house. The towns people put a buck in the boot or send an envelope or attend the fundraiser to fund the firehouse. But we all know this.
Maybe the answer is no, the money is not used for beer, and this is all moot. Can anybody provide the facts?
And I am not trying to be a pain in the ass. My money goes in the boot either way.
No. Money does not go for beer. Money goes to buy equipment and supplies. This answer is for Mike
Reader. Maybe you should not drink in your house or a restaurant. A teacher is paid to be on the job. If a teacher is drinking on the job they should be fired
By the way reader. The individual fire houses have rules about drinking and getting on the fire truck. Not allowed. Same rule applies is you over indulge and get behind the wheel or show up at your job drunk. Instead of badgering the volunteers that would save your like join the firecompany. this way you learn what it is all about
I wrote my comment before work, and here I am getting ready to leave and no one can just let this go. NO YOUR DONATIONS DONT PAY FOR BEER AT THE FIRE HOUSES. The firefighters take their hard earned money out of their pockets and give it for their own beer. If you dont like that, then run over to your local fire house and join! Then run for office and after you spend about 500 hours getting trained to do exactly what paid firefighter do, try to make a change.
A 27 year old man decided to drink and drive AFTER DRINKING (if true!) AT A BAR NOT A FIRE HOUSE. Think about it, if it didn’t happen ever, then we wouldn’t have the laws we have in place for drunk drivers. The man made a mistake. He lost both is paying jobs and a volunteer position that he worked very hard to get. He has brought embarrassment to his family, his friends, his co-workers and fellow brothers in the fire department. If you were to get in a car accident after driving drunk, you would have the same charges Foley is facing. Besides all of this, NO ONE CAN CONFIRM HE WAS DRUNK!
So again, I ask everyone to allow this man handle his business in his own home and not on a blog.
Want change, I again tell you to go to the house and apply to show all these men and women what you think should happen in the fire house.
OK i have to comment on this. You guys drink at the firehouse, Then ya get in your cars and drive home? That is crazy as you are the guys who will be coming to the aid of your own drunken firefighters. Basically its aginst the law any way you spin it. Maybe you guys instead of having a boys club at the FD should try being a lil more professional. I personally will remove from duty any firefighter or officer that comes to the firehouse or a scene after just 1 beer. That mentality of lets get drunk at the FD is just a life waiting to be lost because of someones lack of ethics.
I agree, let’s eliminate alcohol in privately owned firehouses. But then what about when firemen drink in a bar? I got it, let’s eliminate alcohol in privately owned bars and restaurants. Hmmm, but what about when firemen buy their alcohol at liquor stores for consumption at home? That’s easy, let’s eliminate privately owned liquor stores, and eliminate alcohol consumption in privately owned homes. That’ll solve the problem. No more drunk firemen!
But what about firemen who might be addicted to drugs? Well, there must not be any firemen addicted to drugs because drugs are illegal and they don’t have any in the firehouse. So it works!
Heres an idea act like the professionals you were trained to be. would you want some drunken idiot coming to your house fire to save your wife and children. No absolutley you wouldnt alcahol is a depressant it slows down your body. Who has to die before this FD stops drinking on a scene or at the firehouse? This is not a boys club for the whos who of any town or city it is a life saving orginazation. Here is a dispatch for you. Engine 1 Engine 2 respond reported structure fire…….Station 1 fire alarm……..We will be unable to respond as all of our firefighters are smashed at the firehouse….Please call mutual aid for us……..
I looked at the budget for my town. The borough owns all of the fire equipment. They depreciate it on their books. The firehouse is also owned by the borough.
Fundraisers help to fund social events such as wet downs, anniversary celebrations, social events like election night dinners. I do know they have a collection box for the beer and soda. I see nothing wrong with this picture at all.
Only exception is if someone is getting into one of those borough owned vehicles drunk…then it becomes a different ball game.
Sadfact - Are you saying he might not have been drinking while at a bar? I did not read any story that said he was at even at a bar or firehouse drinking. You seem to know more. At what bar was he maybe or maybe not drinking?
And you assert that this is not appropriate for a blog, yet you post your own opinions on the very blog? Who made you king?
“His business” became everybody’s business when he crashed a public vehicle. His business became everybody’s business when he broke the laws of the land. His business became everybody’s business when scores of tax payer funded respondants showed up to scoop his ass out of the river.
Don’t try to put me in fire departmant basher bucket. I appreciate what all of them do and don’t think this one clowns antics should be an inditement of the whole lot. And frankly I could not care if folks resoponsibly crack a few cold ones down at the firehouse. I think the social aspect keeps the membership up and we all enjoy the benefits.
This incident directly or indirectly brings a legitmate debate to the table about the culture of drinking and VFDs. Even if this guy was not drinking in the fire house, drinking in the fire house happens. And nobody has to book 500 hours of training to participate in the debate. I sure as hell was not asked to book 500 hours before I donated or paid my taxes.
EVERY ONE IS LOSING SIGHT OF THE FACTS. SHAUN WAS NOT DRINKING AT THE FIREHOUSE NOR WAS HE ON HIS WAY TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC. HE WAS GOING HOME. HE MESSED UP.I AGREE THAT HE SHOULD DEFINATELY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I BELIEVE HE WILL. THERE IS A REQUEST TO CHANGE VENUE AS FAR AS THE COURT THAT WILL HEAR THIS CASE. FOR SUCH A HIGH PROFILE CASE I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT SHAUN’S “CONNECTIONS” WILL PLAY ANY SORT OF ROLE IN THE OUTCOME. ALL DWI CASES, FOR JOE BLOW OR A “CONNECTED” POLICE OFFICER, ARE ALWAYS PLEAD OUT OR DOWN. GO SIT IN MUNICIPAL COURT FOR A SESSION. ITS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AS FAR AS FOLEY PAYING FOR ALL THE SERVICES THAT WERE RENDERED TO PLUCK HIM FROM THE NAVESINK; THATS JUST PLAIN SILLY. I COULD SEE PAYING FOR THE TRUCK OR THE POLE, BUT ARE FEES CHARGED FOR ALL PEOPLE THAT UTILIZE EMERGENCY SERVICES? I DON’T THINK SO. HE’S GOT ALOT OF SORTING OUT TO DO. AND TO THE GUY CHRIS WHO WANTS FOLEY TO BE PUT IN JAIL. GET YOUR STORIES STRAIGHT. THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR? REALLY? SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANNA HANG FOLEY. SOUNDS PERSONAL. VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FOR YOU. GOOD LUCK SHAUN. I HOPE YOU GET THE HELP THAT YOU NEED. YOU MESSED UP BIG TIME BUT THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER. FOR ALL THE HATERS STICK TO THE FACTS PLEASE. HE DROVE, POSSIBLY DRUNK, CRASHED, RAN, JUMPED, WAS SAVED AND NOW WILL PAY.
