[Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up

Saundra Lund v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm
Tue May 8 23:59:33 PDT 2012


Hi Donovan,

 

I think your connection with the medical field has perhaps limited your
knowledge of other aspects  J  And, I mean that in a good way!

 

For instance, and I don't know about in Idaho specifically (see IC 37-2732c)
, it's typically illegal to have narcotics that aren't in a properly labeled
container with the name of the patient (as well as the drug name & strength,
prescriber, and dispenser, etc.) and in the possession of the person for
whom it was prescribed, at least outside a medical facility.  That applies
even to health care professionals who might . . . accidentally leave the
facility with a patient's medication in his/her pocket.  As we've learned,
health care providers aren't immune to addiction and to pilfering patients'
prescriptions.

 

Besides, do you really think that if the volunteer firefighter in question
had legitimately forgotten to turn over prescription drugs for a patient
she'd transported, she wouldn't have offered that explanation rather than
flushing the stuff?  That notion that she'd not have mentioned it doesn't
pass the smell test, at least in my book.

 

How do we know the substance (assuming there was one) was oxycodone?  That's
what those who found the unlocked substance & paraphernalia report was told
to them by Ms. X, the volunteer firefighter who "owned" the items in
question.  Maybe they were lying or misunderstood, or maybe the volunteer
firefighter in question was lying or misspoke.  We'll never know because of
the . . . management decisions made by Button & Carscallen.

 

You wrote:

"Even more strange, is the claim that it was in power form. It is strange
because Oxycondone crushed will lose its chemical properties and make it
ineffective."

 

Nope, sorry - that's not correct.  It's very common for those abusing
prescription drugs - including oxycodone - to crush the pills and snort
them:

http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/oxycodone.asp

"Those who abuse the drug generally do so in three different ways: crushing
the pill into a fine powder and snorting it; chewing it; or crushing and
dissolving the tablets in water and injecting the solution. Many of these
methods are primarily used with OxyContin in order to defeat the
time-release mechanism of the drug, causing the active ingredient to take
effect almost immediately after ingestion."

 

If you talk to addicts, you'll find that snorting many prescription drugs
reportedly results in a much quicker and more intense "high" (or low) than
swallowing the pill in the provided form.  That reportedly applies to
oxycodone as well, and the odds that "use" is actually abuse skyrockets when
the drugs are found with paraphernalia like razors and straws.

 

You also wrote:

"Unless you have a drug test confirming someone was on drugs on duty, or a
written statement from two or more other firefighters on duty saying they
told their supervisor they suspected a fellow firefighter was under the
influence and they did nothing about it, you don't have anything to take
action."

 

I don't know that that's accurate.  For instance & apparently according to
the resident handbook, it's against regs to even have alcohol in the
firehouse even by those of age, let alone consume it or be under the
influence.  Do you mean to say you think that restriction isn't OK?

 

Going back to the initial article, I found this interesting:

"Button said there is no random drug testing policy within the volunteer
fire department."

 

Huh.  I'd just assumed that those entrusted with public safety, and
particularly public safety provided by taxpayer money, would be subject to
random drug tests.  That's apparently not the case with the Moscow Fire
Department.

 

Does anyone know if the same holds true for area taxpayer funded law
enforcement, other area fire departments &/or EMS providers?

 

I also found myself wondering if the volunteer firefighter alleged to be in
possession of illicit prescription drugs was one of the local volunteer
firefighters who receive tuition reimbursement grants from the Idaho
Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Association?

 

 

Saundra

Moscow, ID

 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.

~ Edmund Burke

 

 

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Donovan Arnold
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 9:23 PM
To: Art Deco; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up

 

Wayne,

 

I think they can investigate it all they want. However, it is unlikely
anyone will be able to come up with any evidence as to convict of a crime,
suspend anyone, or remove anyone because of the time and lack of evidence.

 

I don't think it can be called a cover-up unless a crime has been committed
and there was an attempt to conceal that crime. I don't think enough
evidence exists to prove their was a crime, or that there was an attempt to
conceal anything illegal.

 

Just because an EMT or paramedic has a drug locked in a box or desk, legal
or illegal, doesn't mean it is illegal for them to have it or they are
using. EMTs and paramedics frequently will take any medications or drugs
with a person they take to the ER for the doctor because it is relevant to
future treatments and possibly a cause for the patients visit to the ER. The
drugs might have been a patient's transported and locked up by the EMT or
another EMT.

 

In addition, I don't know how anyone would know that a drug was Oxycodone
just by looking at it. As Oxycodone is usually just a white oblong pill that
looks like many other medications. Even more strange, is the claim that it
was in power form. It is strange because Oxycondone crushed will lose its
chemical properties and make it ineffective. So, there is something amiss to
this story for sure. 

