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Case for the Asterisk

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In baseball, the plea for the asterisk has been made when certain well-known figures reveal (or are led to reveal) that their professional record-setting achievements were not solely based on good exercise, healthy living and a mind for the game.

Street Racing Cited In Fatal Firefighter Crash
” A crash claimed the lives of two Blowing Rock volunteer firefighters last month, and now investigators have said the men may have been street racing at speeds greater than 100 mph against firefighters from out of town.”

Also, Two North Carolina Firefighters Killed Returning from Training Weekend, and USFA: North Carolina Line of Duty Deaths

By all rights and definitions (USFA) these two are entitled to, and have been, officially declared as having “died in the line of duty.”

So you tell me, when did street-racing become equated with running a line or searching the back bedroom? How is it that their names will be read aloud a year from now at Emmitsburg along with others, a majority of which were involved in some form of public safety service?

“Highway Patrol investigators have located a Chevrolet Camaro that left McDowell Fire and Rescue College at the same time as Bolick’s car, and spoken to the two 17-year-old junior firefighters who were in it. Officers said the two teens have admitted that they were racing and did not stop after the crash.”

Oh, but they gave so much service to their department and community…

Spare me.









Also on Backstep Firefighter …

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Posted by on April 15, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Commentary, Fire Rescue Topics, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News • Tagged: ,

5 Comments

  1. Dave LeBlanc says

    To count these as Line Of Duty is a dis-service to those that have paid the ulitmate price. It also overly inflates the statistics added more weight to the figures that are pointed to day in and day out as a reason for us to abondon our primary mission ans start thinking about us first.

    maybe it is time for the criteria to change……

    on April 15, 2010 @ 6:45 pm.
  2. Ron Ayotte says

    I wholeheartedly agree with my esteemed brother from Harwich.

    These “kids” did a stupid thing that should not be considered anything but a bad decision. To call it a LODD is a travesty for our Brothers and Sisters who made the supreme sacrifice while savings lives and property.

    on April 20, 2010 @ 8:43 pm.

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Continuing the Discussion

  1. Ever-Changing is Always Confusing! | Chief Reason Art linked to this post

    [...] I have seen a couple of recent articles that address public pensions (http://www.iacoj.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=12453&highlight=) and LODDs (http://backstepfirefighter.com/2010/04/15/case-for-the-asterisk/). [...]

    on April 18, 2010 @ 6:38 pm.
  2. Rhetorical Lesson No.4: Death By POV – Backstep Firefighter linked to this post

    [...] By all rights and definitions (USFA) these two are entitled to, and have been, officially declared as having “died in the line of duty.” The Case for the Asterisk [...]

    on November 11, 2010 @ 2:05 pm.
  3. Case For The Asterisk – RevisitedOr, “How Dieing While Doing Something Illegal Can Still Get You LODD Honors” – Backstep Firefighter linked to this post

    [...] out. You may have already seen this in The Secret List. Let me quickly bring you up to speed… Street Racing Cited In Fatal Firefighter Crash ” A crash claimed the lives of two Blowing Rock volunteer firefighters last month, and now [...]

    on December 16, 2010 @ 8:41 pm.