[Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up

[Donovan Arnold]

Legally prescribed medications, like the one that Mr. Fox is describing, are pretty easy to come by for people in the medical and health care profession. Most firefighters nowadays are also EMTs and Paramedics, which means they are authorized to give certain medications, which means they have them on them while at work. There are dozens of ways someone with access to medications can get them. It is not uncommon to have scams going on in nursing homes when nurses switch out morphine oral injections with water, they look the same, or switch out an opioid or a narcotic with a 500 mg acetaminophen, an uncontrolled substance, which looks the same. 
 
So, trying to track down a pill that could come from any paramedic, is very futile and unproductive. 
 
However, I do think it is a serious offense to be stealing medications because the person may be an addict and a danger to their patients. Also if they are stealing medications from their patients then they are harming their patients, which is the worst of all. They are also probably liars, to cover their tracks, and dangerous to others as well.
 
If someone is caught with drugs, or suspected of being on drugs, the supervisor is suppose to send them to be tested immediately, put them on suspension until an investigation is completed, either exonerating them, or finding them with a controlled substance. Even under the influence of a legal substance, like alcohol, can be considered illegal for health care professionals while on duty. Whiskey or cocaine, it doesn't matter. 
 
If a supervisor doesn't take this action, they are also guilty of endangering their patients because they knowingly ignored a potential threat to a person(s) in their charge.
 
But, please don't jump to conclusions, we don't have any facts. We were not their that night. It is not always a crime for a medical/health care professional to have medications in their possession. There are lots of reasons why a paramedic, nurse, EMT, care provider, etc. may have legal prescription drugs with them. And we don't know what was reported, to whom, when and why. All this makes a big difference.  
 
Donovan J. Arnold

From: Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com>
To: vision2020 at moscow.com; lrozen at dnews.com 
Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up


Continuing my comments of yesterday:

First, some additional information for those not aware of the various dangers and consequences of Oxycodene:

A few days ago I posted this link about babies born addicted to prescription drugs including Oxycodene:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/28/health/drug-babies/index.html?hpt=hp_c1


Here is one on Oxycodene abuse:

http://www.novusdetox.com/oxycontin-prescription-drug-abuse.php


Here is one on the effects on the crime rate of opiods (Oxycodene is one such synthetic narcotic):

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/us/24drugs.html?_r=1


It's not rocket science to understand that illegal Oxycodene use poses some very real and serious dangers to any community, and that includes Moscow and Latah County.  That is why I continue to be agape at the coverup of the usage of such by a paid, firehouse resident firefighter at the MVFD where the coverup was engineered, approved, and defended by Moscow City Councilperson and MVFD Captain Dan Carscalen and MVFD Fire Chief Ed Button who compared the possession of Oxycodene with possession of a bottle of whiskey.

Firstly, possession of whiskey by a firehouse resident firefighter, who is on call for emergencies, and who could respond to such after having taken a few or more nips of whiskey, is hardly appropriate.

Secondly, possession and usage of Oxycodene without a valid prescription is a state and federal crime, whereas possession of whiskey by one over twenty-one years of age is not.  Failure to report such a crime when there is reasonable grounds to believe that such has occurred can be charged a obstruction of justice under federal law.

Thirdly, the effects of whiskey and Oxycodene on performance can be catastrophic, especially Oxycodene (see previously posted side effects).  By using Oxycodene just before responding to an emergency by a firefighter places his/hers co-firefighters, the victims of the emergency, and the public at risk, and the liability of allowing someone to continue duties as an emergency responder who is known to have possessed and used Oxycodene as a resident firefighter places Moscow and the taxpayer supported fire district in financial jeopardy.  What will happen to the liability insurance rates once the underwriter discovers this incident and the casual, inappropriate response to it?

Would you want a responder to a life and death emergency in your life to be under the influence of a narcotic?

What are the other facts we need to know about this incident?  Was it an isolated incident?  What was the maximum number of capsules at one time at the firehouse?  Were any sold or provided to other firefighters, and since the MVFD and MPD work together, were any sold or provided to any member of the MPD?  And what about the straws found?  Was there cocaine use in the firehouse?  And, if the possessing firefighter did not have an valid prescription, Where did the Oxycodene come from?

