I have great respect for firefighters and police because they hold important roles in our society but that doesn't mean there is not room for improvement...and in this case significant improvement. So important a position that each situation presents an opportunity to learn and build a better overall governance system. The action of removing Memphis Fire Department employees because they failed to act to help the victim is an interesting issue that firefighters should incorporate into their training and department policies. There are legal, moral, and reporting line issues that have come forward in these crisis situations. Firefighters need to know what to do and where to report situations both at the time they are occurring and after the incident has occurred.
I'll tell you why I think its going to be an interesting policy shift throughout the country because we know that silence is "the wrong thing". There are different chains of command and that will intersect with the ability of fire departments to service the victim (I'm not saying that is what happened, what I am saying is that the group culture of other departments could have significant influence on firefighter abilities to make a decision not in alignment what the officers at the scene are doing. The more questionable the behaviors, the more top the structure, the more likely its going to influence choices ). So there will be a need to collaborate, but not necessarily fully integrated approach, on all command structures (official or unofficial) at a scene where other services risk default. Creating legal and moral hazards (i.e. shared command methods that might allow for appropriate culture breaking and room for appropriate decision challenge at the scene. If people working together get too "buddy buddy" and it appears that there are complaints coming forward, we have multiple different departments present that can rotate people out of the "mix" of unofficial and official command structures.)
(As a key point, one might want to do that anyway from time to time to keep corruption down. I mean don't listen to me, its just an idea, I'm sure there are better ideas out there because mine would need to be vetted. I'm pretty sure some type of solutions are going to come forward. Waiting....waiting.....😳 Well, the problems are already here so its behind the ball and way to late. Ok...maybe we can also focus on fixing this for the future.)
This is why I don't advocate for silence here or in our hometowns because it may save small problems but kicks the can down the road where bigger problems occur (Think about how free passes are socializing others to accept such behaviors until you have a culture of corruption.). Public servants have responsibilities, and I know very well that most are good people, but they are often subject to pressures to go along and get along with others. Perhaps when these issues occur, and it appears that something questionable behavior is happening, there should be a reporting mechanism directly to the chief and/or outside investigator with no retaliation (Retaliation is often a risk when whistle blowing in top down, secretive, and power oriented organizations where reputations are everything. If you are considered "the other" the laws are often thrown out the window altogether. Fire Departments are often way more open and transparent then police departments so the catalyst that creates public risk is more likely in the closed system of some, not all, police departments. I think there is some research that supports that assertation as a broad based conception that doesn't specifically apply to police or anywhere else. Its not the main point today.).
Below is one perspective that seems to be in the ball park but I think you can add more upward push to reform because the situation since 2016 has changed and people are much more broadly aware that the current path that has been unchanged due to ideological and governance immaturity is seen now as dangerous, unsustainable and in the long run could undermine democracy altogether. (The author looks very knowledgeable on these topics so it would be a good sources among many other sources. Read broadly and read from multiple perspectives.).Back to firefighting....This is where I sort of agree with at least temporarily removing the fire department members (no judgement made yet) until an investigation occurs (I also agree with returning them back if they did what they were expected to do or were reasonably not responsible.). I cannot say innocence or guilt one way or another, nor am I familiar with any particular facts. What I can say is that something within that environment, and likely others prior, hindered them from saving a life (innocent, criminal, Black, White, Muslim, Jew, Christian, etc.. etc.. etc...). It is not their place nor the place of those officers to decide the "worthiness" of help.
I believe in investigation of the situation, not for people to necessarily lose their jobs (unless they deserved it through wrong doing), but for the problem to be fixed in a way that restores trust and long term shared perspective. I hope very much that we learn from this situation and we learn the risks of not acting prior to incidents such as this occurring. I'm a rational optimist. We got this! Just as soon as everyone agrees they want to get this! I think its important. Tug Tug on the sleeve of conscious!
The lesson firefighters might want to take from this situation is that if you need to intercede to help someone, then do so with tact because you may be at a criminal scene (Whether the person being arrested or the people arresting). If the situation feels dangerous, one might be required immediately call dispatch and get direction and support because your being restricted from your duty. (If you feel like you can't help, you still must try and help. If after multiple attempts you can't help then take note of that pressure and put in a written statement through appropriate channels so an investigation can be launched. CYA )
(At which point an independent investigation by an empowered and authorized internal affairs or outside investigator should begin. If that is not within the department, then go outside to state or federal officials. {Something that should be defined} Know that you report to a different chain of command and have a moral, legal, and professional responsibility to make reasonable attempts to help victims before judging them as less worthy for crimes they have not yet been yet committed to act. Another point being, is because you are unaware of the situation and the person it is necessary to help the victim regardless of other contextual factors so that we are acting in the most responsible way we can.).
Furthermore if there are people regularly talking about hate and treating people like "others" of less value, then report those conversations through appropriate internal and external channels as silence creates risk to the public when these sentiments grow to infect an entire department. (In case we are confused by some of the terms, the public are the ultimate stakeholders). You just don't want to wait until someone taps you on the shoulder and you need to provide a could have, should have, and would have argument. Nations are built from many small choices (I suspect the reverse is true as well.).
This article is designed to help you think. One can agree or disagree as there are many different ways to look at the same problem. If it gets you to think, whether you agree or disagree, then the process of change has already started.
Armacost, B. (August 19, 2023, para 6) The Organizational Reasons Police Departments Don’t Change. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/08/the-organizational-reasons-police-departments-dont-change
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