<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>Yes. By all EFFING means, Mr. Arnold.</div><div><br></div><div>Let's turn our backs and pretend it never happened. </div><div><br></div><div>That'll keep the dog from pissing on the couch.<br><br><div>Seeya round town, Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Hansen</div><div>Moscow, Idaho</div><div><br></div><div>"If not us, who?</div><div>If not now, when?"</div><div><br></div><div>- Unknown</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> Donovan Arnold <<a href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com">donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com</a>><br><b>Date:</b> May 9, 2012 6:17:22 PDT<br><b>To:</b> Saundra Lund <<a href="mailto:v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm">v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm</a>>, "'Art Deco'" <<a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a>>, "<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a>" <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Donovan Arnold <<a href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com">donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div style="RIGHT: auto"><span style="RIGHT: auto">Saundra,</span></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><span style="RIGHT: auto">You may be right on all those points. I did mean to say that alcohol is just as <em>illegal</em> to use for a health care worker, not legal.</span></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><span style="RIGHT: auto"> I was under the impression, maybe falsely so, that they recently <span style="RIGHT: auto" id="misspell-0"><span>re-engineered</span></span> oxycotin so it could not be crushed precisely because of the snorting and abuse, and the most recently published addition of the Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference states that you cannot crush it. But, that maybe be because it destroys the extended release component which causes the entire oxycotin to be released at once which can cause overdose and immediate <span style="RIGHT: auto" id="misspell-4"><span>respiratory</span></span> failure through the <span style="RIGHT: auto" id="misspell-5"><span>suppression</span></span> of the central nervous system. Either way, highly <span style="RIGHT: auto" id="misspell-3"><span>inadvisable</span></span> to crush oxycodone without consent of the prescribing doctor.</span></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><span style="RIGHT: auto">We will never know what happened that night because of the actions or inactions taken. So it is all <span style="RIGHT: auto" id="misspell-5"><span>speculation</span></span> anyway. Hopefully all parties involved learned something and this never happens again for the safety and security of Moscow and Latah residents.</span></div>
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<div style="RIGHT: auto"><span style="RIGHT: auto">Donovan J. Arnold</span></div>
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<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 0; MARGIN: 5px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px" class="hr" contenteditable="false" readonly="true"></div><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</span></b> Saundra Lund <<a href="mailto:v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm">v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm</a>><br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</span></b> 'Donovan Arnold' <<a href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com">donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com</a>>; 'Art Deco' <<a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a>>; <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a> <br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, May 9, 2012 12:59 AM<br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</span></b> RE: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up<br></font></div><br>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Hi Donovan,</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I think your connection with the medical field has perhaps limited your knowledge of other aspects </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">J</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> And, I mean that in a <b>good</b> way!</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">For instance, and I don’t know about in Idaho specifically (see IC </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">37-2732c</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">) , it’s typically <b>illegal</b> 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.) <b>and</b> 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.</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Besides, do you really think that if the volunteer firefighter in question had <b>legitimately</b> 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.</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">How do we know the substance (assuming there was one) was oxycodone? That’s what those who found the <b>unlocked</b> 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.</span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">You wrote:</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.”</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Nope, sorry – that’s not correct. It’s <b>very common</b> for those abusing prescription drugs – including oxycodone – to crush the pills and snort them:</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><a href="http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/oxycodone.asp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/oxycodone.asp">http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/oxycodone.asp</a></a></span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt" lang="EN">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.”</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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.</span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">You also wrote:</span></div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.”</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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?</span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Going back to the initial article, I found this interesting:</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“</span><span style="COLOR: black">Button said there is no random drug testing policy within the volunteer fire department.”</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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.</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Does anyone know if the same holds true for area <b>taxpayer funded</b> law enforcement, other area fire departments &/or EMS providers?</span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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?</span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Saundra</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Moscow, ID</span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.</span></div>
<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">~ Edmund Burke</span></div>
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<div class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <a href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com">vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</a> [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Donovan Arnold<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 08, 2012 9:23 PM<br><b>To:</b> Art Deco; <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a></a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Wayne,</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Donovan J. Arnold</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Art Deco <<a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a></a>><br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a></a> <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 8, 2012 6:06 PM<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up</span><span style="COLOR: black"></span></div></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Donovan,<br><br>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.<br><br>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<i> Daily News</i> story, Carscalen and Button to institute a coverup.<br><br>w.</span></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">On Tue, May 8, 2012 at 4:47 PM, Donovan Arnold <<a href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com"><a href="mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com">donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com</a></a>> wrote:</span></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">So, trying to track down a pill that could come from any paramedic, is very futile and unproductive. