Did Fire Chief Tell Firefighters Not To Misbehave at Mayor’s Speech?
Unless you're a Washington Post print subscriber, you may recall that a couple of weeks ago about 100 firefighters stood up and turned their backs toward Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe in an act of insubordination meant to express their displeasure with how Ellerbe is running the department, including his decision to outlaw the "DCFD" logo.
Someone at the fire department apparently wants no such repeat performance at Mayor Vince Gray's State of the District speech scheduled for Tuesday night. LL has been sent pictures of entries in the official logbooks of half a dozen fire houses with notes telling firefighters that they'll face punishment if they act up at tomorrow's mayoral shindig. All of the notes were written on Saturday, with most saying they were "by the orders" of Deputy Fire Chief Larry Jackson. Two of the notes say firefighters have to wear the "appropriate uniform" if they attend the speech, which is likely a reference to the now prohibited DCFD-festooned gear.
Ed Smith, president of Washington Local Fire Fighters Association Local 36, has posted a letter on the union's website, in which he describes a conference call where Jackson allegedly told on-duty battalion fire chiefs to spread the word that any firefighter who "exhibits any form of disrespect or insubordination" at the mayor's address will face "swift punitive action." Smith says that upon learning about the conference call he approached Ellerbe for an explanation.
"Through a series of emails, Chief Ellerbe contends the message was taken out of context and poorly conveyed," Smith writes. Smith says he asked Ellerbe to put out a note clarifying his position, but the chief hasn't done so.
Ellerbe spokesman Lon Walls says the whole episode is "much ado about nothing." Walls says that while Ellerbe expects his troops to behave professionally at the mayor's speech, he did not send out "any kind of directive like that."
"There's not been any message," says Walls.
Well, whatever the message is, we'll see how effective it is at tomorrow's speech. Smith, for the record, asked his members who attend the speech to "be respectful and conduct yourself in the highest professional manner as you do every time you assume duty."
6:19 pm
Chief Ellerbe should resign or be fired. He is clearly incapable of leading and more importantly he is approaching this and many other situations inappropriately.
He brings too much baggage and has already worn out his welcome here and Mayor Gray should request his resignation immediately.
Our homes are not safe if he is in command of our fire fighters. Albeit, they are the ones that respond, and put their lives on the live each time the bell sounds and they are summoned to enter buildings that are on fire, as we run for safety.
Chief Ellerbe has clearly demonstrated a less than professional demeanor about his approach to too many things of great importance in our city.
6:25 pm
We have a real issue brewing with our Fire Dept and this ongoing war by Mayor Gray and Chief Ellerbe on our Fire personal is causing many of our Veteran FireFighers to consider leaving the service. BTW the Chief does sock inspections and if you don't have the right color socks on you're cited for being out of uniform.
7:08 pm
And look at Ellerbes decision making in his spikes person Lon Walls. A man who has a federal tax lien for over $160,000 and had a contempt of court hearing scheduled January of this year. This in addition to many other things listed for Lon Walls and Walls Communications Inc in the Maryland Case Search database online. Shameful to replace reputable And highly respected PIO Pete Piringer with a man whose moral fiber could be called into question. Ellerbe is a failure all the way around. Mayor Gray... Think long and hard about what is happening to the fire department...
7:36 pm
Since Mayor Gray and Ellerbe are childhood friends and the appointment clearly came out of that relationship it's unlikely there will be a change until there is a change in Mayor. It's a shame since Ellerbe is running the department into the ground and morale is at an all time low. We've already lost a large number of great firefighters because of him and it's only been a year...
7:37 pm
The uniform issue stings, but no-one would get this jacked up over a few letters. The prime issue is the FEMS chief's continue insistence on wanting to cut 475 positions from the fire department, and his autocratic management style.
7:47 pm
The anti-Ellerbee lines sound well and good.
But what does that have to do with the order mandating that the firefighters not show their a**es at the State of the District?
Don't show ya a** should be standard protocol whether you like your boss or not.
7:59 pm
First and foremost; the issues with the uniform and shift changes should be dealt with at the bargaining table.....not in the media. Secondly....as a citizen, the disrespect being displayed by the members of the department makes me wonder.....if you exibit a blatant, public disrespect for your Chief, how do you feel about me as a citizen?
8:04 pm
Sorry.....exhibit.
8:08 pm
HogWash,
I'ts hardly about showing our a@@, its about our First Amendment Rights!
8:10 pm
S.E. I am willing to risk my life for yours....hows that for an answer?
8:13 pm
S.E. if you ever have the misfortune to call 911 and request the Fire Department, you will be introduced to people that will lay down their lives for you no matter what YOU may think about us
8:22 pm
The fire chief is in the news every week and it's never good, this joker needs to leave town...DC can do better than this!
We need to make a change, support the recall of Mayor Gray!
