Below is a copy of further developments from today's <i>LMT</i>.<br><br>Quote:<br><p style="color:rgb(51,51,255)">MOSCOW - They denied a cover-up. They refused to call it a
screw-up, but Moscow Fire Chief Ed Button and Capt. Dan Carscallen said
Tuesday they should have taken a different tack.</p>
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,255)">"I should have called the police," Button said.</p>
<div class="encrypted-content" style="color:rgb(51,51,255)">
<p>"That's where I'm at, too," said Carscallen, who is
also a Moscow city councilor. "Otherwise, I'm not commenting because I
don't want to throw people under the bus. I guess I'm big enough to take
the bus running over me."</p>
</div>
I'm a little confused here, They should have called the MPD instead of ordering the evidence to be removed. It wasn't a coverup or screw-up, though. Huh? Sounds like something out of Orwell's <i>1984</i> -- doublespeak.<br>
<br>Some progress has been made. An admittance that the MPD should have been called, given the allegations of illegal narcotic possession and use by an emergency responder.<br><br>However, Carscalen then reveals where he still is at"<br>
<br><span style="color:rgb(51,51,255)">"It's just that somebody didn't get what she wanted,"
Carscallen said. "So she's dragging everybody else through the mud.
It's unfortunate. I care for the gal, but she's making it hard."</span><br><br>How does that fit with: <br><br><span style="color:rgb(51,51,255)">"That's where I'm at, too," said Carscallen, who is
also a Moscow city councilor. <font size="4"><b>"Otherwise, I'm not commenting</b></font> because I
don't want to throw people under the bus..."</span><br><br>More doublespeak and hypocrisy. It appears that neither Carscalen or Button have yet to understand why many are astounded, disgusted, and angry at their malfeasance, CYA actions. and blame, punish, and smear the complainants tactics.<br>
<br><b>It's true that the complainants did not get what they wanted</b>. They expected, quite reasonably, Carscalen and Button would act legally and professionally by immediately reporting to the MPD the allegations so that they could be promptly investigated, and as a result of that investigation corrective and further actions would be taken. This was not an allegation of a littering offense; it was the allegation of illegal narcotics possession and use by a paid, resident emergency responder. Instead of handling the matter legally and professionally, Button and Carscalen conspired to cause the removal and probable destruction of the evidence, and then proceeded to bully, intimidate, and vilify the complainants, who whatever their motives, raised a serious issue of public safety, public health, and possible criminal behavior.<br>
<br>I appreciate the time that Carscalen dedicates to being an EMT. It is not a pleasant undertaking to show up at scenes of chaos and carnage. Few of us could do it.<br><br>That said, I am wondering along with others, that how Button's and Carscalen's immediate response to this matter reflects on their ability to respond to emergency situations that may call for rapid clear thinking and decisive actions.<br>
<br>Instead of "We ought to have called the MPD," what we need to hear from City Councilperson Carscalen is a tenacious call for an immediate, thorough, and honest investigation of all the questions raised by this incident. That would at least demonstrate that he fully understands the seriousness of the matter, that he has abandoned the CYA and punish the whistle blowers mode, and that he is anxious for his constituents to know the truth, and to be assured once the truth is out, that comprehensive corrective actions will be taken including whatever personnel. policy, and procedural changes are indicated. Such a call would also remove the miasma of the cowardly CYA and blame the complainants operation. It would show Carscalen as a person of courage and conviction which all of us hope he is.<br>
<br>w.<br><br><br>______________________________<br>
<h1 style="font-size:24px">Moscow fire chief admits he 'should have called the police' </h1>
<p>
<strong>
By David Johnson, of the Tribune | Posted: Wednesday, May 9, 2012 12:00 am
</strong>
</p><p>MOSCOW - They denied a cover-up. They refused to call it a
screw-up, but Moscow Fire Chief Ed Button and Capt. Dan Carscallen said
Tuesday they should have taken a different tack.</p>
<p>"I should have called the police," Button said.</p>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>"That's where I'm at, too," said Carscallen, who is
also a Moscow city councilor. "Otherwise, I'm not commenting because I
don't want to throw people under the bus. I guess I'm big enough to take
the bus running over me."</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>The two reacted to allegations that they failed to
respond properly after being alerted that suspected illegal drugs and
paraphernalia had been found at Fire Station 1 in mid-February.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>Volunteer firefighters Bonnie Shambaugh and Emily
Kimberling filed complaints with Moscow's human resources director
saying suspected drugs and paraphernalia were found in another
firefighter's desk. Shambaugh's complaint alleges that Carscallen, with
Button's approval, said to get rid of the substance "like a bottle of
whiskey."</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>Button said the incident has a political edge to it,
in that the department, made up of nearly 100 volunteers and 51/2 paid
administrative positions, is like any other bureaucracy.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>"It's unfortunate that she felt she needed to take
the tact she has," Button said of Shambaugh's decision to go outside the
department.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>"It's just that somebody didn't get what she wanted,"
Carscallen said. "So she's dragging everybody else through the mud.
It's unfortunate. I care for the gal, but she's making it hard."</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>The firefighter suspected of having the drugs
underwent a drug test the following morning and came up clean, Button
said. He said there is a small photograph apparently taken with a
cellphone of the alleged illegal substance. But little or no other
physical evidence remains, he said.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>The complaint alleges the suspect firefighter said
the substance was oxycodone. No charges have been filed and as of
Tuesday, no criminal investigations had been reported by local
authorities.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>As far as he's concerned, Button said, the matter is
over, except for the publicity fallout. "It's on the Internet. It's on
all the fire department websites," he said. "It's on the blogs. The
Chicago Tribune picked it up. It's all over."</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>The Moscow Volunteer Fire Department is a nonprofit
corporation that contracts with the city of Moscow. The Moscow Rural
Fire Department is a separate entity, but also has Button as chief. The
two departments, Button said, work together seamlessly.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>Button said he was called early in the morning on
Feb. 14 by Carscallen about the alleged illegal substance. His initial
reaction. Button said, was to get it out of the station. He said he
didn't really know if it was a hazardous substance or possibly an
explosive.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>In retrospect, Button said he should have notified
the police immediately. And that's what will be done in the future. He
said that because of the department's volunteer nature, he's assumed an
almost "parental" posture when dealing with in-house politics and other
issues. But no more.</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>"It will have to be from this point on, as each event
happens, we'll just have to tighten up," he said, "take out
personalities or feelings and just go purely by the book."</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>The incident, while casting the department in a bad
public light, should not undercut the department's value to the
community, Button said. "There's always politics. But right now, the
fire department is as healthy as its ever been and we have more people
involved than ever before."</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p>---</p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p><em>Johnson may be contacted at</em></p>
</div>
<div class="encrypted-content" style>
<p><a href="mailto:djohnson@lmtribune.com">djohnson@lmtribune.com</a> or (208) 883-0564.</p>
</div>
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