Firefighting & Rescue Social / Professional Network
Be Honest; Call It Bureaucratic Bulls**t!
I will provide the pertinent links at the end of this blog. But first…the blog.
On February 9, 2007, a terrible tragedy occurred in Baltimore, MD.
Fire Cadet Racheal Wilson died during a live burn training exercise at an abandoned row house. Her death lit up the fire service discussion boards across this country over a multiplex of issues. The incident brought swift and sweeping changes within the Baltimore City Fire Department; most notably the removal of the Director of Training and the resignation of Chief William Goodwin.
Despite our opinions for some of the many issues involved in this tragedy, it cannot be refuted or disputed that Fire Cadet, Firefighter Apprentice, Firefighter Candidate, Firefighter Trainee, Probationary Firefighter* Racheal Wilson was employed by the City of Baltimore and more precisely, by the Baltimore City Fire Department at the time of her death.
*(There was some confusion over the proper terminology with regards to a firefighter in the process of completing their training)
Who can argue that Cadet Wilson was not an employee of the fire department? It would seem pretty obvious. The NIOSH LODD report (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200709.html ) states in its opening sentence, On February 9, 2007, a 29-year-old female, career probationary firefighter died…
Pretty specific, wouldn’t you say? So; what could be the issue?
Fire Cadet Wilson was at work on February 9, 2007, was involved in a training exercise as part of her final phase of training, died while training at work for her employer and at the time of her death, engaged in tasks that were required as part of her job as an employee of the Baltimore City Fire Department for the City of Baltimore.
Therefore, under the Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) program, Fire Cadet Wilson’s surviving family members-in this case, her two children-should receive a lump sum pay out of PSOBs in the amount of $295,194.
Nope!
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), at least for the moment, is DENYING THIS CLAIM submitted on behalf of the children by their father.
The reason (because there is ALWAYS a reason)?
According to sources, it is because the Baltimore City Fire Department failed to submit paperwork establishing her eligibility for the funds.
WTF? (This means, “What did I just read/hear”)
Now; I have two questions to ask: 1) WHERE IS THE NATIONAL OUTRAGE OVER THIS BUREAUCRATIC NONSENSE? And 2) Why wouldn’t the application for PSOBs be included in everyone’s insurance packets, post employment paperwork or beneficiary designation documents, as part of their Human Resources employee management tools?
It is strange that we will bust our asses to get the all-important exit interview from some bottom-feeding under-achiever, but we can’t insure that death benefits are properly AND promptly paid? (Hey; HR gurus…write PPP on your whiteboards. If you can remember what SHRM means, you should be able to decipher Properly Promptly Paid death benefits.)
More on the outrage.
Were it not for our good friends at www.firefighterclosecalls.com, www.firefighternation.com and our top bloggers at www.fireemsblogs.com, this story would be nothing more than a gnat on the wall.
Local coverage in the Baltimore area indicates that everyone involved wants this fixed post haste! It’s been over two weeks ago that the story broke and I hope that they don’t have to follow a formal appeals process.
I would think that, if the original application was missing a document, then the caveat should be to provide the document and release the benefits.
But, I have to wonder out loud to whether bureaucracy can be so easily pushed aside and the moral/ethical conclusion be drawn and benefits paid!
When people close to this injustice are telling the media that they will do whatever they need to do to fix this and it is still left undone, one also has to wonder if we are too spellbound by the media circus surrounding the trial of a mayor and her gift cards to see that our justice is served for Racheal Wilson’s children.
So; get the PSOB money into a trust for the two children of Fire Cadet Racheal Wilson.
Let the City of Baltimore get through its most recent governmental guffaws.
Let the Baltimore City Fire Department continue to strengthen their resolve to meet their challenges and to fulfill their mission to their department, their city and their citizens.
Resolve the PSOB issue NOW, so that Racheal Wilson can rest in peace and her children can live the rest of their lives in peace.
To FIREFIGHTER Racheal Wilson...
The dead have peace, but the living weep.
~Samuel Hoffenstein
Here are the links that I promised:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.wilson06n...
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-wilson0210,0,1969483....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-wilsonside0210,0,7808...