8:33 pm
Wow. some people do not have a clue!!! The leadership that has been displayed in this dept. Is disgusting and as a citizen of DC. maybe u should listen to what to say!!!! They r the ones who risk their lives for u and took an oath to do so!! They have been DISRESPECTED AND BELITTLED BY THE PERSON WITH POWER!!!! MAKES ME SICK!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE OF DC AND REALIZE WHO HAS YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART!!!
8:58 pm
Did Mayor Gray initiate a National Search for a Fire Chief or was this the best he could do? I respect the service and courage of these men and women I witness there action on a daily basis, and they are remarkable, and should be treated as so. All these issues I read about everyday are totally ridicules, as a manager this is poor showing and a lack of management skills. C'mon Mr. Mayor wake up send him packing, the previous Fire Chief might have had some issues with you but he had the skills to do the job proffessionally. You have lost my vote, until you make some positive changes. I don't want to read everyday about how this Fire Chief harasses his employees.
9:00 pm
First off, trying to make this a racial thing as Mr. Walls has is very narrowminded and short sighted. What Im wondering is when will the light be shed on the fact that due to The FEMS administrator over 40 paramedics have left or dropped their certs. This is creating a very scarey situation for the district. SE...how will you feel when you have a medical emergency and the closest paramedic is coming from georgia ave NW? and that is a reoccuring theme lately.
9:26 pm
I am lifelong resident of DC and am dismayed that Mayor Gray has not yet dealt with his fire chief who has openly and often shown contempt for the men under his command. Having spent time in the military I would point out that this chief would never have made it to the top in our armed forces. You do not lead men by intimidation but you must earn their respect. They do not have to like everything you do and they will not but if you are a decent man with real leadership skills, they will respect you in spite of disagreement. And Chief, privates will follow a great leader onto the battlefield when they respect and trust him but it is apparent you have earned neither and I dare say these men will follow you nowhere. The continual harassment of your men, Chief, will be and should be your downfall. Mayor Gray...this mess rests squarely on your shoulders and I suggest you fix it immediately.
9:36 pm
Ayy S.E. you hit the nail on the head! These cry baby, spoiled ass, grown boys who call themselves firefighters refuse to respect BLACK leadership, period!
Most are hicks from backwoods who had to come to DC to get that good gubbamint job in order to "be somebody", but when Rubin had morale on pre 60s levels not a peep out of these "transplants", and then this clown has the audacity to cite 1st amendment rights as his justification for blatant disrespect of not only an OFFICIAL authority and it's position as FIRE CHIEF, but that of a black man, really makes you wonder if these are "honorable" MEN or poser RED NECKS?
This has nothing to do with anything but RACE, when whites were in charge BLACKS suffered, FACT!
9:43 pm
At firefighter/paramedic
Your doom n gloom sounds right, but it holds NO weight considering the fact that under A Thompson EMS was all but depleted when there was a mass exodus of EMTs and paramedics, nothing new here, your point really ain't a point...
About 5 of these posts are by the same bleeding heart who wants support of his weak, childish, racist core.....GROW THE FVCK Up!
9:52 pm
After reading dozens and dozens of comments on these recent articles here and on other sites, I have decided that the chief is his own ghost writer as in the SE DC Dudes - they all sound the same even when you try to cloak yourself by throwing in the colloquial "gubbamint" type words which really show how dumb you are. Ellerbe and his yes-men must make it about race to change the subject. It's not about race but as ward 3 resident said, it is his inability to lead or to gain trust. You're not fooling anybody, Mr. Ellerbe.
9:57 pm
As a black DC firefighter I'm here to say this has nothing to do with race, and the citizens of this city as well as the country can see right the that BS lie!! Plain and simple!!
10:05 pm
Hahahahaha
Need I say more,
Hence #s 19 and 20, pathetic!
10:06 pm
There y'all go with that dumbazz moderation bullshit, moderate these nuts!
10:07 pm
As a white retired fireman, I am proud to call you "brother", DC fire brother.
10:21 pm
@Ward3Resident: And what would have happened in your military if troops did not follow their leaders into battle? A firing squad, the hangman's noose? And did you realize it was President Harry S. Truman who banned discrimination against African American soldiers? Did you know that once African Americans were not allowed to joing the US Navy or the US Air Force? This segregation did not take place during slavery. These slights to citizens born in the USA and willing to die for their country did not cease until the middle of the twentieth century. I did not see one man of color, nor did I see one female member of FEMS turn his/her back on their Chief.
ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE FIRED AND RUN OUT OF TOWN ON A RAIL BACK TO WASHINGTON STATE, DELAWARE, WEST VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE THEY CAME FROM SO THAT CITIZENS OF THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA SURROUNDING WASHINGTON DC CAN HAVE THEIR JOBS.
