Remember the JFD 5

In August 2006, five member of the Jackson Fire Department in Jackson, MS, spoke to the local media about public safety concerns they had regarding the department's ability to respond to fires in the area. Because of budget shortfalls and leadership issues, they have had to respond to fires with three people instead of four like the National Association of Fire Protection recommends. They feared that the staffing cuts made by the interim fire chief would lower they city's ISO rating and raise homeowner's insurance rates in Jackson. For speaking out, they were suspended with pay by their superiors, and Mayor Frank Melton wanted them to be fired. Thankfully, due to media exposure and community outrage, the firefighters have been reinstated, and the mayor said that they would not be fired.

However, the fight is not over. The First Amendment rights of these five men were threatened, and the four-person requirement is still not being met. These men, along with the whole JFD, risk their lives regularly to save people and their property. Let's never forget the five men who stood up to their bosses in order to help make Jackson a safer place to live: Capt. Sidney Johnson, Capt. Reuben Ray, Capt. Patrick Armon, Lt. Vernon Gee and Local 87 Union President Brandon Falcon. Thank you, and we'll never forget you.

For more information about this incident, please go to www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=10448_0_27_0_C.