Please take
the time to read this very heartfelt article by a young man who finally realizes
that golden moment of ascending to a chief officer position only to have it
bombarded by negative feeling because the promotion came about as a result of losing a friend who committed suicide.
Would your department be sensitive to these same issues? My thanks to the author
for his courage to share.
the time to read this very heartfelt article by a young man who finally realizes
that golden moment of ascending to a chief officer position only to have it
bombarded by negative feeling because the promotion came about as a result of losing a friend who committed suicide.
Would your department be sensitive to these same issues? My thanks to the author
for his courage to share.
“When
your big day is clouded by suicide who is there to help!”
your big day is clouded by suicide who is there to help!”
I started my
career in the fire service early, following in my father’s footsteps just as many
others have done. I started on a volunteer department and tested into a
full-time job on a neighboring department.
career in the fire service early, following in my father’s footsteps just as many
others have done. I started on a volunteer department and tested into a
full-time job on a neighboring department.
After
starting at this full-time job, I set my goals of where I wanted to be in the
fire service, Battalion Chief. I started taking classes to learn the job as
well as getting the prerequisites for promotion testing out of the way.
starting at this full-time job, I set my goals of where I wanted to be in the
fire service, Battalion Chief. I started taking classes to learn the job as
well as getting the prerequisites for promotion testing out of the way.
I took many
classes that put my family second for a while. They stood by me and are quite proud of my accomplishments. I continued
to test to get on the Battalion Chiefs list. There was one opening due to a
retirement with three of us testing. I ended up number two on the list and was
happy with that, because things change and you will never know what is in your
future. Things change!
classes that put my family second for a while. They stood by me and are quite proud of my accomplishments. I continued
to test to get on the Battalion Chiefs list. There was one opening due to a
retirement with three of us testing. I ended up number two on the list and was
happy with that, because things change and you will never know what is in your
future. Things change!
They changed
all right. The Battalion Chief who got
promoted ahead of me had taken his own life. This came as a complete shock to
all of us, none of us ever thought anything like this would ever happen to
anyone in our department. We did not know how to handle this type of
situation. Questions were asked over and
over, why did he do it? Did we miss a sign?
all right. The Battalion Chief who got
promoted ahead of me had taken his own life. This came as a complete shock to
all of us, none of us ever thought anything like this would ever happen to
anyone in our department. We did not know how to handle this type of
situation. Questions were asked over and
over, why did he do it? Did we miss a sign?
I happened to
be the last to see him as he left after his shift. Things seemed normal. We had
our normal conversations and he left. I was not ready for the phone call later
that morning.
be the last to see him as he left after his shift. Things seemed normal. We had
our normal conversations and he left. I was not ready for the phone call later
that morning.
I knew I
would be promoted soon as his replacement. It was a horrific way to be promoted! The promotion day was scheduled a
couple weeks after the funeral. At the promotion there were still signs of
grief. I thought it would be more of a celebration. I spent my whole career
preparing for this moment by going to school, teaching, and bettering myself.
would be promoted soon as his replacement. It was a horrific way to be promoted! The promotion day was scheduled a
couple weeks after the funeral. At the promotion there were still signs of
grief. I thought it would be more of a celebration. I spent my whole career
preparing for this moment by going to school, teaching, and bettering myself.
I was known
as ‘the person who is replacing Pat ‘, and not as the newly promoted B/C. As someone prepares for retirement, there is
time to teach the replacement where everything is and a mentoring process. The
jobs you are responsible for are given to you with expectations.
as ‘the person who is replacing Pat ‘, and not as the newly promoted B/C. As someone prepares for retirement, there is
time to teach the replacement where everything is and a mentoring process. The
jobs you are responsible for are given to you with expectations.
When someone
dies or takes their own life, you are thrown into the position during the time
of grieving. Someone has to go through the file cabinets and clean out the
files and prepare it for the new replacement. I had to clean out the file cabinet of my friend and go through all his
records. Since there was no note, in the back of my mind was the thought, what
if I find the note tucked away? Who do I tell? What do I do?
dies or takes their own life, you are thrown into the position during the time
of grieving. Someone has to go through the file cabinets and clean out the
files and prepare it for the new replacement. I had to clean out the file cabinet of my friend and go through all his
records. Since there was no note, in the back of my mind was the thought, what
if I find the note tucked away? Who do I tell? What do I do?
I went
through the file cabinet and figured out what to save. I asked the chiefs for
assistance and guidance but they told me to use my best judgment. They, too, were still in shock and grieving.
through the file cabinet and figured out what to save. I asked the chiefs for
assistance and guidance but they told me to use my best judgment. They, too, were still in shock and grieving.
There have
been 100 deaths a year in the fire service where something like this is
happening. A longtime friend of mine recently passed away on duty. They will
have to replace him. His replacement will be known as ‘the one who is replacing
Mark’. Another firefighter was killed locally and his replacement will be known
as ‘the firefighter who is replacing Brian’. That stigma will stay with that
person for the rest of his or her career.
been 100 deaths a year in the fire service where something like this is
happening. A longtime friend of mine recently passed away on duty. They will
have to replace him. His replacement will be known as ‘the one who is replacing
Mark’. Another firefighter was killed locally and his replacement will be known
as ‘the firefighter who is replacing Brian’. That stigma will stay with that
person for the rest of his or her career.
Their
swearing in will be viewed as ‘the one replacing Brian or Mark ‘, and the story
will be told of how they died. There is not as much celebration when this type
of hiring or promotion happens.
swearing in will be viewed as ‘the one replacing Brian or Mark ‘, and the story
will be told of how they died. There is not as much celebration when this type
of hiring or promotion happens.
Eventually
things will get back to normal, assignments will be made and the firefighter
will proceed on with his job, but the transition can be lengthy and
troubled.
things will get back to normal, assignments will be made and the firefighter
will proceed on with his job, but the transition can be lengthy and
troubled.
There should
be some counseling or assistance ready for the newly promoted officer to take
the job. The person who gets promoted usually comes from the inside. They have
to deal with the death as well as the new position. In my case the shift was
looking for some support through this ordeal also. There should be counseling
on how to deal with this.
be some counseling or assistance ready for the newly promoted officer to take
the job. The person who gets promoted usually comes from the inside. They have
to deal with the death as well as the new position. In my case the shift was
looking for some support through this ordeal also. There should be counseling
on how to deal with this.
