tampering with Turnout Gear?

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Originally Posted by FiremanLyman

Still, someone turning around the boots in someone's bunker gear is hillarious. Not dangerous. Also is good to keep someone honest about checking their gear when they put it on the truck in the morning.

Anything above that is not in good taste.

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Disagree. Throw out a blanket statement to leave all gear alone and be done with it.

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Originally Posted by MidazoWHAM!

Something minor like the above mentioned kool aid in the boots is pretty funny to me. Leaving comical pictures or items in them is also good for a laugh. If its something that will affect my performance or my ability to help a victim, you better run like hell when I find out.

Wouldnt want someone to lose their job over it though. Id prefer to handle it in house.

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If I were to find out who put KoolAid in my $350 boots I paid for out of pocket, that individual and myself would be having a nice chat off duty, away from work.

We had a guy here get eggs put in his boots. Completely ruined them. The person who did it deserved a beating. Simple as that.

I can't believe this has gotten so many comments. Just don't fruck with someones gear. Don't fruck with what they eat. Common sense people.

If you do, you can expect a 55 gallon can of whoop ***** to hit you - either by the rules or outside of the rules.

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Originally Posted by slackjawedyokel

That would be me.

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Me also. However I should paraphrase by saying that it wasn't a threat, it was a promise.

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Originally Posted by FiremanLyman

Still, someone turning around the boots in someone's bunker gear is hillarious. Not dangerous. Also is good to keep someone honest about checking their gear when they put it on the truck in the morning.

Anything above that is not in good taste.

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In a department that is subject to recalls, there are times we arrive and are out the door within mintues. There is no time for 'checking gear' it is grab and go. I will say this anyone the screws with someone elses gear is a POS.

There's never any reason to screw with gear. In fact, it should be that we make sure nothing happens to someone's gear if we see it out of place. I'd say not screwing with gear is the number one unwritten rule in the firehouse.

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Originally Posted by DeputyChiefGonzo
My gear was messed around with just once. I had been out IOD for 5 weeks (I slipped on a wet floor at a malicious false alarm at the high school and landed on my portable radio, screwed up my back) and when I returned to duty, a member of my group had secured a rather large pillow (using safety pins) to the backside of my bunker pants in case I fell down again. They really cared about me....

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Posted by Bones42

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and yet some guys in this thread would kick a guy in the @$$, others would have him fired, and a small number of us would laugh at having our "balls busted".

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The big difference is this situation was the pillow on my gear was 100% visible. I didn't take it as ball busting, it was good for a laugh. I actually put them on pillow and all and walked into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee just to see the reaction.
Putting eggs, kool aid, shave cream or anything else in someone elses gear... those are grounds for disciplinary action.

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Originally Posted by snowball

I have said before that turnout gear is off limits. However it still is pretty funny to see a probie pull up his drops and not notice the pink lace thong on them.

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Yeah, the thong on the outside of someone's bunker pants. Another classic.

I know it is not related, but long zip ties on the drive shaft of the BC's wagon, or truck of the dude you releive, is another classic. Takes some people forever to figure out what that noise is.

Never mind the safety issues, and everything else that's been brought up (but not minimizing them, either).

Odds are the trickster wouldn't appreciate the same thing being done to his gear, and would be very vocal if it was.

Do unto others...

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Originally Posted by FiremanLyman

Yeah, the thong on the outside of someone's bunker pants. Another classic.

I know it is not related, but long zip ties on the drive shaft of the BC's wagon, or truck of the dude you releive, is another classic. Takes some people forever to figure out what that noise is.

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We used to put round rocks or marbles in the hubcaps of the BC car, the auto industry took care of that for us, no more hubcaps.

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Originally Posted by snowball

We used to put round rocks or marbles in the hubcaps of the BC car, the auto industry took care of that for us, no more hubcaps.

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Damn you are old....

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Originally Posted by snowball

We used to put round rocks or marbles in the hubcaps of the BC car, the auto industry took care of that for us, no more hubcaps.

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The old Chevy dog dish hubcaps were the best for that trick.

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Originally Posted by MemphisE34a

Sounds to me like your gonna have to clean p your own mess.

We play with a bunch of stuff, but turnouts as a rule are off limits. Although occasionally a guy will get water or dry Kool Aid in the boots every now and then, but nothing that would prevent you from being able to use them.

