Mich. Firefighter Takes Heat for Consolidation Remarks
Source The Herald-Palladium, St. Joseph, Mich.
March 14--ST. JOSEPH -- St. Joseph Firefighter Jason Yonker has been taking some undeserved heat for comments attributed to him in a recent article on the city's move toward a consolidated police and fire department.
Yonker was quoted as saying that traditional fire departments, under economic pressure, are becoming "a dying breed."
Local firefighters took the comment as a slam on their profession, and others nationally joined the chorus after the article hit the web. A reference to "old-time steam engines and horse-drawn wagons" added by the reporter, which Yonker did not say, added to the furor.
"I believe that a lot of the backlash was because not all career firefighters support the public safety concept, and think it degrades their profession," Yonker said.
This week Yonker clarified his intent in his remarks made following a March 8 report on St. Joseph's safety forces, that suggested phasing out full-time firefighters for cross-trained police officers and on-call volunteers.
"The intent was to simply state that firefighters are losing their jobs due to local governments looking for ways to cut costs, and the state implementing consolidation mandates," Yonker explained. "By the way the article was worded, a lot of people have been questioning my dedication to the traditional values of career firefighting. This is simply not the case."
The article hit a nerve nationally because many fire departments across the country are fighting the public safety concept, Yonker said. "It is my belief that local governments and cities trying to save money is forcing firefighters to make tough choices."
Yonker said he and fellow firefighter Jim Crow -- recently elected as union president -- are in a "tough situation" as members of the bargaining unit and as members of the committee studying possible consolidation.
Yonker is in the middle in another way, as he is a former police officer who is trained to fight fires, and could be returning to the police ranks as a cross-trained officer.
"There are a lot of tough choices that have to be made in order to save jobs," Yonker said.
The city and the union are looking for a way to keep the fire station staffed, with the roster to be reduced gradually.
"I believe it is the city's best interest to keep (the firefighters) employed through their retirement," Yonker said.
Copyright 2012 - The Herald-Palladium, St. Joseph, Mich.
