Now this was the most crazy thing I have heard in a while

New Jersey Firefighters, Troopers Butt Heads
Deputy Fire Chief Arrested for Not Moving Truck

ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J.-- A deputy fire chief from New Jersey ended up in handcuffs in what boiled down to a power struggle between Rockaway Township's Volunteer Fire Department and state police the night of Nov. 26.

At approximately 8:44 p.m., police received a call of a single vehicle rollover on Route 80, according to New Jersey State Police spokesman Capt. Al Della Fave. He said that as soon as troopers arrived, people inside of the wrecked Nissan Maxima were out and there were no apparent injuries besides a passenger who complained of back pains.

When an ambulance was called from Rockaway Township, Fave says things started to get out of hand. The department sent the ambulance along with two fire trucks. As the department arrived on the scene the right-hand lane was blocked off to protect the emergency workers.

The trooper on the scene, however, ordered the truck to be moved. Rockaway's Fire Chief Joe Mason described what would follow as "a screaming match."

"It's pretty black and white, there's not much of a grey area," he said. "What's important is the safety of our department. Police felt that was not acceptable."

When 53-year-old Deputy Chief Robert Jenkins refused to relocate the truck, he was arrested and charged with disobeying a state trooper and disorderly conduct. He is due back in court Nov. 30.

The truck's driver, Firefighter David Bell, also was charged with disobeying a state trooper.

"There was no extraction necessary and no fire involved. We asked them to move and they didn't comply." Della Fave said. "We never called for fire apparatus; we only called for first-aid,"

Rockaway's Fire Chief Joe Mason said the firefighters were just following protocol. "We run our own fire department ambulances," he said. "When it's a call for a rollover, when send a heavy rescue and an engine. That's something that's not going to change if they call tomorrow."

According to Della Fave, since Route 80 is a state highway, the troopers had jurisdiction of the accident scene. The New Jersey Department of Transportation deferred comment to the state police.

Mason believes that it was a matter of the safety of his firefighters. "It's one of those things where we need a written protocol that (states) if a fire department is called, a lane is allowed to be closed off. When someone gets hit, it's too late."

Della Fave pointed out that the speed of the traffic on the road -- reaching up to speeds of 70 mph -- and a lack of visibility supported the trooper's decision. He said no flares or cones were used to mark the scene. He also noted that the accident scene was close to 30 feet off of the road and that drivers would not have noticed the accident if it weren't for the fire department.

Despite the state police's stance, Mason said his department won't back down from Jenkins' charges. "Naturally we feel that they are not justified, but we will deal with it," he said. "It is just like two kids in a sandbox; they have their side of it and we have ours."

One thing both sides agreed on was how unusual the situation was.

"This is the first time that it's come up; it was a unique situation for all of us," Mason said. "We work with them all the time."

Della Fave, who has been a spokesperson with the department for 13 years, said it is the first time he has seen anything like this. He said following the incident that State Police Lt. Kenneth Villano spoke with Mason about the incident.

"Those two individuals are committed to talking in the future to make sure something like this won't happen again," Della Fave said.

While Mason said it might be premature to set up a meeting with the state police, he does believe an open dialogue will help improve interaction in the future.

"I think a little better communication between the police and the fire department would help," he said. "We are looking forward to working in the future with the New Jersey State Police. We have had a good rapport and hope this was an isolated incident."

Read more about the story: http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/COMMUNITIES43/611290337/1203/NEWS01

 

I haven't heard anything more on this, but am waiting to hear the outcome, I know the head of the Division of fire safety for the state had a meeting with the State Police on this, 2 days after it happened but nothing has been said since.

We don't have any in our town & with the State Police we have a very good working relationship. We have Interstate 78 & the Garden State Parkway going thru town & deal with them a lot, as well as on Rt. 22.
The State PD normally only worry about keeping the highway open & traffic flowing, but depending on the incident will help in any way possible, including shutting down the highway.

Even when I did the towing for them, I very rarely had an issue with them helping out.

 

I think part of the problem here is this State Trooper doesn't know how many firefighters are killed & seriously injured each year on highways at accident & fire scenes, and that is the reason we ask for lane closures etc...

I know there were 2 times I actually got brushed by cars on the highways, once while at the pump panel & once getting equipment off the rig & it's a scary thing.