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So one could climb a 10-story building with Kool Aid in their boots?

You may find your mattress on the roof, but turn outs are strictly off limits.
Not one to condone any type of violence, but getting caught may subject the violator to an old fashion blanket party.

Once went on a run and saw that someone had used medical tape to put "Juicy" on the backside of a guy's turnout pants. He ended up directing traffic around down wires, the look on the passing motorists was priceless.

That would be the limit, and even that was pushing it, but so funny.

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Originally Posted by DeputyChiefGonzo

...The big difference is this situation...

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and there is a big difference in some simple ball busting/joking and possibly causing issues with turnout gear. Some guys miss that point...

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Originally Posted by Wolfn

So one could climb a 10-story building with Kool Aid in their boots?

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Why couldn't you? You don't even know its there until you take them off and see that your socks and feet are whatever the Kool Aid is.

A few things here:

1. Anyone who has people messing with their stuff probably deserves it.

2. Long visits after work and mess with people's head and kick their *** all translates to I would cry about it.

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Originally Posted by Wolfn

So one could climb a 10-story building with Kool Aid in their boots?

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I wouldn't like every pair of socks I own to be red or purple for the life of the boots. How about shoe polish on the ear pieces of the headsets? I have seen Kool Aid sprinkled in the sweat band of a ball cap, or a bottle or two of Mio dumped in a tank.

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Originally Posted by snowball

... or a bottle or two of Mio dumped in a tank.

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Mmmm. Suppression and rehab combined. Genius!

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Originally Posted by jccrabby3084

I picked up on your reply from before, but this is easier to address. Yes, I do agree with you in regards to addressing things, but first things first. If there is nothing by the dept that addresses PPE and the tampering of it, then there is no real other precedence to go off of or back things up with. So if a similar occurence occurs, all you may have is past practice, if lucky enough to be addressed....otherwise there is no precedence. Hence the reason to address that aspect first, because it is NOT addressed by NFPA, OSHA, etc.....this is a departmental issue.

As to how to handle, yes, I agree with addressing this one on one, first. This does pertain to having such SOG/Ps in place, if not, then it is imperative that there is something in place to prevent recurrences of this. One on one talks can take care of most of the issues.....if and only if, the addressing party can remain calm and professional. IF they are going to go to blows, get the officer involved right away. A good officer should also address this on a one on one case where it doesn't necessarily have to go higher than that. Keep a personal record, but such issues can be addressed with simple counseling.


Sure threats of violence can have an impact, but is it really the best thing, especially if there are others around? Sure such an issue may get more talk and threats than implementation, but let's look at things from a professional level as well. Threats of violence may be somewhat of a deterrent, but if other firefighters are like the ones like me and others I know....we'll see how far to push. Whereas, if it came down to saying how stupid such acts are and why it is wrong to screw with PPE, there is a respectful atmospehere as opposed to idle threats.

This why I also mentioned if this was a volunteer dept, I would make a mention of this at a dept meeting. Not any threats of violence, just why such actions are stupid and can be detrimental. On a career dept side, I would think this is something the house captain (or officer) should address with the crew as well as mention to other house officers so that it is addressed by all crews.

So yeah, a one on one would be first. Take the least action possible. I wouldn't stop someone from mentioning the issue to an officer or to keep a personal record. If the issue happens again, then it is time to take disciplinary action. For the most part, threats of violence are not as effective as to a career or position on the dept is threatened......and screwing with PPE, I would say is something that does have job implications...moreso than threats of violence.

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In today's work environment, threats of violence, no matter how weak, are treated very seriously, and can result in severe disciplinary action. Workplace Violence is a "Hot Button" and most responsible departments and managers take it very seriously.

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Originally Posted by bcjack

In today's work environment, threats of violence, no matter how weak, are treated very seriously, and can result in severe disciplinary action. Workplace Violence is a "Hot Button" and most responsible departments and managers take it very seriously.

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I know all about "todays workplace" and all the PC that it entails. I also have a brain and a fair amount of common sense. If I feel something has the need to escalate to that level,it will not be with an audience. And will not directly involve the "responsible department and manager" - the fact that you use the term "manager" as opposed to leader tells volumes.