The way I understand it the real gripe is the work schedule. The new changes won't allow for an easy commute to the city of the Mayor and Fire Chief they love to hate.
From what's said in comments #5 and #15, it looks like Chief Ellerbe only needs 435 more of those losers to leave before he achieves his objective. Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish.
10:24 pm
Don't let Ellerbe create a race issue in our department for his own personal gain! This is a department of brothers and sisters and the race card should not be allowed to drive a wedge between us!
10:26 pm
MORE THAN 15 PARAMEDICS HAVE QUIT OR TURNED IN THEIR MEDIC CARDS SINCE THIS CHIEF TOOK OVER! Why is everyone buying his line about improving EMS? He is dismantling the department and it will not be good for fire OR EMS services.
10:28 pm
DCFD4ever...do you notice how few are actually making that charge? Walls and chief SE Dude. Everyone knows it is not about race so, to the guys on the job....don't respond to them. Let them show themselves for who they really are. They will continue to bait because they need it to be about race.
10:29 pm
Who would have guessed the race card would be pulled here? Get a life and get your head out of the pre 1960's dude. You may hate people for their color but I can assure you I do not. Be my guest and live your life angry and judgmental. I will continue to live mine looking at people as people and not colors.
Just so you know, I defend the rights given to me by those who have died to make sure I have them. If you chose to let people walk on your Constitutional rights so be it. I will not stand by and let it happen to mine. I don't care what color the person skin is attempting to do it.
10:29 pm
I could be wrong, but I thought the dcfirefighters union helped elect one city gray.
10:35 pm
MM: I'm on hold again. Would like for the "posers" to see my comment before the SODA tomorrow night.
I wish there was some way to have Chief Lanier's crew put them in a paddy wagon to cool their heals for a while. Let them get a taste of the holding cells in the DC cellblock. See how tough they'd be in there. Put out the word in lock up that they get paid in DC, but live in still segregated communities elsewhere.
Man, the sense of entitlement some of these posters have is un(u no what)believable. The lack of insight about the inherent "fear", ergo subsconscious hatred of the Black man is palpable and that is only ONE of the ill effects slavery had on ole massa's descendants.
10:35 pm
****** EDITED BECAUSE I DID NOT COMPLETE NAME BEFORE PRESSINGIN THE SEND BUTTON. IT ONLY PUT HALF MY SCREEN NAME IN******
Who would have guessed the race card would be pulled here? Get a life and get your head out of the pre 1960's dude. You may hate people for their color but I can assure you I do not. Be my guest and live your life angry and judgmental. I will continue to live mine looking at people as people and not colors. Just so you know, I defend the rights given to me by those who have died to make sure I have them. If you chose to let people walk on your Constitutional rights so be it. I will not stand by and let it happen to mine. I don't care what color the person skin is attempting to do it.
10:36 pm
seDCdude are you bring serious right now? Why don't you go back to school and learn to spell and not be so ghetto! How much did you get paid to write that?
10:40 pm
Re: #29: Of course, that is IF they try to stage another walk-out on their Chief and our Mayor.
10:45 pm
really? He gets about 180k from the citizens...ghost writer.
10:46 pm
Now you're showing your true colors h.a.d. Couldn't help yourself. One city baby.
10:57 pm
@th: Ain't no shame in my game, dude. If speaking the Truth that hurts about inherent racism is true colors, Yeah, One City run by another Black Man that some people are trying to lynch in order to "take back the city." Why is it that African Americans are "showing true colors" when revealing a truism? Is it because it hurts?
11:14 pm
you talking about fenty? one city already defeated him with his subliminal race based campaign. eg Peebs/Pringle 100k mailer.
And "some people trying to lynch"? In your mind, that's a truism re Gray/Ellerbee? PLEEEZE. You just joined Justice Clarence Thomas' world.
White, black, asian, latino, gay, straight, christian, jewish, muslim. Doesn't matter to me. But these are the only things that matter to far too many people these days.
11:24 pm
Lanier should "put them in the DC cell block. see how tough they'd be in there. Put out the word in lockup..."
You expect to be taken seriously after posting that kind of simpleminded hatred?
12:53 am
@ really
your mother is ghetto and I'm quite sure my GHETTO will trump your "fascade" any day!
HOLDAICE
man that truth you type is killN em!
I love INTELLIGENT/COMMON SENSE!
1:12 am
The implementation of that NEW work schedule for DCFD will almost guarantee the ushering out the same way Fenty and Thompson and Rubin ushered in these OPPORTUNISTS!
So of course there is a healthy disdain for Chief Ellerbe who's primary goal isan fiscal responsibility as it relates to the Dept.
1:19 am
Here's some truth for you. In 2011, four DCFD Firemen almost died in the line of duty for our great citizens. 2 White, 1 Black, and 1 Latino were burned while sticking to their sworn oaths to save lives and protect property. Ellerbe visited the members for a total of 20 minutes and then went on vacation to Peurto Rico, but not before verbally berating them for making him push his vacation back.
