When we left Fire Lieutenant Chris Galliger it was the Memorial weekend Sunday start of shift roll call at Fire Station 2. Firefighter Sandy Bartle appeared impaired and in no condition to work. Lieutenant Galliger was dealing with a regulatory gap that leaves Dirt County Emergency Services weekend employees uncovered. Battalion Chief Pat Welch entered the station, accompanied by a deputy sheriff. It appears that Firefighter Bartle struck a civilian’s Prius while parking on the street. The owner of the Prius called the police to make a report. The deputy sheriff wants to talk with Bartle.
One of the first rules that rookies learn is to keep misadventures, mistakes, and conflicts within the confines of the station and the company officer. Do not push it up the chain-of-command, keep it off social media and do not bring public or official attention to the incident.
Three Fire Service Leadership Arenas
FDNY Captain Hugh Caufield obtained a Master’s degree in public administration and was assigned to teach the original Academy Line Officer’s Development Program during the “war years” – including the 1973 strike. He went on to be a fire science professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Caulfield describes three arenas in his book Winning the Fire Service Leadership Game.
Within the work shift. This is the game played between the firefighters and company officers within the fire station. The winner of this game will control the hour-to-hour fire company activities at the fire station. The borders of this arena were described in The Fire Officer’s Playing Field.
On the street. The second level game is played on the street between the company officer and the battalion chief. The winner is the player with the best ability to control turf, power, and politics to satisfy personal needs.
In the community. The third game is played in the community by the Fire Chief and other organizations. The winner is the agency with the best ability to control turf, power, and politics to satisfy organizational needs.
Caulfield points out that each arena has different boundaries, scoring systems and definition of who has won. Bartle crashing into a parked Prius on a public street may involve a game in all three fire service leadership arenas.
Firefighter Bartle is becoming a poster child for fire station calamities. What will be a “just” outcome for Bartle? (… to be continued.)