By Curt Middleton
Executive Editor
Throughout the nation, actually across the globe, firefighters are justifiably held in high regard. This is a reputation earned since the public views the fire service as a “constant,” a “rock” of strength and stability to which the public KNOWS it can turn to in times of need. Firefighters are crisis managers whether that crisis is a dwelling fire, a road accident, medical disaster or other medical emergency. Firefighters run toward danger and protect or free us, a grateful public, from impending harm. Yes, they receive training for their special mission but it does take a person of unquestionable, unflinching character to lay their own life down to save yours.
It doesn’t make a difference if a member of the public has had personal experience at the hands of a heroic firefighter or merely bears witness to the many Herculean feats of unselfish heroism displayed daily on the nightly news. Why do we cherish and honor our firefighters? That’s because we believe them – men and women – to be the best of what we, as human beings, really are. But, it takes just a small incident to tarnish this hard-won respect and reputation. Now the Lehigh Acres community has learned that some private decisions made by a pair of local firefighters have led to public embarrassment. Now the headline blares out a sex scandal in the LAFD and a story is revealed not about firefighters acting selflessly and heroically.
Now the story reads about firefighters acting rather selfishly and irresponsibly. Unfortunately, the impact produced by a couple of department employees that engage in inappropriate, unethical, immoral or just outright violate policy reflects not only upon the character of the individuals involved, but upon the entire department as a whole.
One bad apple does spoil the whole bunch. Why?
Once upon a time this type of scandal would become a well-guarded secret protected by what is a severely strong sub-culture. Sure, some sort of punishment might be doled out, but the adoring public who hold firefighters in such high esteem would never get word of such an incident. Transfers would be made, reprimands announced quietly and possibly some sort of financial deprivation would be levied by management to drive the point home.
Yet, was the point always “Don’t get caught?” Is an act immoral, inappropriate or unethical if the perpetrators are never revealed? The age of inquiring mass communication has produced enough resources where even small, tightly closed subcultures such as the LAFD will receive way too much scrutiny to successfully sweep any adverse “news” under the fire hydrant.
Making matters worse than they could be the firefighter in question who has been disciplined – Larry Arfmann – has refused to take his medicine. Caught in the act of conducting a personal and sexual relationship with fellow firefighter/paramedic Denise Potter, LAFD Chief John Wayne has deemed it an appropriate punishment to demote Arfmann from his present rank of lieutenant to that of a firefighter/paramedic. This was his rank prior to being promoted back in 2007 to lieutenant.
Additionally, recorded statements from Wayne and Arfmann’s supervisor Battalion Chief Tim Christensen point to Arfmann as having the potential to become one of the department’s next battalion chiefs. With such a public star on the rise, one cannot help but wonder why he didn’t think things through much more clearly?
But, do we, the outraged taxpaying public have the right to demand that our paid heroes live up to some Spartan warrior-like code of mortal aptitude?
Yes we do. These people are paid to conduct themselves in a way that is far beyond approach.
Arfmann is married. Ouch!
If he were a married teacher having a dalliance with a fellow educator would there be public outrage?
Arfmann was Denise Potter’s supervisor. More ouch!
If Arfmann was a married teacher and had an affair with his teacher’s aide would there be no public outcry?
And now, Arfmann will make the district taxpayers pay for his poor private decisions and public embarrassment. Instead of taking his punishment in true heroic warrior-like fashion, he wants to whine and contend the discipline is inappropriate and far too harsh for the violation he committed, which was only the failure to report the affair (district calls it “dating”) immediately to his supervisor.
So, taxpayers of the LAFD…what is an appropriate disciplinary action that should be administered to someone who broke your trust…and has possibly diluted your faith in firefighter heroes?