EMS’ Thin Red Line?

October 15, 2009 by Ian
Filed under: Corruption, Update

blueline Perhaps you’ve heard of the “thin blue line”? Besides being a gang symbol that the police use to identify one another in public when they are off duty or in different areas, it’s also describes the “brotherhood” of being a cop. Cops protect other cops. When one of them is under attack for doing something awful, you can watch as the thin blue line closes up to protect the one that is in danger. It happens again and again across America and the world. Only the cops who are caught red-handed doing the most egregious things are the ones unable to be effectively protected by their system. 99% of them get away with their crimes with their department spokespeople making excuses and brushing their abuses under the rug. It doesn’t matter in many cases that there are witnesses or even video of the officer’s alleged transgressions.

Looks like there may be a thin red line here in Keene. I went today to talk to John MacLean, the city manager. I wanted to ask him what the city’s policy was about employees who steal. He said he couldn’t do anything unless I complained to the police. As I’d mentioned in an earlier post, I’d rather forgive Ron Leslie, the thief in this case, and the captain of the EMS B squad. I was just curious what the city people would do about a naughty employee, and I wasn’t expecting much.

Turns out the situation is worse than I thought. MacLean suggested that the fire chief’s report said the EMS agents all reported that I was getting in their way and interfering with their ability to administer care to the patient, Kurt Hoffman. The truth? Not only did Kurt want us to record the scene, neither Sam nor I, (the two media members with cameras) in any way impeded EMS workers’ ability to do their jobs. Of course, the video footage proves this, but that won’t mean the EMS crew will be fired for lying or likely disciplined in any way. They are protected by a system that has virtually no accountability. Indeed, MacLean even justified the theft of the camera saying it was appropriate if I was in the EMS agent’s way. Even if I were in his way, stealing is not an appropriate response. There were several armed agents nearby who could have been asked to intervene. Why didn’t that happen? Obviously because I wasn’t in anyone’s way or interfering. If I was, they’d likely have removed me and possibly arrested me over it. Clearly there is nothing to substantiate their claims – but that doesn’t matter. They do what they want, and we’ll pay for it, or else.

In a normal business, when you talk to the manager as a customer with an issue, you will either have the issue addressed to your satisfaction, or not. If not, you can refuse to do business with that store. With city government people, it doesn’t matter whether they slam their “customers” into walls, knock them over a chair onto their head while handcuffed, or attack people just for toting video devices – you CAN’T stop funding them, or they will steal your home.

MacLean says I can just go file a complaint with the police and they may decide to take action if there is evidence of wrongdoing. Will I be compensated by the city for all of my time spent going through their “processes”? Of course not. Were I to follow his advice, I’d likely spend who knows how much time jumping through their hoops so down the line they can tell me they couldn’t find evidence of wrongdoing. EMS would likely claim I was interfering when the cameras weren’t looking. It won’t matter what the videos show or the other non-city-employee witnesses say. The thin red line is protecting its own.

Don’t like it? MacLean says to use their system they have set up to change how they behave. Just spend countless hours and dollars attempting to use the system to destroy the system. You can see how difficult it is just to get them to have a chat with their employees about stealing cameras from people – now imagine how much moreso it would be to actually remove their power over others.

http://xrindustries.com xrazorwirex

“Had I been there you would have had some real good footage. Probably of me allowing Sam to ingest his HD camera”

Had there been any doubt that you were either a complete wackjob / a joke before, I think it’s gone now…
End Game

You want to see crazy razor..I'll show you crazy. Yeah I am a complete fuckin wack job.
Lpviper

wack off, more like

lol had to eg
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Is wack off not an action…….not a thing?
Publics Eyes

Hey Ian Just to make a couple of corrections. You keep referring public safety personal as “agents” and didn’t know why? The City of Keene does not employ anyone with a title called “agent”. The city of Keene doesn’t even have a EMS squad. The picture of the man you have here is Ron Leslie, Captain of B-Shift with the Keene Fire Department. I feel when you refer any more articles about him I feel you should address him as Captain Leslie I believe he has earned it! And as far as your other so called “agent’s” that day that were with Captain Leslie they are Firefighters not “EMS agents”. The City of Keene Fire Departments provides Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Service, Technical Rescue Response, and Hazardous Material Response to the City of Keene and surrounding communities.

And to answer you statement about “that it looks like there is a thin red line here in Keene”. The answer is YES there is. There is one in every community that has a Fire Department. When firefighters respond to a call – and even when they make a commitment to become professional or volunteer firefighters – they place their own lives second to those they serve. This “Thin Red Line” of heroic men and women who risk life and limb every day to keep us safe is all that separates us from more serious danger on a daily basis.

Similar to the “Thin Blue Line” that honors public servants in law enforcement, the Thin Red Line can be seen on numerous license plates, T-shirts and other personal items worn or carried by firefighters and police officers, their families, and citizens who just want to show support.

What the Thin Blue Line Really means. we want all Law Enforcement Officers to be honored for their service to a grateful nation. We strive to ensure that every great American, who served their country and community in the Law Enforcement profession be remembered and respected publicly.

