Search Results: co-workers

Over the many years, while our fire/rescue departments and EMS services were crumbling, I was dumbfounded as to why our law enforcement partners were viewed in a much better light than our other first responders.

Just recently in my state, for example, I have been placing huge pressure on our state's politicans to classify assaults against EMS and firefighters as a felony, instead of a misdemeanor. In 2021, my state passed the Back the Blue Act which made assaults against law enforcement an automatic felony, but they left out other first responders. Upon reading the amended law, EMS and firefighters were listed in the preexisting assault legislation before it was amended, but they chose to only focus on law enforcement. This in and of itself is a prime indicator that other first responders are excluded in policymaking initiatives. Finally, as we are only one of ten states that do not have felony assault charges for harming EMS and firefighters, our lawmakers are making steps to enhance these charges.

As the years progressed, our fire and emergency services were crumbling more and more, to the point that now it is a crisis. My former paramedic and EMT coworkers always stated they felt unheard and unappreciated many years back. These were the most cynical, miserable, pessimistic people I had ever worked with. That should have been a tall tell red flag alone.

I have a theory:

I believe the leftists were trying to defund law enforcement due to anarchy. I, however, also believe the conservative right politicians supported our law enforcement specifically because they are the armed security detail for them when the shit hits the fan and to enact their police state agenda. Otherwise, any care for our first responders by our politicians are minimal.