FMRFHRES: THANK YOU! I agree with you. I have simply been asking everyone to let Shaun deal with this on his own. I hope if he was drinking or drunk, then he pays the same way as so so so many others have. If this all happened because he was a scared 27 year old, then he will continue to pay while he is looking for a new career.
read APP.com for all the facts. He was drinking at a bar in Rumson not the Fire House. Your town might own the firehouse. Most DO NOT check all the towns
Who has to die before this FD stops drinking on a scene or at the firehouse?
In response to the above comment. They have rules against drinking and getting on a truck. I have never seen a firemen drink at a fire call in the 30 years I have been around. Get the facts right or better yet give up 26 weekends of your life to train as a volunteer without pay
OK i have to comment on this. You guys drink at the firehouse, Then ya get in your cars and drive home?
In repsonse to this statement…..Do you drink at restaurant or friends house and drive home on one drink or more?
Like it was just said he was NOT !!!!! drinking at the firehouse and also reader you know nothing about volunteers you think they are there to be a hero and run into a fire. No money is given to fire houses for alcohol so everyone saying it does shut your mouth and get off red bank green. The comment section of this website really needs to be taken off. It’s all full of ignorant comments by ignorant people that know little to none what they are typing. All i can say is regardless you have to respect your local firemen first aide and police officers. Some have made bad choices as we see here but you can’t put this one incident on the rest of them doing it the right way.
This is going no where
What about the reports of previous alcohol related wrongdoing by Foley?
Has the government covered up prior incidents which could have prevented this incident?
Is the government going to protect us or themselves?
These threads are disturbing. There is such a divide evident between those who volunteer and those who do not or cannot. Those who volunteer are to be applauded. Those who cannot should not be vilified by those who can. Someone working out of the area, NY or elsewhere with a family situation may be unable to commit the time even if they wanted to. Myself, when the family life permits I’d like to volunteer.
I have had the pleasure of being friends with and have lived with several volunteers firefighter in my younger years. Is there drinking, yes, have I seen anyone respond drunk, no. The officers were diligent about monitoring the younger guys. A call on Memorial Day weekend: they screened their guys coming from parties, volunteers are human just like us all and likely young and not fully mature. The officers are there to keep them in line and out of trouble. Something broke down here.
This kid messed up.
If he had earlier issues, in a small town then it should have been flagged. The town council has a representative to the FD, maybe he should have stepped in and raised a flag.
Let this guy get help, he’s 27, his whole life is ahead of him. He has lost his job and his FD position, I’m not sure any of us would have paid the same price if it were us.
If he can defeat this illness, and it is an illness then I believe he has much to contribute to society. From what I read he has been an outstanding member of the FD.
Give him some peace to figure all this out and I’m willing to be he will amaze everyone with what he can do and will contribute.
LordJohn out.
Lord John,
Great post. And I too hope that this guy makes a comeback.
My only huge problem I have with your post is the part about the officers there to keep them in line and something breaking down. 27 years old or not, Shaun Foley was the Fire Chief. He was the officer charged with keeping everybody in line. He was Officer #1. And it is being suggested by the charges against him, that while drunk (and I don’t care if was drinking in a firehouse, a bar, a barn or out of a bagged bottle at a bus stop), he drove a Fire Department issued vehicle into a pole, left the scene, and then went swimming.
Is anybody not disturbed that somebody who would make these choices was actually put into a leadership position in the life saving business? This could only be the product of system broken at the core. No explanation is good enough.
I keep hearing that he was not in the firehouse or he would not have fought a fire. I believe all of this. But look at the picture of the vehicle he crashed. If he is in that vehicle, he is indicating that he is ready for duty. If somebody has an emergency and they see that vehicle, they should be able to flag the driver down and get help. If this was not the case, Mr. Foley would have been issued a discreet Crown Vic.
Again, I am so glad that these folks serve our community. And I don’t have a problem with the beers at the firehouse, the bar or the barn. But I think the culture of the VFD and drinking should be examined and is worth a legitimate debate. At very least, these needs to be a learning experience.
Happy Thanksgiving, particularly to those who serve our communities and spend time away from their families during the holidays. Your dedication does not go unknown and unappreciated.
Change of venue (court) is usually granted under extraordinary circumstances. Is there a conflict of interest,is he too drunk to make it to Rumson, or is the Rumson court just not good friendly enough for Foley and his lawyer?
Mike, I agree, there should have been supervision. Something broke down here.
We live in very small towns, there is no reason to be driving, any of us can walk where we need to go if we plan on getting a little tuned up. Plus there are cabs.
Whoever was out with him does not deserve to be called friends.
As an employee of the Borough of Rumson, and Fire Chief of the Boro of Fair Haven, I think a change of venue from Rumson’s Court, prosecuted by Fair Haven’s mayor, is probably appropriate, and likely.
Lord John his friends should not have to be responsible for Foleys actions!
DHF- thats an extraordinary circumstance? is it not a conflict of interest to have the Mayor of Fair Haven prosecute the Fire Chief of Fair Haven? Since the crimes were not committed while he was on duty as a fireman and was not on duty as a cop, and the crimes were committed in the jurisdiction of Rumson, only extraodinary circumstances would allow change of venue (in a normal state) such as conflicts of interests, ambulatory problems etc.
Keri, am I not my brothers keeper? Do not friends watch out for each other?
You made my point, they are not his friends, likly enablers. Sad but all too frequent.
Thet are not responsible for his actions, after he left the bar. But I have put a few freids in a cab, I have smacked a few who would not listen.
Friends, bartenders, whoever was there let him get in a car. No excuse.
