||| FROM AMANDA MONTAGUE |||


Over the course of many months, much has been said about the toxicity occurring at OIFR and the utter failure by OIFR leadership and the Commission to correct course and make the Department a workplace that feels safe for our first responders. It has been challenging to present all of the facts that have been known by some of us given the amount of time the Department takes to simply respond to public record requests and the retaliation that has been occurring for career first responders in speaking out about what has been happening.

As a former OIFR Commissioner who cares deeply about the Department and the people Orcas relies on for emergency services, I have been appalled by the lack of concern shown to the serious allegations that have been raised appropriately through the chain of command. I have also been disappointed by the way that the OIFR Commissioners (excluding Commissioner Shepler) and OIFR leadership have handled these complaints, and truly taken aback by the tone and tenure of the personal texts and emails received by those in the community who have dared to speak up. 

Since the beginning of this year, two long-standing OIFR paramedic/firefighters have chosen to leave the Department because of the hostile and toxic work environment. Within the last week, a third EMT/firefighter has put in her resignation for the very same reason. We all know these individuals. They are good and honorable people who have served the Orcas community with integrity and professionalism. Their attempts to address these issues internally were met with silence and in some cases with public shaming. Regardless, career first responders are leaving the Department and for good reason. And while the fact that they are leaving should be troubling and concerning, the reasons behind their departures need to be understood. 

While there are still many more public records requests waiting to be answered, a request I put in last December has finally come through (see below for the full text of the documents that were provided by OIFR). The documents can speak for themselves, and I would encourage everyone to read them. They are difficult and upsetting to read, but necessary in order to gain an understanding of how deeply dysfunctional OIFR has become.

The information contained in these documents has been known by the OIFR Commission, Chief Williams and Assistant Chief vanSchaick since December 2021. The individual who is outlined in the complaints was put on paid leave for a few months, and then welcomed back to serve as a member of the Department under the current leadership and Commission. One of the individuals who filed a complaint is now leaving the Department herself. 

While those of us who have been ringing the alarm bells publicly about what has been happening at OIFR have nothing to complain about compared to the members of the Department, the continual vitriol directed towards those who have spoken up is indicative of how toxic OIFR has become. True leadership takes criticism and concerns and makes a good faith effort in trying to address the problems that have been identified. What has been happening for over six months now is the absolute opposite of that.

Longstanding volunteers within the Department and members of the community who have simply dared to ask questions about what is going on have been met not only with resistance, but with outright hostility. Former Commissioner Wes Heinmiller, who slandered long serving members and volunteers of the OIFR community at his last OIFR Commission meeting in December, as recently as yesterday referred to those of us speaking out about the problems as a “gang,” “small minded,” “ill-informed” and most misogynistically as “the Harper Valley PTA.” This nonsense needs to end. Those of us raising concerns are doing so on behalf of the very people that the community relies on to provide the most important services in times of crisis. There is nothing for any of us to gain, but for a healthy OIFR and a team of professionals that feel respected and feel heard. I’m optimistic there will be more who will join us our call for changes in OIFR leadership and in oversight.

ATTACHMENTS:

Unsafe Workplace

December Statement


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