 

Unless you have a drug test confirming someone was on drugs on duty, or a
written statement from two or more other firefighters on duty saying they
told their supervisor they suspected a fellow firefighter was under the
influence and they did nothing about it, you don't have anything to take
action. 

 

If the suspected firefighter is a drug addict, they probably will show
positive for a drug test, or be obviously under the influence again while at
work. If they are not, then chances are they were not under the influence in
the past and nobody did anything wrong.

 

I don't know what the protocol is for the Fire Department, however, in every
health-care facility I have worked in, the protocol for a suspected care
provider on drugs is to send them to a lab immediately for drug testing and
await the results. If this isn't the policy for the Moscow Fire Dept. then
they should adopt it right away, and every supervisor should be aware of it
and be held accountable for knowing it and following it. 

 

Donovan J. Arnold

 

From: Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com>
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up

 

Donovan,

The reasons you give reinforce the need for an complete, effective, and
honest investigation.  The report indicates that the drugs were to be gotten
rid of and the MPD not informed.  This does not appear consistent with the
theory that the firefighter had licit possession of them.

Let's get the facts as far as possible at his point.  That's the MPD's duty
and job.  It was not the duty, but the opposite for the the two public
officials named in the Daily News story, Carscalen and Button to institute a
coverup.

w.

On Tue, May 8, 2012 at 4:47 PM, Donovan Arnold
<donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:

Legally prescribed medications, like the one that Mr. Fox is describing, are
pretty easy to come by for people in the medical and health care profession.
Most firefighters nowadays are also EMTs and Paramedics, which means they
are authorized to give certain medications, which means they have them on
them while at work. There are dozens of ways someone with access to
medications can get them. It is not uncommon to have scams going on in
nursing homes when nurses switch out morphine oral injections with water,
they look the same, or switch out an opioid or a narcotic with a 500 mg
acetaminophen, an uncontrolled substance, which looks the same. 

 

So, trying to track down a pill that could come from any paramedic, is very
futile and unproductive. 

 

However, I do think it is a serious offense to be stealing medications
because the person may be an addict and a danger to their patients. Also if
they are stealing medications from their patients then they are harming
their patients, which is the worst of all. They are also probably liars, to
cover their tracks, and dangerous to others as well.

 

If someone is caught with drugs, or suspected of being on drugs, the
supervisor is suppose to send them to be tested immediately, put them on
suspension until an investigation is completed, either exonerating them, or
finding them with a controlled substance. Even under the influence of a
legal substance, like alcohol, can be considered illegal for health care
professionals while on duty. Whiskey or cocaine, it doesn't matter. 

 

If a supervisor doesn't take this action, they are also guilty of
endangering their patients because they knowingly ignored a potential threat
to a person(s) in their charge.

 

But, please don't jump to conclusions, we don't have any facts. We were not
their that night. It is not always a crime for a medical/health care
professional to have medications in their possession. There are lots of
reasons why a paramedic, nurse, EMT, care provider, etc. may have legal
prescription drugs with them. And we don't know what was reported, to whom,
when and why. All this makes a big difference.  

 

Donovan J. Arnold

 

From: Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com>
To: vision2020 at moscow.com; lrozen at dnews.com 
Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up

 

Continuing my comments of yesterday:

First, some additional information for those not aware of the various
dangers and consequences of Oxycodene:

A few days ago I posted this link about babies born addicted to prescription
drugs including Oxycodene:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/28/health/drug-babies/index.html?hpt=hp_c1


Here is one on Oxycodene abuse:

http://www.novusdetox.com/oxycontin-prescription-drug-abuse.php


Here is one on the effects on the crime rate of opiods (Oxycodene is one
such synthetic narcotic):

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/24drugs.html?_r=1


It's not rocket science to understand that illegal Oxycodene use poses some
very real and serious dangers to any community, and that includes Moscow and
Latah County.  That is why I continue to be agape at the coverup of the
usage of such by a paid, firehouse resident firefighter at the MVFD where
the coverup was engineered, approved, and defended by Moscow City
Councilperson and MVFD Captain Dan Carscalen and MVFD Fire Chief Ed Button
who compared the possession of Oxycodene with possession of a bottle of
whiskey.

Firstly, possession of whiskey by a firehouse resident firefighter, who is
on call for emergencies, and who could respond to such after having taken a
few or more nips of whiskey, is hardly appropriate.