The last question above is especially troubling.  Illicit, addictive narcotics are being sold in our community.  Given the facts about Oxycodene, it is clearly a substance that the community needs to have strong vigilance about and protection from. 

There is no getting around the fact by there behavior so far Carscalen and Buttom have so far cost the community an opportunity to find out where the alleged offender procured the illicit supply of Oxycodene, if no valid prescription was issued.  Therefore, besides being guilty of covering up a crime, possibly guilty of obstruction of justice, Carscalen and Button have become enables of illicit narcotic possession and use.  This is not behavior one would hope for in public officials, especially from one whose oath of office forbids such behavior.  Winking at narcotics possession is something should be grounds for their resignations, if they were honorable people, that is.

I do not know what the MPD intends to do, if anything.  One would hope that they would evince strong interest in finding the extent of what has occurred here, and finding where the illicit narcotic came from!  This incident is an acid test for the MPD and its leadership.  Will there be an effective, complete, honest investigation on the behalf and for the sake of the community, or will this incident we ignored, whitewashed, or swept under the rugs to avoid embarrassing two public officials? 

Anybody want to place a wager?

-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)


On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 5:36 PM, Art Deco <art.deco.studios at gmail.com> wrote:

Wayne,
>
>There is little disagreement with what you say about whitewash investigations of local politicians, god ole boys/girls, and religious crackpots.  One can only hope, except as noted below there is an alternative.
>
>
>Oxycontin, a synthetic narcotic, is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Possession of it without a valid prescription is a crime.  It is both a state and federal crime, and depending on the circumstance may be a felony.
>Besides being addictive unless used properly, here are some of the side effects:
>"Constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; heartburn;lightheadedness; nausea; stomach upset; vomiting.
>Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); bloody or black stools; confusion; dark urine; decreased or difficult urination; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; hallucination; hearing loss; mood or mental changes; muscle pain, weakness, or cramps; one-sided weakness; ringing in the ears;seizures; severe dizziness, drowsiness, headache, or lightheadedness; severe or persistent constipation, heartburn, or stomach pain; shortness of breath; slow or shallow breathing; trouble swallowing; unusual bruising or bleeding;vision or speech problems; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; wheezing; yellowing of the skin or eyes.             This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur." 
>Here are some questions: 
>Did the paid firefighter have a valid prescription? If not,despite the judgment of Button, it is much more serious than having a bottle of whiskey.  Since empty vials were also found, there is no way of knowing how muchOxycontin had been in possession at one time.  Was Oxycontin being sold to other firefighters or other people?
>
>But much more important, should a firefighter be showing up to an emergency potentially under the influence of whiskey or Oxycontin [See above]?  Obviously someone impaired should not be allowed around an emergency situation.  In addition, if such a individual screws up at an emergency, and damage is done, what are the liability considerations for the city and the fire district?
>
>Given that the possession of Oxycontin without a valid prescription occurred, why wasn't evidence of this immediately reported to the MPD? If Button and Carscalen did, in fact, suggest that the evidence be gotten rid of, was not that also a crime, let alone a cover up?  Since possession of Oxycontin without a valid prescription is a federal crime, then federal obstruction of justice statutes may apply to the supression/destruction of evidence.
>
>Now that the story is out, is the MPD going to investigate? If not, why not? They don't need a special invitation now that the story is out.  I had hoped that with the departure of Cameron Hershaw and Dan Weaver from the MPD and with the appointment of David Duke as chief, that favoritism would greatly be reduced.  IF the MPD takes no vigorous action here, then we are no better off than we were during the Weaver/Hershaw era.
>This whole episode demonstrates incredibly bad judgment of the firefighter in possession, Button, and Carscalen. 
>I do not live in the city (but I do live in the fire district), but if I did I'd be asking that the city council ask the MPD for a complete investigation, and if the story is as alleged, and after due process, remove all three from their positions with the MFVD and pursue any appropriate criminal charges..If the two people who had the fortitude and moral compass to issue the complaint do not get satifaction, and/or any member of the community who feels that a whitewash is occurring, the alternative is a report to the U.S. Attorney's Office.  Save the tape recordings!
