What’s Your Emergency

Latest Episodes:

The Trifecta: TikTok, White Claw, and Hookers Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

What a wacky week it has been for law enforcement. Two stories jumped out and hit MC in the face this week and of course we had fire up the mics and talk about it.

First up, Officer Breanna Straus who has some advice if you see her in your rear view mirror.

Next up we have someone who also should have known better, Georgia Deputy Police Chief Jason DiPrima, and his arrest in part of a sting operation by Florida Police for human trafficking and sex crimes.

He was also arrested for crimes against beverages because he brought $180 AND a mixed case of White Claw to his arrest (sexual encounter).

This week we talk about:

Do young cops come in as idiots or do they learn it on the job?
How does a TikTok video that makes your Department look foolish only result in 1 day off?
Is White Claw really THAT good? Spoiler Alert: Nope.
What would HM and MC say to the public if confronted by someone as stupid as Mr DiPrima?

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MC Back in the Saddle?! Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

Your favorite cartoon fireman, Justin, was wondering one day what it might take to get world famous motor officer and noted Soul Crusher, Jason, out of retirement and back on the bike.

It turns out the only answer is a ton of money and an unrealistic set of circumstances. But why? Why doesn't the industry adapt to what the experts are willing to work for? Is it really better to keep kids on the job at low wages and insane retirements in exchange for not hiring MC back? Oh, back...his back is messed up but in this episode I'm curious what it would take for MC to get back on the bike.

What does the Soul Crusher demand?

This week we ponder:

If MC would assume a command position or a line officer position
Just how much more do we need to pay him
What would he expect back from the organization
Would Elon Musk need traffic cops to patrol AI controlled self driving cars?

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Live from the Gates of Hell Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

In some places in the world temperatures are extreme. These places include Antarctica, Death Valley, Mississippi, the Sahara and, for the forseable future, our neck of the Left Coast.

Weather experts are predicting record high heat in some parts of the Western US with some places that hover in the 90s on their worst days seeing an entire week above 100 with some days above 110. Today's forecast at MCPD? 114.

The guys had to fire up the mics at 0830 to beat the heat for this episode and they discuss how to stay as cool as you can while working through a heatwave.

(And not so ironically, we got a visit from our roving neighborhood utilities worker. Say what you will about their Powers That Be...but, much like the Disciplines, the folks working the streets are busting their asses.)

This week we tackle:

MC's famous 10X10 approach to traffic enforcement in the heat
HM's tips for keeping your ambulance cool, especially when you seek refuge elsewhere
Products and techniques when the above tips fail
How on Earth people in Las Vegas do this for a living in these conditions

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Cop Recognizes Fentanyl and Fireman Recognizes Career Suicide Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

Ripped from the headlines like an old episode of Law & Order (Chris Noth and Jerry Orbach of course), your favorite Fire and Police experts are back with a couple of stories that made us scratch our heads this week. One involves life and the other death and then some.

First up the heroic efforts of Officer Maysih Ford and what he did to revive a 2-year-old who ingested what Ford recognized as a possible fentanyl tablet. Our discussion revolves around why the story had to go into detail about fentanyl tablets and the park and all the other stuff. Officer Ford saved a life using his CPR training and our hats are off to him here at WYE Radio. First round is on us if you're ever in the area, sir.

Now in the "not getting a beer for WYE" category is former Miami Firefighter Kevin Newcomb who thought it would be a neat idea to type "Who cares another dead cop" after the on duty death of Officer Cesar Echaverry who was shot and killed in a shoutout with a robbery suspect. Our discussion revolves around SMACS (Social Media Assisted Career Suicide) and other comments Newcomb made about a serious threat to Police Officers recently: COVID.

This week we discuss:

How it is that a cop can spot fentanyl on site (and not pass out...hint hint)
Why Police Departments have recently been trying to send any good news out
SMACS and the crowded restaurant rule of social media, even in private chats
Puppies

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STUMP HM & MC - Face to Face Cop vs Fireman strikes again! Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

Once again we fire up the microphones and dig up 3 stories to try to stump one another! HM has 3 questions for MC and MC has prepared his own 3 questions to try to stump HM with stories from EMS, Fire, Military, Police and Disaster Preparedness.

We are now also starting a new scoreboard! So only to be fair (TOOOOO BE FAIIIIIIR!) I, as score master, hereby erase all scores and we start new, with each correct answer being worth 1/8 of 1 Dabloon.

Which can you get right?!

Well, how did you do on our quiz? Did we stump you?

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Your Early Look at Office Hours: New Feature for our Patreon Supporters! Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Warning: Explicit Content

Also Warning: We talk movies and actors and completely forget Elijah Woods' name.

