My new rig...

[GMTruckGuy74]

Okay, not really mine per say and I'm just a user along with the rest of the department, but starting in May I'll be able to drive this rig on my own:

It's a 2008 Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab/utility body that serves as the Traffic Unit/Fire Police vehicle for my local Emergency Services department. Last May I joined the department and by the end of the year was earmarked for fire police. I attended the required course in March, passed and now can serve with the department in that capacity. I have submitted a copy of my driving record last month and it should be official that I can drive the traffic unit truck on calls starting in May. The picture was taken last night as I performed policing duties at a community fundraiser at the local Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins.

Edited April 28, 2011 by GMTruckGuy74

[caddycruiser]

Very cool! Sounds like a great move to make, and especially when a big truck is involved

[GMTruckGuy74]

And yes, Dodgefan, I know that it has one of these:

But it is a truck (and not a GMC!) and I can approve of it.

LOL!

[Intrepidation]

I like those better than the refresh that followed. Looks well kept to be sure.

[Justin Bimmer]

So are you not teaching anymore? What is Fire Police?

[daves87rs]

Cool!

[GMTruckGuy74]

So are you not teaching anymore? What is Fire Police?

No, not teaching anymore since I was laid off last June and was unable to find another teaching position by September. I've been a contingent worker (aka "temp") with my wife's pharmaceutical company since early October, and hopefully the project I am working on will go permanent this summer and I get offered a full-time job. Otherwise, temp it will be for now (there's even more lay-offs this year in teaching, so who knows if that will be an option too?). I do have a 2^nd P/T job (originally just a seasonal holiday job), working retail at a local Toys R Us store. I took it for the holidays to earn extra $$$ for shopping, but they asked me to stay on after the season (only work Sundays, but added a couple of Saturdays this month). I put in my notice and my last day there is Sat. 5/7 since I was promoted in my pharma job that came with a 27% pay increase

Fire Police are the members of a fire department that go on location with the firefighters/EMTs and basically do three things - (1) protect the firefighters/EMTs on scene, (2) protect the public from danger, and lastly (3) preserve evidence at the scene. Most calls that my dept's fire police respond to are vehicle accidents, and it's our job to set-up cones/detours and direct, or re-direct, traffic around the accident scene. On occasion I've been told that we will also respond to structure fires to detour roads, but also guard a structure after the fire is extinguished until the fire marshal has completed his investiagtion (in NJ, the fire chief or marshal "own" your property until 48 hours have passed since the fire was put out or until the investigation has beem completed; as long as a member of the dept is on property, the fire dept owns it - usually fire police are the ones left in this duty). We also assist traffic duty at community events, setting up crosswalks and directing people to parking areas. A lot of calls the dept gets are for traffic accidents right off the NJ Turnpike (Exit 5) or Route I-295 (Exits 45 & 47) in Westampton, Burlington County - I know, it's like the old Jersey joke, "What exit do you live off of?"

Not a glamorous job compared to what the firefighters and EMTs do, but at my station all the volunteers get along well and treat one another with respect. We all have a job to do and respect what each brings to the table. There are a lot of members that are not from my town that belong there, because this comaderie doesn't exist at their hometown station (from what I've been told). I joined because I wanted to give back to my commnity in a way that didn't involve <direct> politics

[GMTruckGuy74]

I like those better than the refresh that followed. Looks well kept to be sure.

Yeah, I agree with you. The '99-'08 Super Duty are good looking trucks. We also have two slightly older Ford ambulances (2003 and 2006), and have just been awarded money from the township council for a new 3^rd ambulance since we have an agreement for shared services with the next town (Eastampton) for EMT calls. I asked and of course they said they're getting a new Ford ambulance (my goal is to get them to consider other brands, like GM and Dodge). More than likely this is what we'll get:

Our colors are white over fluorescent yellow:

Although I'd love to see these considered:

[Z-06]

So are you not teaching anymore? What is Fire Police?

No, not teaching anymore since I was laid off last June and was unable to find another teaching position by September. I've been a contingent worker (aka "temp") with my wife's pharmaceutical company since early October, and hopefully the project I am working on will go permanent this summer and I get offered a full-time job. Otherwise, temp it will be for now (there's even more lay-offs this year in teaching, so who knows if that will be an option too?). I do have a 2^nd P/T job (originally just a seasonal holiday job), working retail at a local Toys R Us store. I took it for the holidays to earn extra $$ for shopping, but they asked me to stay on after the season (only work Sundays, but added a couple of Saturdays this month). I put in my notice and my last day there is Sat. 5/7 since I was promoted in my pharma job that came with a 27% pay increase

Fire Police are the members of a fire department that go on location with the firefighters/EMTs and basically do three things - (1) protect the firefighters/EMTs on scene, (2) protect the public from danger, and lastly (3) preserve evidence at the scene. Most calls that my dept's fire police respond to are vehicle accidents, and it's our job to set-up cones/detours and direct, or re-direct, traffic around the accident scene. On occasion I've been told that we will also respond to structure fires to detour roads, but also guard a structure after the fire is extinguished until the fire marshal has completed his investiagtion (in NJ, the fire chief or marshal "own" your property until 48 hours have passed since the fire was put out or until the investigation has beem completed; as long as a member of the dept is on property, the fire dept owns it - usually fire police are the ones left in this duty). We also assist traffic duty at community events, setting up crosswalks and directing people to parking areas. A lot of calls the dept gets are for traffic accidents right off the NJ Turnpike (Exit 5) or Route I-295 (Exits 45 & 47) in Westampton, Burlington County - I know, it's like the old Jersey joke, "What exit do you live off of?"

Not a glamorous job compared to what the firefighters and EMTs do, but at my station all the volunteers get along well and treat one another with respect. We all have a job to do and respect what each brings to the table. There are a lot of members that are not from my town that belong there, because this comaderie doesn't exist at their hometown station (from what I've been told). I joined because I wanted to give back to my commnity in a way that didn't involve <direct> politics

Roger, what a fantastic opportunity. Good luck with it. Little did I know about Fire Police.

[A Horse With No Name]

Good luck Roger...the economy is coming back a little bit, but layoffs are still everywhere.

Some very talented people getting laid off in my children s schools...

[daves87rs]

Good luck Roger...the economy is coming back a little bit, but layoffs are still everywhere.

Some very talented people getting laid off in my children s schools...

True...