Change of venue is good. If a judge or official prosecuting this case knows the defendant or anyone involved it will be throw out of all the local courts until they find one that does not know him. It works this way to be fair to all individudals involved. My guess it will go out of the county or they will bring in someone from another county. I have seen this before
hey,
why don’t we all just be friends and have a beer or two. It’s almost 5 PM.
We can go over to the firehouse and down a couple. My ol’ lady won’t let me drink at home and neither will my boss at work so I prefer to get toasted at the firehouse with my buddies. don’t care if I stay for more than one or two.waddya say?
What system are you people talking about…This is volunteer…If you want to make it better, get off your—- and volunteer.This is not a perfect system,and we all know that, but this same group would complain if there taxes went up ten fold if it were made a paid fire service…..And the way all you clowns talk about,… like you have never had a drink when you have been behind the wheel….STOP. I think its just monday night qb going on…Get a life!!!
is any volunteer firefighter in any neighboring town reading RBG against getting rid of alcohol in the firehouses?
Would you not volunteer and quit if they did away with it?
If you quit because there is no alcohol allowed then you should quit now.
The reason you volunteer to be a firefighter is because you want to-not because I should honor you as something better than the rest of the volunteers out there (Hospital volunteers, cancer fund raisers,school volunteers, PTA,etc)
what is your point,needadrink…All the above charities you mention surrounds itself around drinking…Name any charity, gala, or school fund raiser today thats booze free…Please. Do you think the same people would show up to that event that didnt’ serve a glass of wine..Yourkidding yourself.
El techo el techo el techo está en llamas
El techo el techo el techo está en llamas
El techo el techo el techo está en llamas
No necesitamos el agua no deje que el hijodeputa quemar
Hijodeputa burn
so STOP. you admit that you are only showing up because of the drinking as you state. And if there was no drinking then all charities ,including firefighting volunteers would not participate.
I am asing a question so don’t answer with a question. You are being a politician.
If there was no bar or drinking at the firehouse would most firefighters quit? If the answer is no then there is no reason to have them at the firehouses. If you want to drink after the firehouse training or putting out a big fire then go to a licensed establishment.
Avenue of venue would be perfect here. Venue just means that no one that knows the defendant will try his case. It will be thrown to a different town or county.
I have seen this before. Worst case scenario they bring a judge in from another area to do it locally. Has been done before. This is fair
needadrink:
I’ll answer your question with a resounding “NO!” I would not quit.
Have a nice day.
Shauney got a job to do
And he’s got to fulfill that mission
To see his hurt is their
Greatest ambition
But we’ll survive
In this world of competition
‘Cause no matter what they do
Shauney keep on comin thru
And no matter what they say
Shauney de deh every day
Shauney Foley rides again
Thru the mystics of tomorrow
Shauney Foley rides again
Having no fear, having no sorrow
All and all you see a Gwan
Is to fight against Rastaman
So they build their world
In great confusion
To force on us the devil’s illusion
But the stone that the builder refuse
Shall be the head cornerstone
And no matter what games they play
There is something they could never take away
Something they could never take away
It’s the fire, it’s the fire, fire
Burning down everything
Feel that fire, fire, the fire, the fire
Only the birds have wings
No time to be deceived
You should know and not believe
Jah says this judgement
Could never be with water
So no water could put out this fire
This this fire, this this fire
This this fire ride Shauney ride
Go deh Foley, go deh Foley, go de
Now the fire is burning
Out of control panic in the city
Wicked weeping for their gold
Everywhere the fire is burning
Destroying and melting their gold
Destroying and waisting their souls
Ride Shauney ride
Go deh Foley, go deh Foley
Go deh Foley go de
Now the people gather on the beach
And the leader try to make a speach
But Foley again tell them it’s too late
Fire is burning
Man pull your own weight
Fire is burning
Man pull your own weight
Shauney Foley rides again
Go deh Foley, go deh Foley, go deh
Oh ride Shauney ride
Shauney Foley rides again
Go deh Foley, go deh, go deh Foley, go deh
Riding thru the storm
And we riding thru the calm
Go deh, go deh
We riding thru the thick
We riding thru the thin
Ride Shauney, ride Shauney
Who covered up the prior alcoholic incident involving Foley?
Was a politician?
If the prior incident had not been covered up, this current incident may have been prevented?
Are politicians who allege to protect us only protecting themselves?
The master of obfuscation, lawyer Ansell is playing his game of minimizing this.
Ansell got a light sentence for Mr. Rich in Belmar. Mr. Rich killed a man while DUI.
I suspect a conspiracy of secret alcoholics is at work here protecting one of their own (Foley).
The sober thing to do is for Foley and his protectors to face the consequences of their actions.
Hey tonite is the biggest drinking night of the year outside of New Year’s Eve. Let’s pound a keg at the fire house and then drive a fire truck and go bar hopping. Shaun, you are not allowed to drive. We will all chip in so you can take a cab home. Don’t forget the Giants have a big game tomorrow night so don’t eat too much turkey and fall asleep. In addition, you will need to save room for the beer as we will be playing anchorman. Losers pay the tab.
Shaun, if you are available next week, I would like to bring you to my AA meeting. You have like the best drunk, doin’ somethin’ stupid, story ever. I have done some stupid things too, but nowhere near this level. The best story before this one was when I heard someone got arrested for drunk driving on a bicycle. Drinking too much and doing stupid things. Perfect together!
Needadrink…I just speak the truth. Why is it all of a sudden that it is so wrong to have a drink. What’s the differance in a fireman having a drink at the firehouse that is owned by the charter company vs having a friend over to YOUR house having a drink.There is no differance….They both gottago home sometime. There is always risk. And as far as comments made about the fire company, or the police department being a good old boys club, I wouldnt’ worry so much of them compared to the real good old boys club in wall street that feed on blue coller 401k plans, or Saturday morning sunshine clubs that go on in local towns with your elected politicians. This is a very bad scene that Shaun will dearly pay for. Some of you make this out to be the worst thing that ever happened in the two river area. If it would make some of you happy, maybe we should bring back the town square hangings….
Sobriety in government (SIG) is the key to preventing fiascos like this.
Ok. Time to move on to a new subject
Are you guys finsished bashing a guy whos already down? You better hope if any of you get into a bad situation someone will be there for you. Find something better to do in life other then sitting around judging someone you never met. Cowards….
hey STOP
my house is NOT a town entity or organization defined by a charter to protect the public and I do not feel it is appropriate for a firehouse to have alcohol rights. the stuff should not be there, period . I am sure the mayor and council, if asked in public, would say the same thing. It is simply not appropriate and doesn’t fit today’s profile of public servant.