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black">From:</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black"> Art Deco <<a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a></a>><br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a></a>; <a href="mailto:lrozen@dnews.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:lrozen@dnews.com"><a href="mailto:lrozen@dnews.com">lrozen@dnews.com</a></a> <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 8, 2012 4:21 PM<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up</span><span style="COLOR: black"></span></div></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Continuing my comments of yesterday:<br><br>First, some additional information for those not aware of the various dangers and consequences of Oxycodene:<br><br>A few days ago I posted this link about babies born addicted to prescription drugs including Oxycodene:<br><br><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/28/health/drug-babies/index.html?hpt=hp_c1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/28/health/drug-babies/index.html?hpt=hp_c1">http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/28/health/drug-babies/index.html?hpt=hp_c1</a></a><br><br><br>Here is one on Oxycodene abuse:<br><br><a href="http://www.novusdetox.com/oxycontin-prescription-drug-abuse.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.novusdetox.com/oxycontin-prescription-drug-abuse.php">http://www.novusdetox.com/oxycontin-prescription-drug-abuse.php</a></a><br><br><br>Here is one on the effects on the crime rate of opiods (Oxycodene is one such synthetic narcotic):<br><br><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/24drugs.html?_r=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/24drugs.html?_r=1">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/24drugs.html?_r=1</a></a><br><br><br clear="all">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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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?<br><br>Would you want a responder to a
life and death emergency in your life to be under the influence of a narcotic?<br><br>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, <b>Where did the Oxycodene come from?</b><br><br>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. <br><br>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.<br><br>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 <b>finding where the illicit narcotic came from!</b> 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? <br><br>Anybody want to place a wager?<br><br>-- <br>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 5:36 PM, Art Deco <<a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com"><a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a></a>> wrote:</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Wayne,<br><br>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.</span></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Besides being addictive unless used properly, here are some of the side effects:</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"Constipation; </span><b><span style="COLOR: red">dizziness; drowsiness;</span></b><span style="COLOR: black"> heartburn;</span><b><span style="COLOR: red"> lightheadedness;</span></b><span style="COLOR: black"> nausea; stomach upset; vomiting.</span></div></div></blockquote>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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; </span><b><span style="COLOR: red">hallucination</span></b><span style="COLOR: black">; hearing loss; mood or mental changes; muscle pain, weakness, or cramps; one-sided weakness; ringing in the ears;</span><b><span style="COLOR: red"> seizures; severe dizziness, drowsiness, headache, or lightheadedness;</span></b><span style="COLOR: black"> severe or persistent constipation, heartburn, or stomach pain; shortness of breath; slow or shallow breathing; trouble swallowing; unusual bruising or bleeding;</span><b><span style="COLOR: red"> vision or
speech problems;</span></b><span style="COLOR: black"> vomit that looks like coffee grounds; wheezing; yellowing of the skin or eyes.</span></div></div></blockquote>
<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black"> This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur." </span></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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?</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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?</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">This whole episode demonstrates incredibly bad judgment of the firefighter in possession, Button, and Carscalen. </span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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..</span></div></div></div>
<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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!<br><br>w. </span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 4:18 PM, Wayne Price <<a href="mailto:bear@moscow.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:bear@moscow.com"><a href="mailto:bear@moscow.com">bear@moscow.com</a></a>> wrote:</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">WHY bother? Have you seen or heard of the possibility of an INDEPENDENT investigation being set up since this involves</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">the fire chief and a member of the city counsel? Clearly the assault "investigation" earlier this year sends a message to the</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Jefferson once said that people get the kind of government they deserve. Since I, among others have only one recourse, the election,</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">that is where I will exercise my option about local issues.</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">On May 7, 2012, at 3:31 PM, Art Deco wrote:</span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">I won't start the comments, but there really ought to be some.<br><br><br><br>_________________________<br clear="all"></span></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><b><span style="COLOR: black">By Brandon Macz, Daily News staff writer | Posted: Monday, May 7, 2012 1:00 am </span></b><span style="COLOR: black"></span></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"Button told me, 'This could have been the end of your career before it even got started,' " Shambaugh's complaint states.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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.' "</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Button said he thinks Shambaugh and Kimberling misunderstood.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"I believe they took it out of context," he said. "I don't believe there was any repercussions to threaten them with at all."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Carscallen said his office at the North Latah County Highway District was used for the meeting to avoid rumors in the fire station.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"It's my office, so it's just, where was a convenient place to have it?" he added.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"... 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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Carscallen said he didn't know if Shambaugh's complaint was partially out of anger over Dill's battery allegations.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">The city pays for five administrative positions within the department, which does not include Carscallen's position.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Both Button and Carscallen said they were aware of the complaints filed against them, however, neither had read them.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">Shambaugh said since filing her complaint with the city, she has been focused on getting through her paramedic contract.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">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.</span></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><span style="COLOR: black">"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."</span></div></div></div></div></div>
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<div style="BACKGROUND: white" class="yiv2091856071MsoNormal"><b><span style="COLOR: black">Brandon Macz</span></b><span style="COLOR: black"> can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 238, or by email to <a href="mailto:bmacz@dnews.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:bmacz@dnews.com"><a href="mailto:bmacz@dnews.com">bmacz@dnews.com</a></a>.</span></div></div></div>
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