>
>w. 
>
>
>
>On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 4:18 PM, Wayne Price <bear at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>Wayne, 
>>
>>
>>WHY bother?  Have you seen or heard of the possibility of an INDEPENDENT investigation being set up since this involves
>>the fire chief and a member of the city counsel? Clearly the assault  "investigation"  earlier this year sends a message to the
>>community that complaints are not welcome, so why bother?
>>
>>
>>Jefferson once said that people get the kind of government they deserve. Since I, among others have only one recourse, the election,
>>that is where I will exercise my option about local issues.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Wayne
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>On May 7, 2012, at 3:31 PM, Art Deco wrote:
>>
>>I won't start the comments, but there really ought to be some.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>_________________________
>>>
>>>Moscow fire chief denies drug cover-up
>>>By Brandon Macz, Daily News staff writer | Posted: Monday, May 7, 2012 1:00 am 
>>>Moscow Fire Chief Ed Button denies a cover-up alleged by two volunteer firefighters in a complaint filed with the city.
>>>The complaint states that he and Fire Capt. Dan Carscallen overlooked suspected drugs and paraphernalia in Fire Station No. 1 and ordered them disposed of without contacting law enforcement. Button says he only ordered them removed from the building.
>>>Bonnie Shambaugh and Emily Kimberling state in complaints filed with city Human Resources Director Leslie Moss that suspected drugs and paraphernalia were found in a resident firefighter's desk Feb. 14. The drugs were allegedly found in a ring box that also contained vials, an empty pill capsule, razors and straws.
>>>When they contacted Carscallen, the on-duty fire command officer that night, Shambaugh's complaint states, Carscallen conferred with Button before calling back.
>>>"Carscallen called me sometime before 1:30 a.m. and told me that Button and himself decided they were going to treat the drugs like a bottle of whiskey, and give (the firefighter) the opportunity to get rid of it," Shambaugh states. "I reminded him that it didn't just go against the resident handbook, but this behavior is illegal everywhere. Carscallen then said he thought Kimberling and I should go to (the firefighter) and tell her that she needed to get rid of everything and this would be the end of it."
>>>Button said in a phone interview Friday he felt the situation was handled properly and his decision, made after being awakened at 2 a.m. was immediate.
>>>"Sometimes an individual will be unhappy with how things transpire, but yeah, there was an event, and I think there was a feeling that there was a cover-up and there was no cover-up made," he said. "... There was never any instruction from my part to get rid of it or destroy. Anything that happened after that was not per my instruction. They said there's something suspicious and, I don't know, do it again, there might be something different. My just initial reaction at that time in the morning is that I want it out of the building."
>>>Shambaugh states the firefighter was approached and she agreed to dispose of the substance - the complaint alleges the firefighter said it was oxycodone - in the bathroom and throw out the paraphernalia. However, it states, Carscallen did not report to the station to witness this.
>>>"I'm not sure what the proper procedures were at the time, and we'd never dealt with something like that," Carscallen said. "I never personally saw what they found. I called the chief and discussed with him what the options were. It's all unfortunate that somebody thinks ... it's just an unfortunate situation all around."
>>>Carscallen and Button said the firefighter was drug tested the next morning and Carscallen added the results later came back negative. Button said there is no random drug testing policy within the volunteer fire department.
>>>But Shambaugh and Kimberling allege they felt intimidated and threatened during meetings they had separately with Carscallen and Button the day after the incident. Kimberling confirmed by phone Friday she filed a complaint with the city along with Shambaugh, but did not want to be quoted following an interview Friday.
>>>Shambaugh states she recorded her meeting with Button and Carscallen along with several other exchanges with administrators that she uses in her complaint. City attorney Randy Fife said Idaho has a one-party consent rule for recording conversations and Shambaugh was in her legal right to make recordings.
>>>"Button started by saying (the meeting) was meant to provide 'rumor and damage control not only for you (referring to me) and Emily too,' " alleges Shambaugh. "They explained if this got into the papers it could ruin my career opportunities."
>>>She states she was told by Button that if Carscallen had not been on duty that night, the police could have been contacted, and she said she thought law enforcement should have been notified. She alleges Button told her she could have ended up being accused of burglarizing the firefighter's room.
>>>"Button told me, 'This could have been the end of your career before it even got started,' " Shambaugh's complaint states.