First I will say this. I know Sean. I know he has a good heart and would never purposely do or wish harm on anyone. Sean truly is a good guy. If anyone of you could take the time to get to know him without judgment, you would see that Sean is good and funny guy.
NOW. To even write on a ’blog’ is just asinine, what does it prove or serve? Do you lack the bravery to speak publicly? Apparently you do. The fact that I’m even lowering myself to shine a light on the rapier like wit that call themselves Al Koholic, reader, skull and the rest of the oh so brave towns people. Man up and post your real names so people know who’s really upset by this incident. Before you throw on your computer muscles, this is not an invite to a fight.
I don’t condone the actions Sean did. Yet I have the heart and the compassion to look thru the situation and urge him to seek help and hope the fire company shows the same compassion for Sean and help him into a recovery program. Lamb basting any person is not going to solve anything. Tough love is not the answer.
His actions, while dangerous and selfish are no more dangerous then these corporate clowns driving and talking on a cell phone or texting or no more dangerous then idiots I see every morning reading a newspaper as they drive down river road and forget to look up once in a while. Or the corporate monkeys stumbling off the water taxi after having a ‘few’ cocktails. How about you self loathing Neanderthals who sit down at barnacle bills, salt creek and tie one. Or the local business van running around talking on cell phone trying to rip the next client off. Yet, I have to deal with you tools stumbling across the street while I try and go home with out getting killed or killing one of them in a ’booze fueled’ walk across the street.
I don’t see anyone crucifying those drunken clowns. I’m not saying its not ok to ‘tie one on’. sure, no one said you can’t have a few after a long day of desk humping cause your afraid to lose your job, as you think about stinking a pen in your bosses neck. But again, I don’t see those people being racked over coals.
To sit in front of your computers and write on these ‘blogs’ about any one person with out posting your names, just proves your cowardly ways. You all lack the testicular fortitude of grown adults.
Each and everyone who post a negative comments about another human being who has issues and or problems like your standing on a soapbox with your self righteous attitudes with a bibles in one hand and a moral compass in the other, should lower your heads in shame.
You are no better then anyone else, your parent failed to raise you correctly. You sound and act like juveniles. I can only hope in your darkest hour you your self, is not racked over the coals.
Forget his status for a minute and just look at him for what he his, a young adult who chose a darker path. By accident or blinded, it’s a path he chose.
You act as if you never made a mistake in your life. I wish I knew how that feels. Sean made some mistakes apparently, some people on here know of these mistakes. If you have a problem with these supposed mistakes/mishaps then why did you not stand up and speak publicly? What is it? your lack of guts? Don’t sit there and say it was covered up, cause that horse sh*t. You know about, how was it covered up.
Yet you felt compelled and oh so brave to sit in front a computer and bad mouth a person, fire company and towns who serves the community and that includes severing you self righteous soapbox artiest.
Who will, at a moments notice drop what they are doing, put their life and their families life on hold to go help a stranger. Which is more then any one of you high brow, cowards will do. I’m more then willing to bet as you drive by an accident/fire scene you turn you heads and complain about the hold up or how you can’t get home quick enough to pop open a bottle of wine or a decanter of brandy after such a long hard day in the corporate America as you yank at your tie in a façade of frustration. Each and everyone of you makes me nauseas.
How dare anyone of us to cast doubt at anyone who volunteers their time. I don’t care if its at a local soup kitchen. They do one more then ‘thing’ then people who don’t volunteer.
Plus lets add the fact that some of you disgusting waste of human life, who choose and want to blacken the eye of all volunteer FD and FA squads over the poor judgment of one person. I will give you credit for one thing and that is you got a set of stones on you.
You sit their feeling godly but when you need help, you know damn well you will be calling for help PDQ. Why is that? Cause you expect it? Cause its their job? Yet you will also have the stones to complain about the response time. Yet you will lack the stones to do it in a public setting face to face but ’man up’ from behind a computer monitor so no one knows who you are.
On your little directory of emergency number what do you have written.
Police- who needs them
First aid - we have band aids
Fire - run like hell
Nope you have the number to call for help and these men and women will come and save your sorry butts.
So the way I see it, all the negative posters, don’t drink? or have a few drinks at a picnic, ballgame, company function. Thanksgiving, Christmas, new years. Birthday? If you do have a drink or two, you still get in the car and drive. So what does that say about you? The mirror can be very ugly.
So as you look down you nose at people, try and remember, you or anyone in your family can make a mistake just as Sean did and hope your family is not dragged thru the mud for other peoples self satisfaction.
Who knew that River road was so dangerous? Drunk politicians drive east from Red Bank and Drunk firefighters heading west. Thankfully, I live off of Ridge.
EXCUSE ME!!! SEAN WAS DRIVING A VEHICLE OWNED AND INSURED BY THE PEOPLE OF FH. If he would have been driving his own car no on would care. So let’s look back. Sean totaled the FHFD assistant chief’s car about 2 years ago on Ridge Rd. He was removed by the Rumson police (that’s what I was told) before anyone could do anything. When the FHFA showed up, they were told to leave. It’s bad enough that it was covered up (would have been his 2nd DWI) but the fire dept did nothing but enable him. After all that, the intellectually challenged members of the fire dept. voted to make him chief. It was as if nothing had ever happened. So now he has totaled another car and we are supposed to feel sorry for him. Is Sean going to reimburse the fire co. or our donated dollars going to buy another one? If he really wanted to take responsbility for his actions he would have left the hospital Monday afternoon and gone straight into rehab. If you know anything about alcoholics, once they are home, nothing changes. So I’m sure Ansell (in his eyes) will do the best to get Sean off but in reality it won’t be helping him, he will only be enabling him. To all out there that think some of us are heartless, we are not, we know that tough love is the only thing that works.
Who has to die before this FD stops drinking on a scene or at the firehouse?