Secondly, possession and usage of Oxycodene without a valid prescription is
a state and federal crime, whereas possession of whiskey by one over
twenty-one years of age is not.  Failure to report such a crime when there
is reasonable grounds to believe that such has occurred can be charged a
obstruction of justice under federal law.

Thirdly, the effects of whiskey and Oxycodene on performance can be
catastrophic, especially Oxycodene (see previously posted side effects).  By
using Oxycodene just before responding to an emergency by a firefighter
places his/hers co-firefighters, the victims of the emergency, and the
public at risk, and the liability of allowing someone to continue duties as
an emergency responder who is known to have possessed and used Oxycodene as
a resident firefighter places Moscow and the taxpayer supported fire
district in financial jeopardy.  What will happen to the liability insurance
rates once the underwriter discovers this incident and the casual,
inappropriate response to it?

Would you want a responder to a life and death emergency in your life to be
under the influence of a narcotic?

What are the other facts we need to know about this incident?  Was it an
isolated incident?  What was the maximum number of capsules at one time at
the firehouse?  Were any sold or provided to other firefighters, and since
the MVFD and MPD work together, were any sold or provided to any member of
the MPD?  And what about the straws found?  Was there cocaine use in the
firehouse?  And, if the possessing firefighter did not have an valid
prescription, Where did the Oxycodene come from?

The last question above is especially troubling.  Illicit, addictive
narcotics are being sold in our community.  Given the facts about Oxycodene,
it is clearly a substance that the community needs to have strong vigilance
about and protection from. 

There is no getting around the fact by there behavior so far Carscalen and
Buttom have so far cost the community an opportunity to find out where the
alleged offender procured the illicit supply of Oxycodene, if no valid
prescription was issued.  Therefore, besides being guilty of covering up a
crime, possibly guilty of obstruction of justice, Carscalen and Button have
become enables of illicit narcotic possession and use.  This is not behavior
one would hope for in public officials, especially from one whose oath of
office forbids such behavior.  Winking at narcotics possession is something
should be grounds for their resignations, if they were honorable people,
that is.

I do not know what the MPD intends to do, if anything.  One would hope that
they would evince strong interest in finding the extent of what has occurred
here, and finding where the illicit narcotic came from!  This incident is an
acid test for the MPD and its leadership.  Will there be an effective,
complete, honest investigation on the behalf and for the sake of the
community, or will this incident we ignored, whitewashed, or swept under the
rugs to avoid embarrassing two public officials? 

Anybody want to place a wager?

-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)

On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 5:36 PM, Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com> wrote:

Wayne,

There is little disagreement with what you say about whitewash
investigations of local politicians, god ole boys/girls, and religious
crackpots.  One can only hope, except as noted below there is an
alternative.

Oxycontin, a synthetic narcotic, is a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
Possession of it without a valid prescription is a crime.  It is both a
state and federal crime, and depending on the circumstance may be a felony.

Besides being addictive unless used properly, here are some of the side
effects:

"Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; heartburn; lightheadedness; nausea;
stomach upset; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing;
tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue;
unusual hoarseness); bloody or black stools; confusion; dark urine;
decreased or difficult urination; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular
heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; hallucination; hearing
loss; mood or mental changes; muscle pain, weakness, or cramps; one-sided
weakness; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe dizziness, drowsiness,
headache, or lightheadedness; severe or persistent constipation, heartburn,
or stomach pain; shortness of breath; slow or shallow breathing; trouble
swallowing; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision or speech problems; vomit
that looks like coffee grounds; wheezing; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

             This is not a complete list of all side effects that may
occur." 

Here are some questions: 

Did the paid firefighter have a valid prescription? If not,despite the
judgment of Button, it is much more serious than having a bottle of whiskey.
Since empty vials were also found, there is no way of knowing how
muchOxycontin had been in possession at one time.  Was Oxycontin being sold
to other firefighters or other people?

But much more important, should a firefighter be showing up to an emergency
potentially under the influence of whiskey or Oxycontin [See above]?
Obviously someone impaired should not be allowed around an emergency
situation.  In addition, if such a individual screws up at an emergency, and
damage is done, what are the liability considerations for the city and the
fire district?

Given that the possession of Oxycontin without a valid prescription
occurred, why wasn't evidence of this immediately reported to the MPD? If
Button and Carscalen did, in fact, suggest that the evidence be gotten rid
of, was not that also a crime, let alone a cover up?  Since possession of
Oxycontin without a valid prescription is a federal crime, then federal
obstruction of justice statutes may apply to the supression/destruction of
evidence.