Ellerbe does not care about his members. Ask the wives of those four fireman how many times Ellerbe reached out to them. GO AHEAD I DARE YOU.
2:14 am
Holdadice&seDCdude: Out of curiosity, what do you do? It's apparent that you're not smart enough to be a fireman, nor understand the hiring process of such a job. The fact that you're stating to run out all of the firemen in the city that aren't residents confirms that you'd rather have no firemen at all, and in fact proves that you're an idiot. The hiring process is open to all races/creeds/sexual preferences...in fact, you get "bonus" points for being a minority and living in the District, and "double bonus points" if you're among both. So... how do I put this eloquently? I can't, so here it is. Have the citizens that you're holding up on a soap box put down their "Thug Passion" and .22's or .9MM's and pick up a book. The fact that more citizens (not just black citizens) aren't DC FireFighters (not FEMS) is strictly the fault of the dummy taking the test and failing it. This issue has nothing to do with race at all, just the short comings of stupid people. The fact that you and seDCdude took this as far as you have prove that you're not as intelligent or even the wise superior beings that you both believe yourselves to be. In fact, since you're so obviously not firemen at all, what is your business in this matter at all? You're taking the side of a racist man who was hired to lead a department of men who have taken a sworn oath to protect all of you, whether you deserve it or not, and wouldn't think twice about laying their life on the line for you. How about you get off of the computer, pick up a book and learn something before you come on here and spew forth the diarrhea that you're tainting this discussion with. Since you both are so blinded by stupidity, or enjoying your time in the town of Oblivion, I'm going to spell this out for you (kinda like on Sesame Street) so that you can understand. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT COLOR KENNETH ELLERBE IS. HE IS INSUBORDINATE IN HIS JOB AS A LEADER. HE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY ASHAMED OF HIMSELF FOR ALL THE BAD THINGS HE HAS BROUGHT UPON THE DEPARTMENT THAT GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FIREMAN HE WISHES TO NO LONGER ALLOW ANY OTHER FIREMAN TO BE. THAT'S WHAT MATTERS!!! WHO HE IS, WHAT HE STANDS FOR, WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR/ TO THE DCFD IS WHAT IS ON TRIAL HERE, NOT HIS SKIN COLOR. GROW THE F*CK UP AND JOIN THE GROWN UP CONVERSATION HERE, OR BE SMART AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
7:09 am
Here's what they think about you, from http://www.thewatchdesk.com:
"The Emancipation Proclomation was signed in 1863, cmon African American people, stop acting like the country owes you something. If you want a better job and a better life, then create one for yourself and stop looking for a f*cking handout!"
7:22 am
All this over a logo? What am I missing here?
7:31 am
@ALL Unenlightened who believe themselves entitled:
Don't have time to deal with you clowns this morning.
But I will address your inane comments later tonight.
I respect and admire all of our dedicated firefighters, police officers and military. It would seem some of you have forgotten that much of the very infrastructure of this great nation was built on the backs of free black labor. Our ancestors were smart enough to do the work, but not smart enough to get paid for it because much of the landed gentry thought THEY WERE SUPERIOR TO THE HUMAN SLAVES.
THAT MY UNENLIGHTENED 'FRIENDS' IS A FACT. AND I'LL TELL YOU MORE WHEN I FIND THE TIME AFTER TUTORING SOME OF THE CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS WEREN'T FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET AN EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY ARE FROM FAMILIES WHOSE ANCESTORS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO READ/WRITE FOR ALMOST 300 VERY LONG YEARS.
8:51 am
When are people going to realize that there is much more to this than a logo......I'm a firefighter here in DC and I am more upset that the real message is getting lost here. The claims that this is about white firefighters not liking a black fire chief are downright outrageous. The facts are simple the rank and file are protesting this administration for more reasons than just a logo, I will go ahead and list just a few to help clear the air.
1. The firefighters have not had a contract since 2007, when the last one expired. Hence no raises,and rising health care costs have the firefighters making les money every year.
2. The current Chief has changed the uniform policy five times in one year, every change requires the firefighter to spend his/her own money to purchase/maintain uniforms.
3. The Current Chief has placed dangerous policies in effect i.e., "soft posting" firefighters and apparatus in high crime areas to deture crime....what's next MPD teaching fire prevention classes?
4.The current Chief wants to change the current work hours and eliminate 25% of the workforce. The current 24/72 schedule has been scientifically proven time and time again to be the best for firefighters and the work we do.
5. Training, or i should say the lack there of, Very little time if any is allotted for company's to get to the training school to hone our firefighting skills or develop and practice new techniques to put fires out faster and eliminate danger to the citizens.