In response to the above comment. They have rules against drinking and getting on a truck. I have never seen a firemen drink at a fire call in the 30 years I have been around. Get the facts right or better yet give up 26 weekends of your life to train as a volunteer without pay
Posted by: trucker on November 25, 2009 at 1:47 pm
To this comment Trucker i say this i am a texas state certified advanced firefighter hazmat tech swiftwater tech EMT-B and the list goes on. I have personaly given 17 years of service to my comunity and am a chief officer. What i will tell you is we used to have alcahol at FD functions 15 years ago. We finally came to the reailization that alcahol or drugs in the firehouse or at FD functions dont mix. #1 The liability for an orginization that is around strictly to save lives and property to serve its members or anyone in the public an intoxicating substance is unwise at best. #2 We are held to a higher standard than the old surround and drown fire depts with 1 old pumper and a couple of good ol boys. This mentality of lets drink at the firehouse just opens you and your dept up to lawsuits from every angle. Can you imagine if your firecheif would have hit another car? Your Vol Dept would no longer exist because the cheif was that iresponsable. This incident is a wake up call for you and yours in your dept. The fire service as a whole has moved on, why dont you guys come and join us? I understand the duty of protecting your brothers all too well. but it is time to take a zero tolerance policy on drinking at the fd or any related activity.
Stay safe out there.
Marcus H.
Grandview Fire Rescue
Needadrink,
Most of you elected Officials of Fair Haven think you know this town.We know you dont.
Collectivly you have made some realy bad choices for us. They have and will come to light.
When the first one of you fall from your chair (and you will),remember this thread you guys have used to hide behind.
Please take the Bad karma train back to North Jersey.
Hey Needadrink when you ask the RUMSON mayor that question of removing private bars from all the local firehouses,ask him what he should do with his newly installed wet bar in the New Boro hall complete with a fire place. Like I said, either join the fire company and make changes,which we all know, people like you will not, because ya just like to hear yourself talk, or just get a life or at least open up your eyes!!
my house is NOT a town entity or organization defined by a charter to protect the public and I do not feel it is appropriate for a firehouse to have alcohol rights. the stuff should not be there, period .
Ok.. Time to comment. We will have a vote to see of it is approproriate for you to have a drink… If we say no that means your rights are being violated. So if we tell firemen no alchol we tell you no alchol. HMMMM didnt this go out with prohibition in the 1930’s see my drift.
Grandview. IF voluntee fire companies did not exist your taxes would be so high in NJ that you would have to leave here and move back to texas. Volunteer organizations exist due to folks giving up their personal and family time to help the community. They are not paid. Bottom line this is a free service to you and everyone else posting and all you folks can do is bash them. This is one individual who did wrong not the whole fire organization.
The point all of you including you Grandview is the chief was not drinking at the Firehouse. IF you read the article in the APP he was drinking in a bar in Rumson. Lets be reasonable here. He was served in a bar not in the firehouse. No different then you going down to the local pub or in your kitchen and having a few. The difference is he drove. Next you will all want to ban drinking in bars. A firemen drinking in a bar is no different then a teacher, lawyer, cop etc drinking in a bar. The diffrence is this guy made a poor choice, It is the individuals choice. Firecompanies do have a rule against showing up on the scene drunk or getting on the truck after drinking. Same rule appliess about showing up for work drunk. SAme thing.
A wet bar at the boro hall. Awesome. I am now announcing my decission to run for Mayor of Rumson.
If you took the booze out of the firehouse there wouldn’t be any firemen there. Spoiled punks like this have everything handed to them and are only held accountable when there is no way around it. Like jumping off a bridge and having ten different agencies searching with boats, flares, and helicopters. It’s kind of hard to cover up something like that. This idiot was trying to make his way home where he would have undoubtedly called his buddies at the police department to report his vehicle was “stolen”. I hope they make numbnuts pay for the emergency response, like they would with anyone else.
Hey stop, not everybody is related to someone who can get them a spot in the FD or PD. Who got you your job?
“Not guilty”??? If he didn’t do it…then who did?
It’s obvious that there is much ignorance concerning due process and justice in monmouth county. One only has to look into which law firm attorneys have political and official influence in the courts, ethics board (yea right), supreme court, attorney bar, freeholders, and townships in this county. Going against any of these “influences” is career suicide for attorneys AND judges.
hey Mike R
what’s your last name if you scold the rest of us for posting under a pseudo.
Comne on-be man enough or did your parents not raise you right either.
How childish of you to have to go to accusing my parents of something when they are not even a part of this story.
Have you run out of “Yo Mama” jokes.
Pathetic-stick with the subject and that is “the chief did wrong, got drunk, crashed a town emergency vehicle,causes the whole county to search for him and firemen drinking in a town emergency services building”. Has nothing to do with YO Mama AND MINE.
THIS TIME YOU GROW UP AND GROW SOME KAHUNAS.
I am amazed how people here think only Volunteer Firemen Drink…This one person doesnt like the ideal that a Volunteer might drink at the Firehouse..Am I do assume that he thinks its ok to get drunk at his own house and then respond to an Emergency?For your information Police, Doctors(including Surgeons), Lawyers, Wall St workers,Postal Workers, Sales people. School teachers, Truck Drivers, sanitation workers,Airline Pilots,College Professors, Pro Athletes, Chefs, Restaurant Workers, Priest,Nuns,Barbers,Politicians, President of th USA, Retail workers and many more Drink Alcohol..I dont care what Emergency Responders do in their Free Time..I only care that they are There when I need them..Volunteers would never be critized if they choose not to volunteer..God, I hope that doesnt happen.. There is no doubt that the people who attack Those Emergency Responders never in their life ever performed one ounce of Charity…
The firehouse bars are used by other community organizations. I belong to a Monmouth County sports club that uses a local firehouse’s upstairs bar and recreation space for our monthly board and general meetings. We are able to cook in the kitchen and, yes, have a choice of two tasty cold keg beers tapped and ready for us to enjoy. We pay a fee for this privilege, and it is an affordable way for us to have meeting space, since we do not have a building of our own.
It’s not just this one firehouse, either; we have also had the good fortune to use one in a different shore town when the one we normally use is not available.
I just wanted to make it very clear that the space is often available for community use, and we appreciate it very much.
i still smell a lawsuit coming and a definite raise in the firehouse insurance policies coming and an amendment to the policy that no alcohol be on the premises.If you want to have your afternoon socials then go somewhere else.