Now that the story is out, is the MPD going to investigate? If not, why not?
They don't need a special invitation now that the story is out.  I had hoped
that with the departure of Cameron Hershaw and Dan Weaver from the MPD and
with the appointment of David Duke as chief, that favoritism would greatly
be reduced.  IF the MPD takes no vigorous action here, then we are no better
off than we were during the Weaver/Hershaw era.

This whole episode demonstrates incredibly bad judgment of the firefighter
in possession, Button, and Carscalen. 

I do not live in the city (but I do live in the fire district), but if I did
I'd be asking that the city council ask the MPD for a complete
investigation, and if the story is as alleged, and after due process, remove
all three from their positions with the MFVD and pursue any appropriate
criminal charges..

If the two people who had the fortitude and moral compass to issue the
complaint do not get satifaction, and/or any member of the community who
feels that a whitewash is occurring, the alternative is a report to the U.S.
Attorney's Office.  Save the tape recordings!

w. 

 

On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 4:18 PM, Wayne Price <bear at moscow.com> wrote:

Wayne, 

 

WHY bother?  Have you seen or heard of the possibility of an INDEPENDENT
investigation being set up since this involves

the fire chief and a member of the city counsel? Clearly the assault
"investigation"  earlier this year sends a message to the

community that complaints are not welcome, so why bother?

 

Jefferson once said that people get the kind of government they deserve.
Since I, among others have only one recourse, the election,

that is where I will exercise my option about local issues.

 

 

Wayne

 

 

 

 

On May 7, 2012, at 3:31 PM, Art Deco wrote:

 

I won't start the comments, but there really ought to be some.



_________________________



Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up


By Brandon Macz, Daily News staff writer | Posted: Monday, May 7, 2012 1:00
am 

Moscow Fire Chief Ed Button denies a cover-up alleged by two volunteer
firefighters in a complaint filed with the city.

The complaint states that he and Fire Capt. Dan Carscallen overlooked
suspected drugs and paraphernalia in Fire Station No. 1 and ordered them
disposed of without contacting law enforcement. Button says he only ordered
them removed from the building.

Bonnie Shambaugh and Emily Kimberling state in complaints filed with city
Human Resources Director Leslie Moss that suspected drugs and paraphernalia
were found in a resident firefighter's desk Feb. 14. The drugs were
allegedly found in a ring box that also contained vials, an empty pill
capsule, razors and straws.

When they contacted Carscallen, the on-duty fire command officer that night,
Shambaugh's complaint states, Carscallen conferred with Button before
calling back.

"Carscallen called me sometime before 1:30 a.m. and told me that Button and
himself decided they were going to treat the drugs like a bottle of whiskey,
and give (the firefighter) the opportunity to get rid of it," Shambaugh
states. "I reminded him that it didn't just go against the resident
handbook, but this behavior is illegal everywhere. Carscallen then said he
thought Kimberling and I should go to (the firefighter) and tell her that
she needed to get rid of everything and this would be the end of it."

Button said in a phone interview Friday he felt the situation was handled
properly and his decision, made after being awakened at 2 a.m. was
immediate.

"Sometimes an individual will be unhappy with how things transpire, but
yeah, there was an event, and I think there was a feeling that there was a
cover-up and there was no cover-up made," he said. "... There was never any
instruction from my part to get rid of it or destroy. Anything that happened
after that was not per my instruction. They said there's something
suspicious and, I don't know, do it again, there might be something
different. My just initial reaction at that time in the morning is that I
want it out of the building."

Shambaugh states the firefighter was approached and she agreed to dispose of
the substance - the complaint alleges the firefighter said it was oxycodone
- in the bathroom and throw out the paraphernalia. However, it states,
Carscallen did not report to the station to witness this.

"I'm not sure what the proper procedures were at the time, and we'd never
dealt with something like that," Carscallen said. "I never personally saw
what they found. I called the chief and discussed with him what the options
were. It's all unfortunate that somebody thinks ... it's just an unfortunate
situation all around."

Carscallen and Button said the firefighter was drug tested the next morning
and Carscallen added the results later came back negative. Button said there
is no random drug testing policy within the volunteer fire department.

But Shambaugh and Kimberling allege they felt intimidated and threatened
during meetings they had separately with Carscallen and Button the day after
the incident. Kimberling confirmed by phone Friday she filed a complaint
with the city along with Shambaugh, but did not want to be quoted following
an interview Friday.

Shambaugh states she recorded her meeting with Button and Carscallen along
with several other exchanges with administrators that she uses in her
complaint. City attorney Randy Fife said Idaho has a one-party consent rule
for recording conversations and Shambaugh was in her legal right to make
recordings.

