Put the kibosh to firehouse pranks
Firehouse pranks often can go too far. In one example, members of the Macon-Bibb County (Ga.) Fire Department staged an armed robbery to haze rookies. Fire Chief Marvin Riggins called the act “notoriously disgraceful,” suspending several firefighters and demoting a sergeant for their parts in the hazing, which they recorded. The organizer, Capt. Stephanie Burke, received a two-shift suspension concerning “management and behavior of her assigned personnel” and station morale. The firefighters violated several departmental policies, including General Order No. 26, which prohibits hazing, initiations, and/or other types of physical confrontations.
Yet even with such policies in place, the chief couldn’t prevent the hazing. So how can chief officers stop such behaviors?
Alisa Arnoff, partner at Chicago-based law firm Scalambrino & Arnoff, said education and policy should be used to prevent liability, avoid bad press and prevent poor morale resulting from hazing and pranks.
Read the entire story from FIRE CHIEF, our sister publication.