6. The Apparatus fleet is in deplorable condition many pieces are out of service, there are no reserve pieces available and minor issues are not taken care of early and therefore become major problems......but they all have been placed out of service so a mechanic could scrape off the old patch and stick on the new one!
The list goes on and on but I think that is enough food for thought for now. I hope this will show that there are legitimate problems that exist here and it's not about simply "a patch" and is defiantly has nothing to do with race!!!
9:11 am
I hope that the fire chief did tell his men? not to act up at the mayor's speech.
Let me be real here for a minute, the fire chief is Black and the Mayor is Black, and many of the fire fighters that I saw on my TV set were White. And---we all know that that issue has not been resolved yet.
9:47 am
Unfotunately, Chief Ellerbe is behaving a lot like Chief Rubin! Chief Rubin disciplined and fired people who disagreed with him. Chief Ellerbe is heading down that road too. I don't know what happens to the guys who get to be fire chief. It all goes to their heads and they think they are demi-gods, or something.
9:49 am
I'm still confused. The article is about the chief apparently feeling it necessary to tell his employees to NOT act like a**es and that has absolutely Z E R O to do with your first amendment rights...
9:51 am
In reading alot of these post, its amazing beside the hate only a few are addressing the fact that they don't want to change, its all blame the Chief its as though the residents of DC force you to be a fire fighter, granted I have all of the respect for the job being done however, the bottom line the majority of the fire fighters are not DC residents in which a change in schedule would affect their commute, a large percentage have adjusted their life style to the previously guarnteed overtime. Those who are claiming the Chief will force a lot of Fire Fighters to leave the Dept. is a farce, if the other jurisdiction paid as much as DC, they would have been gone. Quite your bitching and moaning ,face reality, sometime changes hurt however as a DC tax payer, I would like to see some saving and if all else fail GTFO, I don't think the job will fail due to the lack of applicants!!
10:02 am
You guys pay for your uniforms? Those blue ones or all of them? What about the yellow water gear you wear and the other equipment?
10:13 am
Members of the DCFD, district citizens or any other civilian for that matter are afforded the right to free speech and protest if they see fit. Free speech and protest are not automatically racism just because the leader may be one race or another. If a leader is doing a poor job of leading or managing those under his command and it is costing the city monies that could be allocated more efficiently and prudently then the public should know about it.
What is unfair is to call a peaceful protest a few weeks ago the "most blatant, ignorant and racist public display of disrespect I have ever seen." The DCFD Communications DIRECTOR posts this on his facebook/twitter following the walkout of 150 members at the Administrator's State of the Department speech. The DCFD members sat quietly through 3 speeches on the state of the department and THEN walked out of the address. Nobody interrupted, nobody stopped the speeches and nobody acted ignorantly. You can expect the same today.
Just to set the record straight, the members are not nearly as up in arms about a patch change, uniform change or morale decrease as they are about the Administrator's plan to cut the DCFD's numbers by 25% by transitioning to the new 3-3-3 schedule. We can deal with being beat up, sleep deprived and ruled by a dictator. What we can't deal with is hurting the citizens and visitors whom we are sworn to protect. This new schedule WILL have a direct impact on the service provided to the citizens. The Administrator has said in the past that having so many DCFD members living outside the city is a Homeland Security threat due to the ability to recall those members in a large-scale event. How does eliminating 1/3 of your available off-duty members solve this problem?
Members of the DCFD should not be nearly as worried about these issues as the citizens and visitors of the District of Columbia. If you love your city and want to know more about the details of the administrator's proposals please ask one of the respectful, educated and diverse members of the DCFD tonight at 6th and I St. NW.
10:26 am
@NE John, We are issued the protective firefighting gear and other protective gear for performing specific tasks, our station wear that is issued includes uniform pants and button down uniform shirts. All other uniform items such as Tee shirts, jackets,sweatshirts, hats, shoes/ boots and winter gloves are all purchased at the firefighters expense. The 5 uniform changes this year have caused the firefighters to spend an exorbanant amount of money on uniform items.
@Ward-8 Your right you will get pleanty of applicants and there will always be bodies in the seats of the fire apparatus, the problem you don't realize is the quality of the firefighters you will have in those seats. I'm not sure if your aware of the process that one goes through to become a DC Firefighter it all starts with a written test, and applicants get hired based on the test scores. Its quite simple the best and brightest get hired, and they are then subjected to a riggorous schooling and testing process in the training academy, If they pass they become firefighters. You can force out all the out of state firefighters,save yourself a few tax dollars, and then what will you be left with.....I'l tell you what, a whole FEMS department filled will 2nd best firefighters who might be able to help you in your greatest moment of need. I don't know about you but thats not good enough for me!!