A firehouse is a firehouse which stores equipment for emergency services. Period
Go have your socials at a social club like the knoghts of columbus,elks,etc. They would gladly rent you their space and you can drink there because it is a Social Club, not an emergency services building. That is why you can’t go to the police station,hospital or other governemnt buildings and have social or private parties.
they are for specific purposes of EMERGENCY SERVICES. Get over it. This one instance is the future elimination of alcohol at firehouses. I know he didn’t drink there but it brought to light that there is OPEN KEGS ad hard liqour at firehouses in all the neighboring towns.
I drink but at home and in a friends HOUSE and at a legal establishment that is the sole business of serving Booze. Firehouses were not built on tax payer money to have a specific clientele allowed to drink there. I cannot walk into a firehouse and ask for a beer or even bring my own to drink on their premises. They would throw me out. Small town, good ol boy network which has been exposed and will be dealt with swiftly by the town officials.
If they do not do anything about it then they are a part of the cover up of BOOZE IN FIREHOUSES.
I wouldn’t put it past a reader to call Arnold Diaz and the news to do a story on “SHAME ON YOU”.
sorry but you had your last drink in a firehouse.
Tea anyone?
Sometime back in the eighties, I believe, a local fire chief was found to be well under the influence while in the firehouse. He was immediately taken home by fire company members. He ultimately was suspended for thirty days, but because of this he was forced to resign as a police officer in a neighboring town. Just one example of it dosen’t always get covered up.
Will the government respond to this fiasco with sober action?
Grandview. IF voluntee fire companies did not exist your taxes would be so high in NJ that you would have to leave here and move back to texas. Volunteer organizations exist due to folks giving up their personal and family time to help the community. They are not paid. Bottom line this is a free service to you and everyone else posting and all you folks can do is bash them. This is one individual who did wrong not the whole fire organization.
The point all of you including you Grandview is the chief was not drinking at the Firehouse. IF you read the article in the APP he was drinking in a bar in Rumson. Lets be reasonable here. He was served in a bar not in the firehouse. No different then you going down to the local pub or in your kitchen and having a few. The difference is he drove. Next you will all want to ban drinking in bars. A firemen drinking in a bar is no different then a teacher, lawyer, cop etc drinking in a bar. The diffrence is this guy made a poor choice, It is the individuals choice. Firecompanies do have a rule against showing up on the scene drunk or getting on the truck after drinking. Same rule appliess about showing up for work drunk. SAme thing.
The difference here is that if i decide to go drink a beer with the boys i dont get im my chiefs car and put on a Fd shirt so that evryone see’s me and looses faith in my orginization. All that i see wrong here is the chief made very poor decisions and he has and will pay some more for those actions. Not too uncommon for young guys that arent fully mature yet and tasked with the responsibilitys of a fire chief. Firefighting is a hard and stressfull job any where you go not just for vollys or career guys and i understand the need to retain your vol’s But honestly think about it…. If you need to serve alcahol to the guys to get them to Volunteer they didnt reallly want to be there. Maybe its time to take a look at your Dept. S.O.P’s and rewrite them to include things like ariving to the FD intoxicated or drinking at the FD are prohibited? not trying to bust your butt here just trying to give a lil advice. If anything happenes and a FD member is involved after drinking at the FD any decent attorney is gonna own that FD and all the trucks quick. we live in a time where everytime someone pricks their finger they call us we respond and give them a bandaid. two weeks later we recievie a subpeona in the mail that we are being sued for getting there white carpet dirty as we walked in the door. Just the way it is and ya cant do much about it. We have just adjusted to the times and maybe its time your orginization did too.
Marcus H.
Grandview FD
Statistics show that on any given Friday and Saturday night, 1 out of every 7 cars are being driven by someone under the influence of either alcohol and/or drugs. They may not be legally intoxicated, but they have had some alcohol. That means that there are WAY more people than just fireman drinking and driving. I’m guilty of doing the same on more than one occasion as of most of you on the site. Hell, I’m going to have two or three beers tonight for Thanksgiving and drive home…same as most of you on this site. Look in the rearview mirror next time before you post your self-righteous comments on here. You’ve made the same choice Shaun did. Only things different are you didn’t get in an accident (luckily) and didn’t get stopped by the police (luckily). Everyone’s luck ends soon. Happy Turkey Day! Good luck Shaun!
JM,
I recall something as well. I believe they drove the fire truck through the garage door of the fire house.
Grandview. Beer is not needed to make guys and gals volunteer. Not everyone drinks at the firehouse. you also missed the point I posted earlier. The local firehouses have rules about coming to a call after drinking. Not allowed. Not allowed to be there not allowed on the truck. These rules are in place. Just like average Joe isn’t allowed to drink or drive. The policies and laws are in place. He meaning the Chief of Fair Haven did a stupid thing. If he was going to get drunk at a local bar he should have not driven. He should have called a friend, a family member or a taxi to come get him. Bottom line he wasn’t at the fire house, he was at a bar. He was representing a fire company.
Social drinking in private is one thing, FD volunteer or not. 3 DUIs is a chronic problem which inevitably leads to the question; by what process and selection criteria does a 27 year old with a drinking problem gets elected as fire chief, and by who’s authority and determination are the previous infractions swept under the carpet? Many who are of reasonable mind naturally question those who turn a blind eye to to the actions of such liabilities. It is this Good old Boy mentality od “we are above the law” that is most sickening than anything. This kind of “leadership” will come to an end..like it or not.
all these volunteer firemen stating that if it were not for the volunteer fire department we would all not be able to afford to live in any of the naighboring town because they are the only ones holding taxes down.
Please.
NYC has NO Volunteer fire departments and their real estate taxes are some of the lowest in the nation.
surrounding towns of Newark who depend heavily on tax based fire departments have lower taxes than rumson,fair haven, red bank, little silver.
So it is not the volunteer FD that keeps our taxes low. If our taxes go up and it becomes a tax based fire department then all the surrounding towns would have one central fire department to work from with multiple firehouses. That will keep the taxbase low and our fire houses clean of drinking buddies. I don’t anticipate that raising my taxes too much. I think I would rather have someone putting out my fire whose job depended on it rather than a volunteer who shows up only when they want to or are not too drunk to drive to the firehouse.
