Firefighter Refused Call to Giffords Shooting

[KharmaTrain]

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/17/firefighter-refused-call-to-giffords-shooting/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook

TUCSON, Ariz. -- A veteran firefighter refused to respond to last month's deadly shooting spree that left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wounded because of "political bantering," and it may have delayed his unit's assignment to help, according to internal city memos.

The Arizona Daily Star reported Thursday that firefighter Mark Ekstrum's team, which is specially trained to handle large medical emergencies, was dispatched to assist 90 minutes after the Jan. 8 shooting. The newspaper obtained the memos about the incident through a public records request.

While the crew was not among those first called to the supermarket where six people were killed and 13 others wounded, a memo from Ekstrum's supervisor said his actions caused "confusion and delay" during the emergency.

Disgusting...

[47of74]

1. What an asshole

That's the nicest thing I can say about the guy too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. There was an earlier thread on this

and he'd have hell from me... only saving grace is that this was a tertiary unit, now that I have read another account... not a primary response, and they do layered response. So overall it hurt nobody.

But he'd have hell from me. And retirement, it was strongly suggested I am betting.

[KharmaTrain]

4. I Haven't Been Playing In The Sandbox Much Lately...

The fact that there's a call and he's even talking politics rather than getting his ass in gear is dereliction of duty. Does he ask whose house is burning and their political affiliation before he goes on those calls, too? Article says he "retired" two days after the murders. Thank goodness he's "retired"...too bad he'll get a pension.

Cheers...

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Actually the problem is deeper than that

there should be NO politics allowed in the firehouse... period. This is the reason. So I'd have a long talk with his Captain and his Engineer.

[Bandit]

20. I would bet the firehouse radio has Rush Limbaugh blasting just as in the military

The military should NEVER be politicized either but Limbaugh has his show on three hours a day five days a week, blasting hatred of Americans to our young men and women in the Armed Forces..

[somone]

3. He was too stupid to think about himself needing medical help some day

and that some day may not be that far off in his retirement.

[struggle4progress]

6. ... Firefighter Ekstrum, a 28-year veteran, retired after the rampage as department officials

Firefighter Ekstrum, a 28-year veteran, retired after the rampage as department officials considered disciplinary action. A memorandum from a supervisor, Capt. Ben Williams, said that Firefighter Ekstrum “mentioned something about ‘political bantering’ and he did not want to be part of it.” Exactly what the disagreement was over remained unclear. In a statement, Mr. Ekstrum later said he had voted for Ms. Giffords, a Democrat, and did not respond because he was distraught over the shootings.

In the memo, Captain Williams said the firefighter had said “there were underlying issues regarding the call that brought up a lot of anger and made him ineffective as a firefighter.” ...

Tucson Firefighter Refused to Respond
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: February 17, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/us/18tucson.html?_r=1

[struggle4progress]

7. ... After he was contacted by the Daily Star about the incident, Ekstrum said in a statement he was

distraught about the shootings and had no disagreement with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head and is recovering at a Houston medical facility. Ekstrum said he was "distracted" and doubted his ability to focus on an emergency call ...
Memos: Firefighter refused Giffords 911 call
Veteran retired from force before he could be disciplined, newspaper reports
msnbc.com news services
updated 2/17/2011 8:53:32 PM ET
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41654874/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[PBS Poll-435]

8. A real shame considering the other victims

This was an emergency and they had a responsibility to do something.


Why?

[struggle4progress]

9. ... Capt. Ben Williams wrote that when Ekstrum first told him he would not go out on the call,

"he mentioned something about 'political bantering' and he did not want to be part of it." He said he was acting "for the good of the crew."

Williams said he told Ekstrum he could not refuse a call for that reason, and then talked to the firefighter privately in his office. He said Ekstrum "started to say something about how he had a much different political viewpoint than the rest of the crew and he was concerned." Despite being told that was not acceptable, Williams said Ekstrum informed him he was going home "sick," so they answered the call without him.

In a statement provided to the Fire Department late Wednesday, after he was contacted by the Star about the incident, Ekstrum said he was distraught over the shootings and had no problem with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from a bullet wound to the brain, and even voted for her in the last election ...

Firefighter refused call to Tucson shooting spree scene
Fernanda Echavarri and Rob O'Dell Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Thursday, February 17, 2011 12:45 pm
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_68abdf02-1d37-5e14-9974-6eeff8a22210.html

[struggle4progress]

10. ... the Star said Ekstrum gave a statement Wednesday to the Fire Department saying he was distraught

over the shootings and was "distracted to the point of not being able to perform my routine station duties to such an extent that I seriously doubted my ability to focus on an emergency call." ...

Memos: Firefighter Refused Call To Tucson Shooting
by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TUCSON, Ariz. February 17, 2011, 07:50 pm ET
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133851662

[Dappleganger]

11. What a pathetic little coward.

[MyrnaLoy]

12. Is there any

way charges can be brought against someone like this? Please say yes!

[Mimosa]

13. *STRANGE* what the hell? n/t

[mfcorey1]

14. Just when I thought things are as low as they can go, a rightie opens up a new pit. nt

[Balbus]

16. He's a democrat.

Who voted for Giffords in the last election.

[MaeScott]

19. He said he did. Very convenient but we know

What ever a rethug says, the opposite is the truth.

Even one in the closet.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

26. From other sources it looks like his issues were with the crew, not Giffords

Regardless he should have rolled anyway.

[no_hypocrisy]

15. Is he fired yet?

And/or served with a summons and complaint and indictment?

[Vinca]

17. I love this character's after-the-fact excuse of being too distraught

to perform his duties. Bull poop. He suddenly realized he had a pension on the line.

[Blue_Tires]

22. he also suddenly realized he could be subject of lawsuits by victims' families

because of his refusal to act...That probably meant more than his pension...

[KittyWampus]

18. How can this person live with himself?

[SidDithers]

21. No donor history for Ekstrum at either newsmeat or opensecrets...

I guess it's possible that the rest of the fire crew were ignorant republicans "bantering" that Giffords got what she deserved, or something like that, and Ekstrum was just too distraught to respond. :eyes:

Not bloody likely, tho.

If I had to put money down, I'd go the other way. That the he was an outspoken Minuteman type, and had probably made comments about second amendment solutions or something like that. And when the shooting occurred, the other firefighters, horrified over what had happened, gave it to him in spades.

And he turned tail and ran.


'Course, crystal ball gazing is notoriously inaccurate.

Sid

[Blue_Tires]

23. Even if for argument's sake Ekstrum was a DUer , his refusal to act when

people were dying is inexcusable, and he deserves to be on the street... If he really did balk over 'political' reasons, then I'd also suggest a psych evaluation...

[SidDithers]

25. Agreed 100%...nt

Sid

[backscatter712]

24. I hope they take this fucker's pension.

If he wants to let his freeper politics get in the way of doing his job as an emergency responder, I say he should spend his retirement in a cardboard box.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

27. It appears his conflict was with the crew, not Giffords

Regardless, he should have responded

[backscatter712]

28. Damned straight he should have responded.

He's a firefighter, that's his job. If he can't respond to an emergency, he needs to be shitcanned, preferably in a way that makes a very public example of him.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. He went home sick and then dropped his papers. No requirement to document 1 day illness

He is gone at this point.