Insider could have filled chief’s position

In a recent letter to the VOP, a retired former captain who “…served this city for 38 and a half years on the Kenosha Fire Department” asked for people to write letters in support of the fire department.  He maintains that “city hall” has told “the citizens” that no one in the department was good enough to replace the retiring fire chief.

Ok, I’m a citizen and I’m writing.  I, too, have served the city.  I’m no hero, but I’m a good kid.  I don’t litter, I vote, I subscribe to our town’s newspaper, I listen to WLIP, I complain to the School Board and I pay my taxes.  I love this town, and I support it in any way I can.  And I get very upset when anyone who represents our city in any capacity doesn’t play by the rules.  It makes us all look bad.

I know there are a few fine men in the higher ranks of the fire department who could very capably have assumed the role of fire chief.  I also know that because of the misconduct of one or two, many promising men on the force have become victims of a blanket condemnation.

Perhaps if the “good ol’ boys” network hadn’t protected those who have misused their positions in the past, one of “our own” would be the head of the department now.

BMW

Taken in its entirety from the Kenosha News’ Voice of the People March 3, 2005