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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
WHAT IS A "CONTROLLED INTERSECTION"?
This is the legal definition:Controlled intersections have traffic lights, yield signs or stop signs to control traffic.
Hopefully the Hartford Fire Department has a different definition. In a department directive issued by Hartford Fire Chief Edward Casares dated November 10, 2010 and e-mailed department wide on March 18, 2011, all Hartford Fire Department vehicles on emergency responses have been instructed
that "all emergency vehicles will stop at all controlled intersections".
The directive can be viewed below, but it seems pretty clear. There isn't any mention of stopping at intersections with a "red light" but instead says at all controlled intersections.
Hartford has seen a dramatic rise in fire fatalities since the beginning of this year. As most people are aware, seconds count in a fire situation and knowing that response times can drastically increase as fire apparatus stop at every controlled intersection is troubling to me as a Hartford resident, possibly depending on a quick response from HFD in a fire or medical situation.
Just consider this, these aren't small vehicles. A fire department driver estimated that it most likely would take a minimum of fifteen seconds, minimum, to stop a ladder or engine and start again and get up to speed when stopping at a "controlled intersection" as the directive states. That adds up, especially when apparatus is making a run on streets like Albany Avenue where you could have numerous "controlled intersections" along the main street and then turning onto a side street where every intersection with a stop sign is a "controlled intersection".
Let's just say you have six "controlled intersections on the Avenue with traffic lights then turn onto Garden Street and have five "controlled intersections" with stop signs. That is at least eleven mandatory stops according to Chief Casares's directive. Eleven stops at the estimated minimum of 15 seconds per stop adds up to almost an additional three minutes in that critical response time.
That extra three minutes could mean the difference between life or death in an emergency response.
The directive I would imagine was drafted in an effort to reduce apparatus accidents but I think it might just have the total opposite effect. Hartford is a city that is not known for drivers that adhere to motor vehicle law., I have seen drivers that pass fire apparatus because they move too slow rather than pull to the curb and stop for an emergency vehicle as required by law.
Imagine now the drivers that tailgate the fire apparatus going to an emergency call and the last thing they will expect is that vehicle to slow down and stop at an intersection with a green light. They won't understand that the driver of the apparatus is only complying with the mandatory directive, right up until the second they plow into the back of the apparatus making its mandatory stop "at all controlled intersections".
So for all those Hartford residents reading this posting, please carefully plan your escape routes and check those fire extinguishers, it might be a few minutes longer before the Hartford Fire Department will arrive when you really need them.
HERE IS THE DIRECTIVE BELOW
DD23 Department Emergency Non-Emergency & Discretionary Responses
THE REPORT IS IN THE MAIL
Apparently the Dan Nolan report is in the mail....finally.
There is no indication yet which way the decision will go but if I had to bet, I'm pretty confident the Nolan name will be cleared. The report was actually supposed to be released today, but according to sources it was only mailed today and hopefully will be arriving at Nolan's attorneys office in the next day or so.
As soon as I hear anything, it will be posted here. Much more information, such as transcripts and testimony that I think readers will find extremely interesting will also be posted here. The transcripts couldn't legally be used before the decision was released.
Also, video of a Worcester Massachusetts Fire Academy graduation will be posted here soon where recruits and Academy staff were praised for the exact actions that the Perez Administration and Chief Teale apparently terminated Deputy Chief Nolan for.
What a difference a border...and a little integrity makes.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
ANOTHER YELLOW HUMMER PROBLEM
Here is an amateur video from the internet that ends with a clip involving a yellow Hummer ? What is it about yellow Hummers and people having trouble following the rules?
To read my first yellow Hummer story, unrelated to the second yellow Hummer story, click here. This is definitely an interesting video, I wonder how it was handled in the end by the parents?
EMBED-Epic Video Game Freakout - Watch more free videos
Thursday, March 24, 2011
A LITTLE HUMOUR, BUT SADLY APPROPRIATE
After yesterdays posting about the silence of Connecticut's legislative leaders in failing to take action against Hector Robles, I received the following joke in my e-mail this morning.
Sadly, most people would see this as the way the system works for politicians.
"THE HAIRCUT"
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut.
After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The florist
was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank
you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill,the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you'
card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you. I'm doing
community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the
shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen
Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the
citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.
We are the only ones that have the power to change our broken and corrupt political system.
Sadly, most people would see this as the way the system works for politicians.
"THE HAIRCUT"
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut.
After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The florist
was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank
you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill,the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you'
card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you. I'm doing
community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the
shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen
Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the
citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.
We are the only ones that have the power to change our broken and corrupt political system.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
MORE JUSTICE DELAYED
Two Hartford wrongful termination cases winding their way through hearings and motions have once again been delayed.
The hearing officer's decision in the Dan Nolan case was originally expected in late January or early February 2011. That was then pushed off until March 23, 2011 since the hearing officer needed more time to finalize his decision. Well, the 23rd has come and gone and now the word is that it will be at least another week for the completion of the report.