10:39 am
I can honestly state that having met the chief for the first time last month, he did not leave a favorable impression. He misused his invitation to a community meeting to throw his rank and file under the bus with ocassional snide comments. When he completely blew off a safety question, I was done listening, and not interested in him politicizing his personal agenda, particularly his defense of the logo change. I'm an African American, and aware of and affected by the racial divide in this city, but IMHO, this issue is not a racially motivated one.
11:13 am
So before we going labeling everyone that disagrees with how things are run as being a rasicst we need to step back and look at the details since emotional charged statement are not a means to further discourse they are said to create a frame with which to paint a new unrelated issue with some thing we all know.
It should be noted that the brother of the man killed Reporter Rosenbaum; And, thus responsible for the law suit against the District to change how the District Fire and EMS is handled -- has weighted in and said that the proposed plan is a very bad idea. http://wapo.st/xWB1gu
Having dealt with the District on emergency related contracts, exercise and disasters and since 911 (even served on the Gray transition subcommittee for emergency response) I don't feel safe and that means non emergency trained citizens shouldn't Either and this about leadership not patches, schel
Correct me if Im wrong disasters, fires and emergencies dont care what color you are and the Fighter Fighters run in the opposite direction of everyone else and many of them have been doing it for years and some generations and I didn't noticing anyone complaining about race until this new Chief came on.
Also if we are going to ask for every Fire Figther to live in the District then every agency employee needs to be ready to move into the District and every political appointee and agency head better already be here.
11:18 am
Your free speach is out the window when you are at work. When you are on the clock, your speech and dress better reflect the agency's thoughts NOT YOUR OWN. If you don't like it and feel so strongly about it.... You are FREE to RESIGN!
You DCFD are becoming an embarrassment now both to your agency AND this city, and that's when you begin to jeprodize your employment. While you are crying about you ammendment rights you need to read your Govt employee handbook and find out what is expected of an employee.
Damn near every Govt employee in DC is working under a contract that expired years ago.... What makes you think you can be disrespectful to the person the Citizens that you SERVE elected to represent them? Who the /(&$ do you think you are?
As for your commute, during a real 40 hr work week, that is a personal decision you have to make just like every one else, to work or not to work. You OBVIOUSLY are getting SOME enjoyment from your job because even though you live two hours away, you CHOSE DCFD to be your employer. Now you can decide to change that at any time, but while you are here, I, as a DC Citizen expect you to respect me, my visitor AND my elected officials.
11:27 am
Regarding #42's comment: Applicants get bonus points for being a D.C. resident. There are no points for being a minority. The recruitment problem is systemic. Applications for the entry test (which is given only every few years) are accepted for only a few days. An applicant has to know when that is happening and be ready to stand in line for a long time to get on the list to take the test. Applicants with friends and relatives inside the Department know about the dates because they learn from their contacts. Since firefighting has been mainly white in continues to be mainly white, until the process is changed. But firefighters don't like change. I think recruitment of city residents and minoriites (not necessaryily the same) would be better if the test was given on a regular basis (say monthly) so that people who don't have contacts within the Department get a chance.
11:54 am
@taaat the issue is he's trying to deny our off duty right to the first amendment. Which you would know if you actually read the article.
12:03 pm
....and with Taaaat, I feel I can rest my case!
12:06 pm
These anti CHIEF rants are filled with the same selective amnesia, biased opinions, LIES, "dressed up" excuses as to why their baltant disrespect of the FIRE CHIEF resonates with the like of the "usual suspects" round' here who are cold shameless in their defense political views.
The doom and gloom you paint can so easily be debunked and that contract issue was certainly active during Rubin's tenure and none of you "attempted" the level of disrespect shown to chief Ellerbe...
1:06 pm
@Brokenhearted, what about telling you not to show out at the SOTD is an infringement upon your first amendment rights?
You have the "right" to say whatever you want. You do NOT have the right to experience no recourse for exercising it.
I have the "right" to get in a meeting and turn my back towards my boss. He also has the right to fire me.
1:41 pm
DCFD can’t catch a break. When we thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did….
Got rid of one racist DC Fire Chief with Antisocial personality disorder. (ASPD) is described by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV-TR), as an Axis II personality disorder characterized by "...a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. AND now we have another racist Chief that suffers from (ASPD). Ellerbe is the worse. At least Rubin looked out for the White boys and threw a select group of Blacks a few bones. Ellerbe is plain destructive; he’s destroying the entire DCFD. His small traveling circus of Black clowns is too stupid to know the difference. The real is every Black DC Fighter knew Ellerbe was “going to be on get back” for the many years Blacks suffered at the hands of racist White leadership in DCFD. But, no one expected this Hostile Type Sociopath “A hostile sociopath is an angry, resentful, and aggressive person that purposefully rejects the social norms and mores of society and displays antisocial and traditional psychopathic traits as a result of their hostile beliefs,” would turn on Blacks and certainly not (less than one year) this quick. Well, he has and it’s only going to get worse. The good news is people like Ellerbe and his brain dead brother normally self-destruct when given the power to do so. For the good ole boys that means he’ll hang himself soon….! For the “never been and never will be black progressives” AKA progressive Black Fire Fighters, this means continue doing nothing and the buffoon will bamboozle himself soon.
