Plan to install security cameras at fire department draws criticism
Published 9:28 am Wednesday, November 4, 2015
By ANNELI FOGT
Editor
The Vashon Island Fire & Rescue Board of Commissioners voted last week to install a roughly $15,000 security surveillance camera system, but commissioner candidate Brigitte Schran Brown and firefighters who are part of the local union were quick to call for a second look at the project.
Brown says her call for reconsideration comes mostly because the cameras are to be installed inside the vehicle and maintenance bays where staff members work, not simply outside, and that installing them raises both financial and morale concerns at the district, which faces challenges in both areas.
Randy Tonkin, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 4189, said that the union takes issue with the fact that the cameras’ purpose seems to be to watch employees. Tonkin said the union this week informed VIFR administrators that installing surveillance cameras “to monitor employee activities is a change of working conditions and requires negotiation.”
“The (VIFR) administration agreed, which appears to be an affirmation that they actually intend to monitor volunteers and employees at VIFR,” Tonkin said Tuesday in a written statement. “We are unaware of any particular incident that would have been a catalyst for this action and are unclear why the commission would want to treat members of the organization this way. We are concerned about the message it sends to our hard-working men and women at VIFR and believe it would do nothing but deteriorate morale and foster an atmosphere of distrust. Furthermore, when we operate on such a tight budget, we question if this is the best use of taxpayer money.”
Following the Thursday meeting where the decision to install the cameras was made, VIFR commissioner Rex Stratton said that the board has been “kicking the idea” of a surveillance system around for months due to concerns about security. Stratton said that commissioner Ron Turner proposed the idea by stating that if the department keeps downsizing, there may not be enough people to watch the station 24/7.
“Ron’s concern is that if we continue to downsize to a chief and captains, we can’t keep track of everything,” Stratton said. “He sees it as anti-theft because our bays are open.”
The Beachcomber’s calls to Turner were not immediately returned.
Stratton said that he was the only commissioner who opposed the idea, and he believes the system would be a “waste of money” and would do nothing to help morale.
“We’re trying to get morale up, and this shows a lack of confidence,” Stratton said. “(The firefighters, paramedics and volunteers) perceive it as surveillance.”
VIFR Assistant Fire Chief George Brown said last week that the idea was brought up by the commissioners, and approved by them. He said his personal opinion is that the cameras are not necessary.
He said he plans to approve a bid for the security camera system to be installed within the current budget year. He also addressed the concern about surveillance of personnel, saying he would not monitor members of the department, but would only look at footage if there was a security concern.
Volunteer Charlie Krimmert, an architect who works off-island, is a lieutenant with the department and serves as a firefighter/EMT. He agreed with Stratton about the money and morale issues.
“It doesn’t seem like a necessity, and it’s disheartening to hear the administration say that they don’t have an opinion,” Krimmert said. “They’re paid to care. We have no morale here.”
Brigitte Brown was at the Thursday night board meeting and spoke up about the camera system. The Beachcomber reached out to her after learning some were taking issue with the decision. She disagreed with the cameras being placed in the bays, calling the move “ridiculous.” She then called 35 Western Washington fire stations and asked if they used surveillance cameras at their stations. She found that four use camera systems, and two of those have cameras inside their buildings.
“I am sharing with you … my concern over what I feel is a ‘knee jerk’ reaction,” she said in a weekend email to commissioners. “Only two (stations) use (cameras) because of high crime in their area — and these are the only two that place cameras inside bays.”
She went on to say that the most high-crime area of White Center does not use cameras and “doesn’t feel a need to do so.” She also said two departments put in cameras and then removed them a year later, finding they were not worth the expense. Brigitte Brown said members of the department are working with their union to see if the decision can be reconsidered and negotiated. As of Monday night, she said she had received no indication that the board would reconsider. It will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Station 55.