The Thin Blue Line is the internationally recognized phrase that symbolizes there profession. The blue line represents each of their who daily protect this nation. The black background was designed as a constant reminder of their fallen brother and sister officers.

By displaying the Thin Blue Line is a symbol of Duty, Honor and Country, you are showing your love and respect for the brave men and women of law enforcement. It is this public respect which will help to enrich future generations.
http://freetalklive.com/ Ian

Didn't realize he was a fireman too, apologies. However, he still qualifies as an agent.

Definition 6 at dictionary.com: "a person who acts in an official capacity for a government"

I've always felt good about firemen/EMS until this incident. Ron Leslie was clearly putting himself ahead of his patient as he took the time away from his patient to harass and lie to the members of the media present.

He was acting like an authoritarian thug, not a caring EMS worker. Ignore the media and help your patients, please Ron.

My shock increased after I found out that he got his fellow shift members to lie to the chief about what happened. They claimed I was in their way and interfering. The video shows that I was doing no such thing, but that doesn't matter.
Publics Eyes

Ian Perhaps you should read the whole definition before you interpret it to what you want it to say. Definition 6 at dictionary.com: “a person who acts in an official capacity for a government or private agency, as a guard, detective, or spy” I don't believe Captain Leslie takes part in any of those roles so he does NOT qualify as an agent. And you said that you "Didn’t realize he was a fireman too" well if you payed attention that day and watched the video it said Keene Fire Department right on the side of the ambulance and you seemed to know who to call when you wanted the names of the crew you called the Fire Department. so don't tell me you didn't know that he is a Firefighter! I'm not saying what Captain Leslie was right or wrong with his actions and I wouldn't say with out watching the whole version of the video not the your edited version. You say your friend wanted him filmed and claim freedom of the press blah blah blah fine who cares just do Fire Department asks there job is hard enough as it is. Try to put your self in there shoes and try to do their job with a big crowd screaming and yelling at them. Besides he immediately turned your phone over to the Police Officer. His role at that incident is manage it. NOT to take care of the Patient that is the other two Firefighters jobs which they were doing. The Firefighters have to protect the privacy rights of the Patient at all times those are the HIPPA rules they have to obey does meen they like them but to be able to keep doing there job they have to obey those rules. I didn't here your friend at any time say it was ok for him to be filmed in your edited version of the video. And is a very good actor if I may add.
http://freetalklive.com/ Ian

Definition five, in full:

a person who works for or manages an agency.

Followed by agency, definition 3:

a governmental bureau

While your point was correct (I hadn't read the full definition), you're still incorrect on this semantic issue.

Figured the EMS workers were separate – I was wrong. Thanks for the correction. You can choose to believe me or think I'm lying.

You seem to think the activists are liars, and there's obviously nothing I can say to correct you. There were several of us there, and none that I saw interfered in any way with EMS. Also, Leslie was lying about HIPPA, and besides that, Kurt ABSOLUTELY DID request we monitor his treatment. Just ask his wife.
Jessica

Ian you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. So keep amusing us with your BS. Finally "public eye" someone else who can see these fools ruining our society more so than anything. Free keene…ya ok you just create more drama. I find it really sad that you can call an EMT/ Firefighter….a thug. I also love how you PAID so much attention and KNOW so much about Ron…but u happened to not know he was a firefighter…haha so sad.
http://ringingliberty.com Paul

That EMT worker absolutely behaved as a thug that day, lashing out in anger and stealing Ian's camera. Some government workers who otherwise seem nice simply cannot handle anything other than unquestioning obedience, and lash out when they don't get it.
Lpviper

@ EG,

It's slang, might be a Michigan thing

"that guy is a total fucking wack off"

means useless more or less
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@ viper

We use "Jackoff" here in New England……, or jagoff is used by the bigger city folk
Lpviper

I've heard of that in my travels (I've been to Keene once!) but we Michigan folk don't talk that way. Like how we say somebody is 'ignorant' instead of saying 'asshole' like we mean, or how we call soda 'pop'. I still think that's better than Texas where all pop is 'Coke'.

Shouldn't we be, like, arguing about laws or something…?
END GAME

@ Viper

Not neccesarily…..My liberty loving friend. Even us statists can set diffrences aside to discuss other topics. I would discuss sports but we all know you free state nuts are against organized athletics(national indoctrination right).
Lpviper

Thats funny because I havent been able to shake my addiction to the most statist sport of them all…NASCAR!

I hate to even watch it sometimes, it's SO God and Country it makes me want to puke. But it's something my dad and I have enjoyed together for a long time, and so it continues…

And maybe that idea reaches toward the center of the conflict between statists and liberty lovers. Everybody has some vestige of statism they can't quite leave go of.

I guess for some of us it's just that's there's more of it.

A lot of what I thought was true I found out different about in the last few years. Certainly some of it was quite unpleasant. I do know that I owe it to myself and my neighbors to learn and practice tolerance and mutual respect.
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@viper

Although NASCAR, maybe the most capitalistic of all sports, with the sponsors and such.

Although I am vehemently opposed to the free state movement, and the tactics employed by them. I can admire their(activists) tenacity and vigor.

I guess even though some of my words may be terse and mean spirited I do possess an amount of respect for them…….albeit very tiny, miniscule actually