In the wrongful termination of Hartford Police Officer Matthew Secore, that has also been pushed off for at least a month. Secore won his reinstatement to the Hartford Police Department as the result of a Labor Board decision. The City of Hartford chose to ignore that decision and appealed the decision to Hartford Superior Court where the appeal has been delayed by motion after motion. The matter was supposed to be heard by a Judge on Monday, but was postponed for another month because the Judge assigned had too much going on to listen to the matter.
Hopefully in these two cases justice delayed is not justice denied.
THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING
Does anyone remember Senator Lou DeLuca (R) and his downfall from the Connecticut Legislature a few years ago? After Senator DeLuca stepped up to defend his granddaughter who he believed was being threatened, he was arrested on, I believe, a misdemeanor charge. He was promptly run out of the Senate and forced to resign.
No violation of the public trust, no theft of the taxpayers money, DeLuca was accused of trying to defend a family member.
Governor John Rowland and Senator Gaffey are two more Connecticut politicians who promptly resigned when their actions were called into question and they were marched before Judges. One a Democrat (Gaffey), one a Republican (Rowland).
What is the standard that should be applied to our elected officials and their resignations when they are accused of crimes? All too often we hear "innocent until proven guilty", but does it really take a guilty verdict to confirm that an elected official isn't worthy of the public's trust placed in them by the electorate?
When does integrity and soul searching kick in to realize what is best for the people the elected officials represent as well as the institution itself? It seems that all too often it is about self survival and selfishness. Is it any wonder voter participation is so bad and many voters don't even bother to turn out to vote because they see the system as so corrupt.
Hartford has lived the nightmare of municipal corruption for several years now. Not just through the Perez corruption investigation and his arrest and trial but also through a corrupt Councilperson, Veronica Airey-Wilson being rewarded with an early retirement after her arrest on corruption charges.
We currently have another Councilperson facing potential disbarment or suspension of his law license for his role with a client in a Federal Investigation where one party just plead guilty to $1.3 million in Food stamp fraud.
And the most recent case is that of Hector Robles who is being accused of violating the public's trust on two very important fronts. One as a police officer in a city that struggles everyday to earn the trust of its residents. Secondly as an elected member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.
Robles has been arrested and accused of "double dipping" in a scheme he is said to have perpetrated to steal over $10,000 from the taxpayers of Hartford. To read the original IAD report from the Hartford Police Department, click here
Robles was recently arrested by Inspectors from the States Attorney's Financial Crimes Unit and charged with two felonies, crimes far more severe than those that forced Senator DeLuca to resign.
The sad part though is that even though Robles admitted to IAD investigators, in a statement he gave to them, that he knew what he did was wrong and illegal and was "double dipping, he still refuses to accept blame. He continues to claim that others were doing it also, as if that lessens the seriousness of the allegations. Quite a few people rob banks every year in Connecticut, but that doesn't diminish the charges against those who do get caught.
I guess the part that is troubling though is the silence by all of the people that you would hope would show some integrity and step up to demand Robles's resignation. I really don't expect too much from the Hartford Democratic Town Committee, but Speaker of the House Donovan as well as other members of the Legislature are surprising me with their silence.
I would think that the Speaker would be as offended as I was when Hector first lied to me when I asked him about the allegations almost two months before any of the allegations became public. That was long before the IAD report was released when Hector essentially admitted to the scheme.
He used the same line on just about anyone that asked him about the investigation, claiming that it was all administrative and was no big deal. He never mentioned that he gave a statement admitting his wrongdoing.
This past Saturday the 6th District Democratic Town Committee held a meeting at which Robles was present. According to sources a lot of tough talk was being made prior to the meeting by members that were going to call for Robles resignation or censure. Apparently that is all that it was was talk, since none of the big talkers made any motions or even brought up his resignation.
Robles apparently again gave his speech that others were doing the same thing so it wasn't a big deal, even claiming to the group that Chief Daryl Roberts was guilty of the same thing when Roberts was a detective. The truth is the truth and although Chief Roberts vehemently denied the accusation when I asked him about it, it in no way lessens the allegations against Robles. So far no evidence has been introduced to show that others on the PD were "double dipping" but if there is any evidence to substantiate others involvement, then they should be standing before a Judge entering a plea, the same as Robles did.
If others were double dipping, that does not suggest that Robles is innocent, all it shows is that we have a greater problem.
I guess I need to go back to one of my previous questions, is a guilty verdict the only time we can ask a public official to resign. Or when the evidence shows that they clearly violated the public's trust as well as their own statement that they clearly violated the public trust by stealing, shouldn't that be enough to call for them to step down. If not, it is a slap in the face to any politician that understands the awesome responsibility they are entrusted with the day they are elected.
I also realize that the paycheck Robles is receiving from the Legislature may be his only source of income now that he has been fired by HPD, but that is not a reason to allow him to remain in a position of public trust and authority. Besides, the MDC might be hiring , surely someone else in the legislature could put in a good word for him there.
HERE IS ROBLES' ARREST WARRANT AFFADAVIT FOR HIS ARREST:
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