Naturally while most will argue about the virtues and liberties of having a drink, I can imagine a case scenario to get this kid off the hook. Change venue (find a buddy judge), disallow breathalyzer evidence (or lose it), disallow alcohol blood test (or lose it), whisk him off to the psyche ward (to make argument that he is suicidal), plead not guilty to all charges (already done), remove all comments from APP (already done), -end result; not guilty all charges and court recommends psychiatric help at is discretion. Am I close??
Dear needadrink:
New York City DOES have volunteer fire companies. Metropoliran Fire Assoc. , Richmond Engine Co. 1, and Oceanic Hook & Ladder, Staten Island, Aviation Hose 3 and Edgewater Park VFD in the Bronx, Gerritsen Beach VFD, Brooklyn and West Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel, Roxbury, Rockaway Point, Point Breeze VFD’s in Queens. Lets see now…that’s 11 volunteer fire companies all with the City of New York. I believe that you have absolutely no idea about volunteer fire companies, or volunteer firefighters for that matter. You just sit and bash and call all of them nothing but drunks. That is exactly what is being said by you in your posts. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes there are a few who drink to excess. Show me somewhere that it dosen’t happen.
86% of the fire companies in America are volunteer organizations. I guess that by your standards they’re all drunks.
Needadrink,
You hold obvious hate, and disregaurd for the Volunteer Fire Service.
Sounds like a Politician scorn to me.
As posted earlier on, if you dont like the town you live in, leave.
You wont be missed.
If the Volunteer Fire Department was to stop volunteering, they would be missed.
So the fact is, you are nothing and the Fire Company is a valuable asset to the town. When you come to grips with that you will have a easier time in the sandbox with the other kids.
One idiot made a bad decision and could of killed someone because of his disregaurd for rules, laws, and common sence.
Dont think for a minute that the Firefighters in Fair Haven dont feel let down by their leader, and those of the public who feel they need to bash them.
The Fair Haven Fire Dept. is a great organization,as are all the area Volunteer Fire Departments.
Too bad their trucks are the wrong color….
needadrink,
I agree it would be better to pay our firefighters, but I don’t see how we can afford it. The additional personnel costs would be millions of dollars each year. We could make it look free for a year or two by selling off equipment and any firehouses owned by the towns (I think RB firehouses are owned by fire companies; I don’t know about other towns). But after that one-time money ran out, we’d get hit with a big tax increase.
I think $5 million is a realistic estimate of the cost. That’s $1 million per town. Red Bank raises about $10 million through taxes, so we’re looking at a 10% tax increase. It could easily be a 15% increase if my higher estimate is correct.
I’d rather stick with the volunteer firefighters. And since they’re volunteers, I don’t begrudge them some social time with beers.
a lwasuit when one of them kills someone is also in the millions. Let’s not let a lawsuit happen because of potential liquor liabilities. Only takes one to cause havic in a system.
I like my town, I like all people. Read through my writings as I only push that no BOOZE be allowed in firehouses for safety reasons for all. I am not bashing fire fighters, I am against liquor in firehouses. Doesn’t go good with what the mission is about.
There might be volunteer firehouses in staten Island but they are secondary to paid firehouses in NYC. You get your facts straight, too.
How much have the 5 towns paid out because of lawsuits? Does it come to $5 million a year?
Needadrink
I cant believe that you compare a City with millions of residents the same as Small towns with less then 10,000 people when it comes to the Tax Structure..You really believe the Income and Dispursements in Red Bank, Little Silver etc is the same as NYC? WOW..You think if Red Bank added over $1,000,000 to their payroll for Paid Firemen Taxes wouldnt go up? Please explain to all of us how that works? I think all Municipalities would love to hear your secrete on how not to raise taxes if Million Bucks is added to the payroll…Please enlighten us..
Needadrink
Were you ever a Fireman? If so, are you still a member of a vol Fire co? Did your mouth get you kicked out?
Needadrink, if you think Newark’s fire service is better and taxes are lower then Monmouth County, why not move to Newark?!
Dan,
so you are now FOR having liqour in public emergency services buildings?
I can’t believe my eyes that the Red Bank Green statician and keeper of all websites is for the allowance of alsohol in a public services building.
Dan, you loose all credibility with me.
Just not right and you all know it.
still smell a lawsuit coming and higher premiums for the firehouse. Anyone want to bet the liquor allowance is pulled?
I’m not in favor of alcohol at the firehouses, but in this case, I think I need to either put up or shut up. I’m not willing to be a volunteer firefighter, so I don’t feel like I have any right to tell them how to run their organizations.
I’d feel differently if there were any evidence of unsafe behavior as a result of social gatherings in the firehouse or alcohol being served at those gatherings, but I haven’t seen any such evidence.
I’d also feel differently if tax dollars were being used for the alcohol, but that isn’t the case.
To me, it’s private individuals socializing in their private building with their private booze.
I would be lovely for me if volunteer firefighters were sober 24/7, got at least 8 hours of sleep every night, stayed in top physical condition, never left town, and spent all their spare time at the firehouse, but I can’t really ask that of them.
There are some minimum requiremets in the volunteer system that one must meet to become an officer and/or chief. Since these are minium requirements, a lot of the time it comes down to popularity. At least in the paid departments there are tests to take, interviews to go through, then a committee for the selection process before you get to be an officer.
Sure, having paid emergency services (fire and EMS) MAY raise taxes a bit, however, you do get what you pay for. When you dial 9-1-1 you get crews to respond right away. While being paid does not make someone professional, it does give them a lot more accountability. There are towns that have fire companies and first aid squads that take greater than 10 minutes to respond. At times it is almost 30 minutes!
Yes, there are departments that have a very quick response, and that is great! And yes, there are departments that have training reuirements and accountability that rivals any career department. That too is great!
Dan,
To the best of my knowledge,the Borough of Red Bank, currently owns two of the six fire stations. Independent Engine(93) located on Mechanic Street and Liberty Hose(94) located on White Street.
Relief Engine(92) attached to the Old Police Station at 51 Monmouth Street has a variety of leases with the Children’s Cultural Center, Inc. for continued use and occupancy.
This non-profit currently owns the firehouse building and land, yet the borough is responsible for the upkeep, rehabilitation, repair, and maintenance of this area of the building and land. This firehouse was sold twice for a $1 in July and September of 1999.
The other three companies, Westside Hose(96) located on Leighton Ave, Union Hose(95) on Shrewsbury Ave, and Navisink Hook & Ladder (90)(91) on Mechanic Street are privately owned.
