The FDNY is currently trying to unravel the details concerning an allegedly drunk individual in uniform, sleeping at the entrance to an apartment building following St. Patrick’s Day festivities in New York.
A few years back my department was confronted with a similar situation. The proper crisis management of inebriated firefighters in uniform can be a difficult one to call for a PIO and department leadership.
Following a parade, a member of my department was found hours later, in uniform, inebriated, sleeping in a convenience store. Although the mental image is humorous this is no laughing matter when it comes to crisis management.
Although this members conduct was witnessed by numerous visitors to the store, was it called for and appropriate to make a statement to the media and public concerning the incident?
We handled the matter in the following way. I would be pleased if you would give me your take on how you would have addressed the situation.
1. We felt that we would be opening a Pandora’s Box by further exposing the incident to the public by making a formal statement. We did not release any statement to the media.
2. In the event that we did receive calls from the media or public, a statement was prepared to use in that event.
3. We immediately reviewed our policies to see if this type of incident was addressed. We found it was not and immediately crafted language that formed a policy prohibiting any member from drinking alcoholic beverages or misbehaving while in uniform away from a Department sanctioned event.
4. We called department members together to discuss the incident and new policy. We felt that the main way this incident would travel would be via the rumor mill. We needed each member to act as ambassadors of the department to confront the incident and set the record straight about how this conduct is not condoned, and a policy is in effect to make sure it never happens again. We felt this would be the flash point of the crisis, rumors traveling quickly.
5. We were right that the incident was ultimately contained to the story spreading via word of mouth. The media or public never formally confronted the department on the issue. Members did a great job talking to friends and neighbors who had heard about the incident, telling them of the departments’ new policy and distaste for firefighters in uniform being involved in negative situations.
6. The member was suspended for one year.
Here is the NY1 story on the FDNY incident.
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- Less in More in Social Media – August 31, 2010
Jeff;
It sounds as though you guys had your heads on straight in dealing with this.
I’ve always been in favor of separating drinking/drugs/anything else like that from the fire service; this includes bars and such in the firehouse (needless to say, many disagree with me).
In today’s easily accessible society, one need not look too far to see images of a person in FD apparel (e.g., T shirt) drinking posted on social networking groups. It’s always been my personal opinion that, if you’re going out drinking, #1, give up your keys and get a ride from a sober driver, and #2, leave the FD stuff (T shirt, pager, etc.) at home.
Sounds like the protocol followed and created worked. Nice comprehensive strategy. I have a personal question–is/was the individual a habitual drinker? If so, then I am hoping the suspension came with some intervention as well. Otherwise you will likely be using that new policy down the road to substantiate yet another suspension. It seems like on your end you did what you needed to, but there’s “his” end as well. What were his “why’s” dictating his actions and how are those being addressed. There’s a misalignment in your organizations vision of the “uniform” versus his vision of the “uniform”.
Thanks for the comments Lisa. Good points. I was not privy to the behind the door discussion that took place prior to the suspension. I do not know if the suggestion of intervention or rehabilitation took place, it would have been advantageous. I will attempt to find out the answer for you. I do know that no initial incidents have taken place from this member, his conduct has been exemplary.
I also neglected to mention that the department touched base with legal council to investigate any potential pitfalls from the incident.
Lisa, you make a very good point as far as interventions. If this person does have more issues than may appear on the surface, an employee assistance program may be a very valid referral.
Good thinking!
Jeff,
It is good to know that someone gives this stuff some thought and has a realistic plan to deal with these type of incidents.
These days, with the Internet and everyone with cameras, there are very few secrets in any organization. Often it leaks out on a website first before the traditional news media gets it.
As you now there are a lot more organizations taking an incident like this and not waiting for the press to call. They are actually taking control of the story by releasing it themselves using the concepts you talked about in the quote from Warren Buffett.
Either way, with what you planned to put out in your statement on that incident, did it really lay out what happened? If it didn’t, and it left too many unanswered questions, as you know, it could very well help stretch such a story into many days.
My experience is that too many people don’t get the concept of “get it over”. It requires a level of candor that not everyone can deal with.
Just some thoughts. Keep up the good work. I am really enjoying what you are writing.
Dave
Dave,
First, thank you for the kind words on your blog about The Fire PIO. Not to suck up, but your blog, statter911.com, certainly sets the standard for firematic reporting.
It was a tough call with this incident. Since its view was limited only to the people that entered and left the store, we felt it best to not expose the situation to the press which in our estimation could have made it fish bait.
We did not want to be put in the position where some people in the media, who eat up these types of problems, could have made this a stereotypical story about the “hard drinking volunteers” who take advantage of the system. I was also concerned about this becoming an expose of volunteer fire departments in general, which would have unintentionally dragged in other neighboring departments.
If indeed we were confronted by the media about the incident we would have certainly been honest, transparent and accurate in providing information and facts.