County finally gives boot to paying firefighters to help charity

The Clark County Fire Department has taken 12 years to change an unfair policy.

Back in 2000, Clark County Fire Chief Earl Greene raised an essential question: Is it fair for taxpayers to pay firefighters to raise money for one particular charity? In this case, the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

It's the same question I asked in 2004 and County Commissioner Steve Sisolak questioned in 2010.

Instead of taking Greene's issue seriously and changing the policy, county commissioners wrote a resolution commending the firefighters for their work on the MDA's annual Boot Drive. Leading that effort was none other than Erin Kenny, the corrupt county commissioner supported enthusiastically by county firefighters. (However, this was three years before it was known for sure she was corrupt.)

In 2004, I echoed Greene's question about the fairness of one nonprofit benefiting from taxpayer-funded "volunteers" when other equally worthy causes did not.

For that, I was ripped a new one, but by a minority. The hate you/thank you split ran about 25 percent hating and 75 percent thanking.

Chief Bertral Washington, encouraged by County Commissioner Steve Sisolak and county management, recently changed a policy that should have been changed 12 years ago when Chief Greene first realized the pitfalls and while firefighters were still considered America's heroes.

Washington said county firefighters need to support charities on their own time, although they can wear their uniforms if they wish.

Why now?

The chief took note that County Manager Don Burnette brought to his attention that other not-for-profit charitable organizations asked whether the firefighters would raise money for them as well.

Why shouldn't firefighters raise money for cancer research or abused children or any other worthy cause?

"My issue is that you've got to be fair to everybody," Sisolak said.

Washington made it clear the policy change was a result of talking to Burnette, county commissioners and MDA representatives that the solution is to do what people thought firefighters did all along: Volunteer on their own time.

Nationwide, according to MDA national spokeswoman Roxan Olivas, the majority of firefighters do it on the clock.

Over the past five years, the amounts raised by Southern Nevada firefighters have fallen between $70,000 and $100,000.

The policy change "is going to have an impact," Olivas anticipated, and not for the better.

Local fire departments have different policies.

In North Las Vegas, firefighters volunteer on their own time.

In Las Vegas, they're paid for "volunteering," although Chief Mike Myers is evaluating that policy.

In Henderson, firefighters raise money while being paid and will continue to do so as a community service, spokesman Bud Cranor said.

Clearly, this renewed interest in "fairness" of a policy that has been a practice since 1954 is a timely byproduct of the significant abuses by a small number of Clark County firefighters.

Since an arbitrator's report in January 2011 condemning firefighters' abuse of sick leave and overtime and the exploitation of disability benefits, the public view has altered, even though not all firefighters are scammers.

However, two firefighters were fired and more than a dozen disciplined, while others decided to retire. Still waiting for law enforcement to take action, but I doubt they ever do.

Sisolak, who has taken the lead in uncovering these abuses and pushed for the policy change, believes the policy change will actually make contributors more comfortable with giving to firefighters who are truly volunteering their time for the Boot Drive.

In discussions, it was suggested that perhaps firefighters conduct boot drives monthly or quarterly for other charities as well, but that was rejected because it would be disruptive to the department, he said.

"I believe the participation by firefighters will go up and contributions will go up," Sisolak predicted Wednesday.

Anybody giving odds?

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call her at (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Morrison