Ellerbe will soon be another failed Gray appointee…. So do us all a favor Ellerbe and make your short (one term) stay sweet.
PS: DCFD, fret not, for Ellerbe will bring the true, honest, and fair men and women of DCFD together against him before he succeeds at launching the DCFD into a RACE WAR.
Ellerbe, we are ALL on to you. Your tricks (divide and conquer) are old satan. Your little games failed at every level (Sgt, Lt, Capt, BFC, DFC, XO) and you’re now failing as FC…. You are a failure and have been your entire life: you know it and soon the world (www.) will know it…..
Smile kenzin AKA Loserbe “for only you know why you’re smiling.”
1:48 pm
Click my name or go to this link to contact ACLU of Washington DC:
http://www.aclu.org/affiliate/washington-dc
Civil rights lawyers will recognize immediately that DCFD executives just committed constitutional tort. Either individually or in conspiracy (agreement) they violated first amendment rights of public employees. They threatened retaliation for free expression of opinion in public event. They demanded political support for elected official as condition of retaining public job or avoiding adverse action. Open & shut case of civil rights violation. If DCFD officers can find evidence the threats were made according to city policy or Mayor's order they can sue for damages under Supreme Court case called "Monnell."
1:53 pm
SEis4Me @60 is just flat wrong on the law. First amendment DOES protect even public employees for expressing opinion freely at public event. They are not engaged in performing public duties when attending public event.
DC community naturally has trouble accepting this after watching repression of OccupyDC, but first amendment is VERY powerful. DCFD officers who are threatened with retaliation have open & shut claim for violation civil rights.
2:40 pm
seDCdude,
Why don't you address the issues instead of tiring people with your one and only line of thought....race? Nothing is about race until you and a couple others show up with a boulder on your shoulder that you don't know how to get rid of and you turn to race because you have no answers to any of the problems the DCFD has because of Ellerbe.
Ellerbe would have been respected had he at least tried to earn it instead of returning with a vendetta and lies. This entire situation of forbidding guys to show up tonight and then denying he did it is a lie. Don't you get it - if he lies to anyone at all, he will lie to you as well, eventually.
And you are wrong. The issue of a shift change was not active during the Rubin administration contract negotiations and when it was ever mentioned in any situation, the top brass refused to entertain the idea. When Rubin changed the patch he allowed us to replace the old ones as we needed to buy new shirts. And your buddy Ellerbe lied when he commented online that the 24 hr shift change was sunsetted after 3 years according to the Hammon v. Barry case. Go read it.
Take the race crap and shove it and address the real issues. You can't or won't and you and the few others will continue, here and elsewhere, your wolf-calls of racism.
2:48 pm
Any firefighters that shows their ass during the Mayor's address should be fired to provide space for a more professional public servant who needs a job. You have a first amendment right to speak your mind but your employer also has a right to fire you.
3:01 pm
@DCDem
Don't you read the comments before you? The commentor with the ACLU link just explained the law - you CANNOT be fired for speaking your mind off-duty. What about the first amendment don't you get?
3:10 pm
In a radio address made during his final evening in India, Dr Martin Luther King Jr. reflected, "Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity. In a real sense, Mahatma Gandhi embodied in his life certain universal principles that are inherent in the moral structure of the universe, and these principles are as inescapable as the law of gravitation."
3:43 pm
Insubordination should never be rewarded. Ask any successful businessman.
3:49 pm
Ellerbe SUCKS.....
4:09 pm
@DCDem
You really are showing your lack of intellect. There is NO insubordination in lawful, off-duty actions. Mr. Ellerbe cannot dictate to us, or you, what you can or cannot do off-duty and just because he tries does not make us have to abide by his unlawful order. The US Constitution protects us from tyranny such as you suggest. We have the right to disagree with our political leaders, in public, and in private. You are one of the duped in America.
4:14 pm
D.C. Firefighters bitched and moaned when Rubin was here and now they are bitching now that Ellerbe is here. What you do off duty is your business. However, if you disgrace professional firefighters with insubordination while on the job, yes, you should be fired.
4:17 pm
DCDem
While on-duty, not "on the job."
4:17 pm
@ DCFD
Keep posting, you reveal true shit with each word you type trying to blast Chief Ellerbe!
4:35 pm
Exactly at DCdem
What you have are bleeding heart racist red necks posing as firefighters.....DCFD's last post speaks volumes to that guilty conscious held by some of em'....