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200709.html
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/baptism-by-fire-or-...
The article is protected by federal copyright law under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella. It is written and submitted by Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason. This article or any other article submitted under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella cannot be reproduced in ANY form without the expressed, written permission of the author. Violations are punishable by applicable laws.
Please visit: www.chiefreasonart.com
,
On February 9, 2007, a terrible tragedy occurred in Baltimore, MD.
Fire Cadet Racheal Wilson died during a live burn training exercise at an abandoned row house. Her death lit up the fire service discussion boards across this country over a multiplex of issues. The incident brought swift and sweeping changes within the Baltimore City Fire Department; most notably the removal of the Director of Training and the resignation of Chief William Goodwin.
Despite our opinions for some of the many issues involved in this tragedy, it cannot be refuted or disputed that Fire Cadet, Firefighter Apprentice, Firefighter Candidate, Firefighter Trainee, Probationary Firefighter* Racheal Wilson was employed by the City of Baltimore and more precisely, by the Baltimore City Fire Department at the time of her death.
*(There was some confusion over the proper terminology with regards to a firefighter in the process of completing their training)
Who can argue that Cadet Wilson was not an employee of the fire department? It would seem pretty obvious. The NIOSH LODD report (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200709.html ) states in its opening sentence, On February 9, 2007, a 29-year-old female, career probationary firefighter died…
Pretty specific, wouldn’t you say? So; what could be the issue?
Fire Cadet Wilson was at work on February 9, 2007, was involved in a training exercise as part of her final phase of training, died while training at work for her employer and at the time of her death, engaged in tasks that were required as part of her job as an employee of the Baltimore City Fire Department for the City of Baltimore.
Therefore, under the Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) program, Fire Cadet Wilson’s surviving family members-in this case, her two children-should receive a lump sum pay out of PSOBs in the amount of $295,194.
Nope!
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), at least for the moment, is DENYING THIS CLAIM submitted on behalf of the children by their father.
The reason (because there is ALWAYS a reason)?
According to sources, it is because the Baltimore City Fire Department failed to submit paperwork establishing her eligibility for the funds.
WTF? (This means, “What did I just read/hear”)
Now; I have two questions to ask: 1) WHERE IS THE NATIONAL OUTRAGE OVER THIS BUREAUCRATIC NONSENSE? And 2) Why wouldn’t the application for PSOBs be included in everyone’s insurance packets, post employment paperwork or beneficiary designation documents, as part of their Human Resources employee management tools?
It is strange that we will bust our asses to get the all-important exit interview from some bottom-feeding under-achiever, but we can’t insure that death benefits are properly AND promptly paid? (Hey; HR gurus…write PPP on your whiteboards. If you can remember what SHRM means, you should be able to decipher Properly Promptly Paid death benefits.)
More on the outrage.
Were it not for our good friends at www.firefighterclosecalls.com, www.firefighternation.com and our top bloggers at www.fireemsblogs.com, this story would be nothing more than a gnat on the wall.
Local coverage in the Baltimore area indicates that everyone involved wants this fixed post haste! It’s been over two weeks ago that the story broke and I hope that they don’t have to follow a formal appeals process.
I would think that, if the original application was missing a document, then the caveat should be to provide the document and release the benefits.
But, I have to wonder out loud to whether bureaucracy can be so easily pushed aside and the moral/ethical conclusion be drawn and benefits paid!
When people close to this injustice are telling the media that they will do whatever they need to do to fix this and it is still left undone, one also has to wonder if we are too spellbound by the media circus surrounding the trial of a mayor and her gift cards to see that our justice is served for Racheal Wilson’s children.
So; get the PSOB money into a trust for the two children of Fire Cadet Racheal Wilson.
Let the City of Baltimore get through its most recent governmental guffaws.
Let the Baltimore City Fire Department continue to strengthen their resolve to meet their challenges and to fulfill their mission to their department, their city and their citizens.
Resolve the PSOB issue NOW, so that Racheal Wilson can rest in peace and her children can live the rest of their lives in peace.
To FIREFIGHTER Racheal Wilson...
The dead have peace, but the living weep.
