From the Heartland

This is my soap box, on these pages I publish my opinions on firearms and any other subject I feel like writing about.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

No good deed goes unpunished

State Employee suspended for helping heart patient

State snowplow driver Chuck Odom has been suspended for having initiative and a heart. Apparently Tim Weander does not feel these are qualities that a Public Servant in the state of Nebraska should have. It seems that Weander and those above him in state government would rather have one of the people they are paid to serve die than see one of their rules broken. Sort of sounds like the Gestapo to me.

“There are exceptions,” Weander said, “but that is the policy.”

So what exactly does that mean Timmy?

That you would rather see Mr. Howard dead than have your precious policy violated? It would appear that you place brownshirt lockstep adherence to your rules above the lives of the very citizens that you are paid to serve.

If that is the case then it is my opinion that you Mr. Weander and any one above you that feels Chuck Odom did wrong is a disgrace to the people of Nebraska.

Tax payers needed assistance

Chuck responded to the calls from the wife of a man with a heart condition. Bob Howard was having chest pains and his wife Alice was unable to get friends or private snowplow contractors to clear their quarter mile drive way so that they could get to a scheduled heart appointment.

Chuck Odom used state equipment to clear the Howard drive so that the Mrs. Howard could get her ailing husband to the Doctor.

Apparently the Howards felt that Bob's condition at that time did not warrant a call to 911. Since Mr. Howard did have a heart condition and was having chest pains that could have changed in an instant.

“Bob had begun to feel some angina the night before, and it was getting worse with his frustration that we might not be able to keep his doctor’s appointment,” she said.

Mr Howards condition was getting worse, in all likelihood if Mr. Odom had not acted it is likely that Bob's condition would have worsened to the point a 911 call was necessary.

Chuck Odom should be lauded as a Hero for saving a life instead of being punished for countermanding Field Marshal Weanders policies.

Tim Weander Department District engineer for the Omaha area said that 'with exceptions" it is forbidden to use department equipment on private property.

Well gee Ebenezer .... er ah I mean Tim if this doesn't qualify as an emergency I don't know what is. Why is this even an issue? Chuck Odom is exactly the type of Public Servant that Nebraska should have.

Judging from the majority of comments made at the end of the LJS article I am glad to see that I am not the only one to feel this way.

Cold hearted lowlife Scumbag idiocy

There are some that would rather see Mr. Howard dead than for a Public Servant to do a good deed for a member of the public he serves.

One of the commenter's suggested that the Howards should have called 911 as it is the responsibility of the First Responders to trudge through a quarter mile of deep, blowing and drifting snow with all of the necessary equipment including a gurney to get to the Howard residence.

This idiot also insinuated that it is the job of the Responders to push, pull and haul the gurney loaded with Mr. Howard all the while assisting a worried Mrs. Howard back to their rescue vehicle through the same deep blowing and drifting snow. After all that is what they get paid for. Right?

My guess is that this dumbass can't think his/her way through a fast food order off of a drive through menu board.

How in the hell can any sane person suggest that Paramedics should they have been called to transport a heart patient on a gurney for a quarter of a mile under those conditions. If the patient were not in serious condition when they started the trek he would be by the time they got him to the ambulance. Or worse ... dead.

The fact that more than one person responded in a negative manner speaks volumes about what Nebraska is becoming;

These cold hearted lowlife scumbags would rather see Mr Howard dead than for a Public Servant to be commended for service above and beyond his job description.

What would have happened if the Howards had to call 911 for a medical emergency. The First responders would have assessed the situation and called upon government snow removal equipment for the drive to be cleared wasting valuable time that could have been spent tending to a heart patient.

A credit to Nebraska

Mr Odom recognized the situation for what it was and knew if the Howards needed 911 assistance that he or other snowplow drivers would be called to clear the drive so that emergency vehicles could get to the patient.

That 911 assistance was not needed is of no consequence, the fact that Mr Howard had a heart condition and was having chest pains is reason enough for Mr. Odom to do what he did. Should the Hwards had to call 911 the actions of Mr. Odom would have likely saved Mr. Howard.

But then those lowlife cold hearted scumbags that condemn Chuck Odom for what he did would sleep better at night knowing that Mr. Howard died while the First Responders sat one quarter of a mile away unable to assist until Chuck showed up with his plow.

What I take away from all of the comments that chastise Mr Odom is this;

I don't give two owl hoots in the forest whether Mr Howard died or not as long as the policies of this state were not broken by some lowly public servant. How dare he be so uppity as to save some ones life while he is on the States time clock.

Letter of Appreciation for outstanding service to the citizens of Nebraska

To Chuck Odom,

On behalf of no one but myself I congratulate you on a job well done Mr. Odom. You are a credit to Nebraska and the people of this state. If only there were more like you in service to the people.

As a taxpayer I thank you Mr Odom for serving on my behalf and going above and beyond your call to duty.

You Sir have my sincerest respect and it would be my pleasure to some day shake your hand.

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