Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992 TAG: 9203110273
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
But Public Safety Director David Laurrell called the allegations "pure fabrication" by a disgruntled volunteer.
Laurrell said there would have been no need to manipulate daylight response times, which already were high because many volunteer rescue squad members work at jobs out of the county.
Many volunteers - including Swicegood's son - welcomed the addition of four paid paramedics.
"We have trouble with daytime calls," Gary Swicegood told a reporter in 1990. "They [paid staff] are ready to respond at a moment's notice."
Jack Swicegood made his comments Monday night outside a Board of Supervisors meeting, where about 15 disgruntled fire and rescue volunteers turned out to air their complaints against Laurrell.
When supervisors would not allow the volunteers to speak, they moved to the hallway, where Swicegood spoke to reporters.
Swicegood claimed that volunteer rescue squads could respond to emergency calls within three minutes before Laurrell was hired four years ago. Swicegood claimed that Laurrell slowed the response times to persuade the Board of Supervisors to hire four paid paramedics to supplement the volunteers.
Laurrell replied that the response times have fallen steadily since the county implemented standardized operating procedures and hired paid personnel during weekdays.
"This is all documented," he said. "The response time used to be 10 or 15 minutes. We don't even have a three-minute response time today."
Laurrell claimed that the majority of the county's 500 volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members support changes that have taken place.
Jeff Hodges, captain of the Franklin County Rescue Squad, said Swicegood's comments did not reflect the thinking of members of his squad.
by CNB