~Samuel Hoffenstein
Here are the links that I promised:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.wilson06n...
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.ci....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-wilson0210,0,1969483....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-wilsonside0210,0,7808...
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200709.html
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/baptism-by-fire-or-...
The article is protected by federal copyright law under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella. It is written and submitted by Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason. This article or any other article submitted under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella cannot be reproduced in ANY form without the expressed, written permission of the author. Violations are punishable by applicable laws.
Please visit: www.chiefreasonart.com
,
Tags: baltimore, benefits, death, denied, lodd, niosh, psob, racheal, training, wilson
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Comment by FireDaily.com on November 28, 2009 at 8:12pm -
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Comment by Chief Mike France on November 20, 2009 at 2:13pm - Government at is best
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Comment by Oldman on November 19, 2009 at 9:19am - Personally, I believe the DOJ should have nothing to do with this program. They have since the inception of the PSOB, done everything possible to deny benefits to fire and EMS personnel. Law enforcement doesn't seem to have this issue. Wonder why?
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Comment by Trainer on November 19, 2009 at 6:47am - Seems to me I read something a couple of years back, this may be the norm....Powers to be deny almost every claim making the families fight for the money, this type of stop-loss management needs to...well stop!
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Comment by Joey "BigShow" De Piano on November 19, 2009 at 12:23am -
The first thing that needs to be done here is MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA if the feds have to answer to the masses that check will be written before the 5 oclock news ..second when will we as a whole get pissed off enough to bring these federal a holes a massive lawsuite as a collective and MAKE them answer to it the win (if we were to) goes to the fallen fire fighters family enough said? we are sueing drug companies for making meds that can kill us..but we cower as a unit and just bitch about it...People we are the masses lets all get on board and teach these useless federal morons we are ONE.
My other wonderment..as sad as it is to see or hear..has anyone wondered why the 2 in charge were told to say goodbye?..I mean like any job (granted ours is a bit more dangerous) but in any job aren't the people in charge there to do the best they can and if something goes wrong take the beating and move on?..why would they make them leave unless maybe they knowingly hid..did ..or performed something against procedure in which case the feds auto response is ..not our problem?..its sickiening
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Comment by Rusty Mancini on November 18, 2009 at 11:17pm -
It seems to me that the [DOJ] is always trying to figure out a way to justify ones self in not wanting to release the money! Are they pissed off that some appeals were justifiable and eventually granted? There was a step by step hand book released in what to do if, God forbid you had to process a LODD.
Department leaders as well, need to read and understand the process to eliminate time delays for such families in time of need. Some probably filed it away and said, will look at it if, well you know the rest of the story! Sad.
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on November 18, 2009 at 8:30pm -
You got it, Rusty.
Simple enough except to the bureaucrats.
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Comment by Rusty Mancini on November 18, 2009 at 8:28pm
- Her job title should of been of no questions! She was employed as just. Her family should be entitle to the benefits period! How hard is it? If there was a document left out, OK summit it, and move forward.
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Comment by Ted Bownas on November 18, 2009 at 6:48pm -
I read the articles about this two weeks or so ago when it was first reported. One of them (it may be one of your links, Art) implied that not only had the BFD not properly completed some necessary paperwork to confirm Cadet Wilson's eligibility, but when notified of the discrepancy, they had failed a SECOND time to submit the missing information. Later on, Chief James Clack of the BFD defended the department, alleging that the DOJ had not responded to their requests to clarify exactly WHAT was missing from the procedural paperwork.
Sounds like yet another classic finger-pointing exercise, with the family of a dead firefighter caught in the middle.
Sickening.
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Comment by Alan Shaw on November 18, 2009 at 6:34pm - If the past has taught us anything, it is that terminology is everything. I remember two cases, one involving a Junior member in PA and one involving and Exempt (We call them Veterans) Member in NY, that the nice folks at DOJ spent much time and effort fighting over the definition of Firefighter. While I do not know for sure that this was a factor in the Baltimore case, I have to wonder if the documentation of eligibility they wanted was proof that she was in fact a Firefighter? Still and all, it seems that whatever documentation is needed should be easily obtained, especially if there is no local opposition to the claim.
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