Seems to me with all these comments there is a growing societal problem. The enforcers and rescuers are not living up to the standards they expect of average citizens. I have called for an undercover investigation at our local Brannigans bar in RB many times. Follow one of our ex mayors after his kid plays with his band in town. Done it, not a pretty site.
Cops are cool(make big bucks) and Firefolks are curagious and life savers (thanks for volunteering here). Come on guys this thin blue line is getting obnoxious.
People seem to know that what’s good for the goose is not always practiced by the gander.
In or out of uniform people around town(towns)know who they are and in many cases what they drive. They need to adhere too the laws and not feel privleged or obsolved of what we ask them to defend us against.
Thanks to the good ones that do the right thing. Wisstleblow the few that make a bad name for the rest.
Son, we live in a world that has fires, and those fires need to be extinguished by men with hoses. Who’s gonna do it? You, needadrink? You, notsureanymore? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep because of this Chief and curse the firefighter; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that this incident, while tragic, saved a life, and that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties you want me on that engine, you need me on that engine. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use then as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very protection I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you,” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you put on an air pack and ride the truck. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Careful, there, Firefighter. Remember…the Jack Nicholson character ended up being busted. the thin “blue” line did not protect him, nor should it have.
Simple: if you drink, don’t drive. Whether you are a soccer Mom, mayor, volunteer, cop, teenager or priest.
wow firefighter, thats the best post on here.
SMF,
Thanks for the info. So if we consolidated with the 4 other towns, at best we’d be able to sell two properties:
32 Mechanic: appraised value $750,000
40 White: $782,400
So we might get $1.5 million or so, which might cover our personnel costs for paid firefighters for a year or two. Then our taxes jump 10-15%.
At least that’s the way it looks on the back of my envelope.
Who ever is saying that Volunteer’s don’t save tax payer money needs to stop using the bottle themselves! Even if you went to a paid fire department, you would have to make renovations to the firehouse to include bunk rooms, etc.
Many people have stated on here that if you don’t like it, Volunteer!, Why are you not volunteering for your local first aid squad or fire company. There are more positions on these agencies than front line responders, cook for their meetings, help with their fundraising, etc.! Being a Volunteer first aider, or firefighter is not like volunteering for a hospital foundation, it’s a lifestyle! Whether you like it or not, Your sitting down for thanksgiving dinner with your family, somebody else in town burned their turkey, you get up and go. It’s your son’s family’s birthday party, your neighbor is having a heart atttack, you get up and go. These VOLUNTEER firefighters, first aiders, and fire police officer’s are your neighbors! Remember that!
Did Shawn make a mistake, yes! Does he need to pay the consequence’s, yes! Does this mean there shouldn’t be alcohol or bars in any firehouse, No! It’s one of the VERY FEW benefits for the volunteers. I am not saying, drink and get on the truck, It doesn’t happen! But there is nothing wrong with having 1 drink after a call, or drill, or meeting, or maybe after doing CPR on your neighbor for an hour with an unsuccessful result! It happens! There is probably a bar in every firehouse in Monmouth County. Thats the way it is!
So, Think and answer, Why don’t you volunteer in one way or another for the fire company or first aid squad, I don’t care about the hospital or any other cancer or whatever agency, thats a few hours here and there, this is a lifestyle, that if you are not willing to committ to, or assist with, don’t complain!
None of the posts answer the one glaring question; how does a 27 year old with a serious drinking problem (2 DUIs) get to be a fire chief? It is not a question that relates to one that has made a simple mistake, it is a question that relates to one who could jeopardize the public and a whole Fire Dept and it’s firefighters with a “simple mistake” in a fire fight. This incident shows there is an obvious problem in the selection process of volunteers in some fire stations. Would anyone here volunteer to join a combat unit who’s leader is a drunk? Honor code loyalty applies to to your brethens who could be harmed by such leadership as well.
That is the question that I keep on asking tomatosauce. It is shocking that somebody so irresponsible was put into a position of authority.
If the system is not broken and this guy really was the best person for the job, what does this say about the rest of the department and the future? The next guy could even be worse.
-or-
If it is in fact that the system that is broken (the job is too much so people only do it for a year, the job is passed around like a gold old boys clubs so everybody gets a chance, or whatever), what is being done to fix this?
It has to be one or the other.
Again, I appreciate the efforts of all of the local VFDs. This incident brings about a few questions . Perhaps somebody with a little background could help explain what went wrong and how this guy became chief.
Wait till you see who the fire dept is nominating for life member!
Since the FD serves the Borough of FH I would assume that final approval of FD chiefs are reviewed and approved by the Borough, headed by Mayor Halfacre who is an affiliate member of the FH Fire Dept as well. Since Ansel is moving to change venue from Rumson court (to avoid conflict of interest?) did he also demand Halfacre to recuse himself since the mayor is the prosecutor for Rumson as well as being the mayor and an affiliate Fire fighter of FH?
Your assumption is wrong, tomatosauce.
Mike, tomatosauce, your questions are valid ones. Often times, the best person for the job is elected chief. However, the selection process is basically decided by election. Nominations are either usually made from the floor or a nominating committee. In some fire companies, there are so few members, the nominating committee is made up of the officers who nominate themselves for the positions–how is that for a conflict of interest? There tends to be a bit of politics and favoritism in the selection/election process, and sometimes the best qualified people are not nominated or elected because they are not part of the in crowd. I have no knowledge of how it works in Fair Haven, but if the statements above about the past Chief are true, it speaks volumes about the common sense and judgment used in the selection and retention of the chief officer. Some fire chiefs have interpersonal and leadership skills equivalent to a third grader. Sad but true.
There is a problem here. We all know it. Some choose to defend the defensless. Others want to explode out of anger that a pass is given to people who are supposed to be front line rescuers.
This small debate should be explored and not ignored by our elected officials.
The greater good requires answers to this situation and the ones I have described. If not I fear we will be on the road to the loss of respect for the heros we used to salute.
Get over it everyone – this issue too shall pass under the rug – like so many other necessary topics for public discourse. Simply put, “the rest of us in the tax paying public” have no time to deal with this volunteer-favoritism debate. We are too busy trying to make ends meet, or dealing with sick children, or jogging on our treadmill lifestyles, who has time to help one who tried to help others?
Took less than 2 days to find out who skull was problem