>>>Shambaugh states she told the two they should have tested the firefighter immediately "because these kinds of drugs cycle through your metabolism very quickly." But since neither Button nor Carscallen were present during the incident, she alleges the conversation was mostly about her and Kimberling and trying to "scare us into keeping quiet."
>>>"Carscallen said, 'It could go from what he knows happened to the three of you were having a coke tootin' party in the room and you know that's...' Button interrupted and said he never thought of that and we need to 'keep it to ourselves.' "
>>>Button said he thinks Shambaugh and Kimberling misunderstood.
>>>"I believe they took it out of context," he said. "I don't believe there was any repercussions to threaten them with at all."
>>>Carscallen said his office at the North Latah County Highway District was used for the meeting to avoid rumors in the fire station.
>>>"It's my office, so it's just, where was a convenient place to have it?" he added.
>>>Shambaugh's boyfriend and former Moscow volunteer firefighter, Benjamin Dill, on Feb. 19 responded with her to a paramedic call at Walmart in a department vehicle. Because Dill did not fill out a ride-along form, Carscallen confronted Dill on the emergency loading dock of Gritman Medical Center where Dill alleged to the Latah County Sheriff's Office Carscallen grabbed him by his arm as he was attempting to leave.
>>>"It seemed like Dan was being more aggressive toward this whole situation with Ben because of the drug situation," said Shambaugh in a phone interview Saturday.
>>>The sheriff's office forwarded the investigative report to the county prosecutor's office without a recommendation for charges and it was later decided none would be filed.
>>>"... I was upset that a situation as simple as this was handled so dramatically," the complaint states of Carscallen's response to Dill's actions that day, "but a situation as serious as drugs at the fire station didn't even warrant Carscallen to come to the station and handle it properly. A precedent has been set, as several command officers have had their significant others and children in the command vehicles without such paperwork. M40 (the response vehicle) is to be used for personal use, as long as I am ready to leave those activities to respond to calls."
>>>Carscallen said he didn't know if Shambaugh's complaint was partially out of anger over Dill's battery allegations.
>>>"I'm don't know if the complainant had any animosity in that complaint," he said. "That situation (with Dill) was done. I can't even remember far back what happened before or after."
>>>City Supervisor Gary Riedner said because Shambaugh and Kimberling are volunteers and not city employees, their complaints were handled as citizen complaints and the allegations were investigated, however, the results are confidential.
>>>"It's a personnel matter and we dealt with it," he said, adding of the investigation, "I'm unable able to comment on the process."
>>>Moscow Police Chief David Duke said Friday he had not received a referral from the city to investigate the allegations from the complaints filed by the firefighters and Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said he also was not aware of any investigation being conducted by the sheriff's office.
>>>The city pays for five administrative positions within the department, which does not include Carscallen's position.
>>>Riedner said there have been cases in the past regarding elected officials, such as Carscallen, who is Moscow City Council president, and perceived conflicts with their involvement in the community and affairs related to the city.
>>>"I'm not going to say it happens a lot, but it happens," said Riedner. "Dan being a part of the fire department is not a conflict."
>>>Both Button and Carscallen said they were aware of the complaints filed against them, however, neither had read them.
>>>Shambaugh said since filing her complaint with the city, she has been focused on getting through her paramedic contract.
>>>"I'm just trying to avoid them as much as possible, but yeah, I've heard that they've been having meetings about me," she said. "Obviously, I don't know what that's about."
>>>Button said neither Kimberling nor Shambaugh should be concerned about any reprisal for their complaints. Kimberling was not asked to return to the resident firefighter program next year.
>>>"I feel that there wouldn't be a risk of that jeopardizing their career as that being seen as a single issue," said Button. "A person shouldn't feel at risk. I'm not angry about this, and I don't feel any need to retaliate."
>>>Brandon Macz can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 238, or by email to bmacz at dnews.com.
>>>-- 
>>>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
>>>art.deco.studios at gmail.com
>>>=======================================================
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>>>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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>>
>
>
>-- 
>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
>art.deco.studios at gmail.com
>


-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com

=======================================================
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