"Button started by saying (the meeting) was meant to provide 'rumor and
damage control not only for you (referring to me) and Emily too,' " alleges
Shambaugh. "They explained if this got into the papers it could ruin my
career opportunities."

She states she was told by Button that if Carscallen had not been on duty
that night, the police could have been contacted, and she said she thought
law enforcement should have been notified. She alleges Button told her she
could have ended up being accused of burglarizing the firefighter's room.

"Button told me, 'This could have been the end of your career before it even
got started,' " Shambaugh's complaint states.

Shambaugh states she told the two they should have tested the firefighter
immediately "because these kinds of drugs cycle through your metabolism very
quickly." But since neither Button nor Carscallen were present during the
incident, she alleges the conversation was mostly about her and Kimberling
and trying to "scare us into keeping quiet."

"Carscallen said, 'It could go from what he knows happened to the three of
you were having a coke tootin' party in the room and you know that's...'
Button interrupted and said he never thought of that and we need to 'keep it
to ourselves.' "

Button said he thinks Shambaugh and Kimberling misunderstood.

"I believe they took it out of context," he said. "I don't believe there was
any repercussions to threaten them with at all."

Carscallen said his office at the North Latah County Highway District was
used for the meeting to avoid rumors in the fire station.

"It's my office, so it's just, where was a convenient place to have it?" he
added.

Shambaugh's boyfriend and former Moscow volunteer firefighter, Benjamin
Dill, on Feb. 19 responded with her to a paramedic call at Walmart in a
department vehicle. Because Dill did not fill out a ride-along form,
Carscallen confronted Dill on the emergency loading dock of Gritman Medical
Center where Dill alleged to the Latah County Sheriff's Office Carscallen
grabbed him by his arm as he was attempting to leave.

"It seemed like Dan was being more aggressive toward this whole situation
with Ben because of the drug situation," said Shambaugh in a phone interview
Saturday.

The sheriff's office forwarded the investigative report to the county
prosecutor's office without a recommendation for charges and it was later
decided none would be filed.

"... I was upset that a situation as simple as this was handled so
dramatically," the complaint states of Carscallen's response to Dill's
actions that day, "but a situation as serious as drugs at the fire station
didn't even warrant Carscallen to come to the station and handle it
properly. A precedent has been set, as several command officers have had
their significant others and children in the command vehicles without such
paperwork. M40 (the response vehicle) is to be used for personal use, as
long as I am ready to leave those activities to respond to calls."

Carscallen said he didn't know if Shambaugh's complaint was partially out of
anger over Dill's battery allegations.

"I'm don't know if the complainant had any animosity in that complaint," he
said. "That situation (with Dill) was done. I can't even remember far back
what happened before or after."

City Supervisor Gary Riedner said because Shambaugh and Kimberling are
volunteers and not city employees, their complaints were handled as citizen
complaints and the allegations were investigated, however, the results are
confidential.

"It's a personnel matter and we dealt with it," he said, adding of the
investigation, "I'm unable able to comment on the process."

Moscow Police Chief David Duke said Friday he had not received a referral
from the city to investigate the allegations from the complaints filed by
the firefighters and Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said he also was
not aware of any investigation being conducted by the sheriff's office.

The city pays for five administrative positions within the department, which
does not include Carscallen's position.

Riedner said there have been cases in the past regarding elected officials,
such as Carscallen, who is Moscow City Council president, and perceived
conflicts with their involvement in the community and affairs related to the
city.

"I'm not going to say it happens a lot, but it happens," said Riedner. "Dan
being a part of the fire department is not a conflict."

Both Button and Carscallen said they were aware of the complaints filed
against them, however, neither had read them.

Shambaugh said since filing her complaint with the city, she has been
focused on getting through her paramedic contract.

"I'm just trying to avoid them as much as possible, but yeah, I've heard
that they've been having meetings about me," she said. "Obviously, I don't
know what that's about."

Button said neither Kimberling nor Shambaugh should be concerned about any
reprisal for their complaints. Kimberling was not asked to return to the
resident firefighter program next year.

"I feel that there wouldn't be a risk of that jeopardizing their career as
that being seen as a single issue," said Button. "A person shouldn't feel at
risk. I'm not angry about this, and I don't feel any need to retaliate."

Brandon Macz can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 238, or by email to
bmacz at dnews.com.


-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com

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-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com




-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com


=======================================================
List services made available by First Step Internet,
serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
              http://www.fsr.net <http://www.fsr.net/> 
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================




-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com


=======================================================
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serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
              http://www.fsr.net <http://www.fsr.net/> 
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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