Many years ago, when we were recording our previous show which was laden with expletives, innuendo and clergy molestation humor, Mrs MC mentioned that our off the mic conversations were more interesting than our on the mic conversations and we would often shout "WHY AREN'T WE RECORDING?!"

So here we are, just being us, hanging out as us and recording. Office hours. Come on in and have a seat.

This is going to be a regular monthly feature at our Patreon page for our supporters. For a few bucks a month, you can feel like you're just hanging with the guys. Grab a beer and listen to the tomfoolery!

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Off Duty SFFD Probie, Gun Play, and Puppies Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

You read that right, champions, an off duty firefighter was arrested recently in California after shooting someone over a dispute regarding puppies.

Not Dalmations, that would be too obvious. As a quick aside, Dalmations were adopted as Firehouse dogs because they were mostly deaf, dumb as rocks and full of energy. They would run ahead of the horse drawn teams and clear the way when responding to an alarm. The horses left but the dogs stayed. Now, back to the shooting...

According to KTVU Channel 2 News in San Francisco, Byron Pointer was arrested after shooting at a dog breeder after an exchange went sour. Can we take a moment to appreciate that there are hundreds of dogs in shelters near these folks and that they are a viable option? Thank you.

That said, Mr Pointer had apparently expressed interest in purchasing 2 puppies for $5500 but as he arrived at the exchange he took the prominence papers and brandished a firearm. Later, after some confusing driving around between the 2, shots were fired and the breeder was hit twice.

While your hosts agree that shooting people over dogs is stupid and that shelter dogs are just as amazing as your fancy pups, a tidbit missing in the story pertains to the off duty Firefighter's possible status: Probationary. While not confirmed, it is a good reminder that when you're on probation they can fire you if you sneeze wrong.

This week we discuss:

How media can bury the big stuff under a headline
Why shooting at people on probation probably isn't the best use of your time
How MC and HM found their dogs
Why you should never reveal your occupation when arrested, unless it is really cool

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FDNY Deputy Cheif Vincent Dunn's definition of "acceptable loss of life" Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

FDNY veteran Vincent Dunn has forgotten more fires than you'll ever see. He has published articles, guidelines and books describing things you study for your promotional exam. The man eats, breathes and keeps fire in his life. So what happens when he posts something online about acceptable loss of life at "vacant building fires"? WYE takes notice.

Dunn recently posted about firefighters risking their lives at "vacant" structures involved in fire and that the deaths of squatters inside is acceptable because, in words he posted online elsewhere, "he probably started the fire, F*** him." Dunn has since posted more descriptive versions of this opinion but when this hit the fire webs it, well, ignited a firestorm of comments! (Insert Fozzie Bear meme here).

This week Justin, a slightly less experienced fire fighter of 30 years and our law enforcement expert Jason discuss when we risk a lot to save a lot and what we think of the extremes of Dunn's comments and what he was probably getting at with a burst of firehouse language. And, is that acceptable for someone of his stature or should we be glad this conversation has taken on a life of its own?

This week we debate:

If cancel culture has reached Vincent Dunn's Fire Battlespace
Why Firefighters and Officers should be reading Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast & Slow
If a tax payer needs to be involved for fire EMS or Police to get involved
What happened to Justin's studio headphones

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Uvalde: Command, Communication, and Forcible Entry Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

With so many topics floating around the feeds while we were off, HM decides to ask MC some specifics about training on the LEO side compared to some of the issues that have arisen following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

Our show always tried to share what we can learn from one another and this week we focus on three glaring issues that came from the Texas DPS investigation into the Uvalde response:

Unified Command, Radio Communications and Forcible Entry. HM was very surprised at some of MC's answers.

Editor's Note: In his confusion over mass shooting suspects, HM incorrectly states the killer in Uvalde was taken alive. He died at the scene. Also, the training was hosted 2 months prior to the shooting, not 2 weeks.

This week we learn:

If PD sets up ICS Command like Fire does and what elements are different
That SWAT isn't always the answer in an active shooter scenario
Radio communications failures can range from antenna issues to "I forgot to turn on my radio"
That Mrs MC has to constantly add "Retired!" when MC mentions he's in law enforcement

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What's OUR Emergency Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

You last heard from us on June 1st with a Steve Poltz concert. What happened the morning after that concert had both our families in chaos for almost the entire month of June.

MClet #2 fell ill and the families scrambled with childcare, driving to and from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, dance classes, summer activities, you name it. Oh, and sleep.

There just wasn't a chance to fire up the microphones and be topical. We apologize for our absence but as we've always said, family comes first. Always.

So, come hear the details of our absence and a few topics we hope to discuss in the coming weeks!

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