Most of them are aware at the discrepancies in charges dealt out under Rubin to BLACK firefighters and all the other gross negligence under THAT regime, but because Chief Ellerbe threatens their comfort zone with proposed and active "changes" they wanna cry like bitches,
It was all good when Hurlehey's gump ass and flynn and a few straight racists were pushN charges like no tomorrow...
Suck it up or roll out, that simple!
4:44 pm
Oh I love reading the comments section of local the media outlets. It gives me a insight to what my co workers really think. The funny thing is all the cries of the 1st amendment, but no one wants to attach there name to there quote. The fear mongering (everybody is going to die now), that's old school scare tactics. I wonder where they picked that up from? This job has been divided along racial lines before Ellerbe came back, I guess some people have had their heads buried in the sand the last four years. Don't believe the rhetoric we are all not in this together.
4:53 pm
Hello FireDep't idiots, an "off duty" military commander had tough shyt to say about the President of the United States. He was relieved of his duties and the issue of "free speech" never entered the discussion.
To say that you can do or say whatever you want (while "off duty) and not face swift sanctions is a pipe dream.
Is this is your understanding of the "law" then maybe DCFD needs to seek new recruits anyway.
5:21 pm
I have heard one legitimate gripe from public servants in the District this year, thus far. That being the reduction in salary due to four imposed furlough days last year based upon the typical piss poor fiscal forecast of the city's CFO that under-reported revenue by 240 million dollars, per actual findings that came out this year. An entire District workforce was financially impacted by the non-counting CFO. Some were even terminated as a result of this under reporting.
You will never satisfy completely unionized workers and the interests of their management. There must be a balance. The described insubordination of the firefighters isn't something I'm seeing being tolerated in any other major city in the nation.
7:06 pm
Remember Susan Ellerbie? She was awesome
8:27 pm
I say let Firefighters do it...........it will show their true colors.
8:28 pm
Correction.....I say let the Firefighters do it..............it will show their true colors.
10:25 pm
@SE: We have already seen that group of firefighters' true colors...and they are UGLY.
12:24 am
Funny how all of the firefighters that showed up to protest (about 50 or so) were all white. I'm not making it a race issue but you all keep saying it isn't and your whole dept feels the way you do but I saw it with my own eyes. So are you telling me that it just so happens that a majority of your dept is white? And if so its because no other race has ever been interested in a firefighter job? And those that were just weren't qualified for the job? However you spin it... It's Not a good look... Just my observation.
3:58 am
In a radio address made during his final evening in India, Dr Martin Luther King Jr. reflected, "Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity. In a real sense, Mahatma Gandhi embodied in his life certain universal principles that are inherent in the moral structure of the universe, and these principles are as inescapable as the law of gravitation."
9:55 am
Bob Bob just in case you got lost in la la land, not all DC Residents are dumb or unable to qualify to be a fireman if they chose,As a life long DC resident my children all boys by the way graduated from DC Public schools with honor, graduated from college on the Dean list the same as the children of a number of my DC friends,all of whom could have easly qualified to be a Fireman however, they chose other employment and are employed in other Goverment and Private Industry based on compective placement. The bottom line all of the arguments are petty Bull Shit in order to maintain the status quo. Changes hurt when a warp mind is resistance to such change!!
2:37 pm
I will say this to the Chief Ellerbe. He must get control of his workforce. There's simply too much public disrespect been shown to him. Whether some of the firefighters like it or not, he is the Chief. The Chief must at some point flex his power and influence. Any CEO of any business or organization will tell you that when you lose the respect of your workers, you can pack your things and leave. The issues that some of the firefighters have with their boss are the same issues that most people have with their bosses. But, most people are not going to publicly disrespect their bosses out of fear. The Chief must put his foot down and reclaim the respect of his workforce. Usually, such respect is often given out of loyalty or fear. Chief Ellerbe must demand the respect of his workforce. And those who wont comply should be dealt with swiftly!
8:30 pm
@Tony - are you and ellerbe like the rest of his ghost writers on these comment sections? Demand respect? You are a fool.
The first amendment applies ONLY TO ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT which would interfere with freedom of speech, religion, assembly...Private corporations can and do engage in activity that would otherwise violate the first amendment.
After you take the time to read the Constitution, ask someone to explain it to you because you and a few others on here have no clue what you are talking about.
10:57 pm
We need new firefighters. Those who understand the concept "respect for authority". What is displayed by them on this blog is an affront to the citizens of the District of Columbia. Blacks bitched about Rubin, whites bitch about Ellerby. Shut the hell up, do your job, or hit the fuckin' bricks!
1:21 am
@ DCfriedRetired&TIRED
only fool in thread is your clown ass along with those who align with your perturbed views............
Funny that this is the new deal with racists, to pull out Constitution and Amendment references to justify your stupidity...dumbass!