Published May 23 in the Lebanon Enterprise

Marion County threatens to dissolve rescue squad

By CHRIS HAMILTON
Lebanon Enterprise

LEBANON — The Marion County Rescue Squad could need rescuing if Emergency Services Coordinator J.T. Whitlock decides to pull the plug on the volunteer organization.

At a special meeting Sunday night, Whitlock said if he or Marion County Judge-Executive Dave Hourigan refused to sign the squad's Order of Affiliation, the squad would be dissolved.

Whitlock made the remark after some members asked him to reinstate Dan Lawson.

Whitlock recently accused Lawson of sending an "anonymous letter" contradicting his orders to the Marion County EMS building. The rescue squad and emergency medical services are located in the same building although they are separate organizations.

Lawson claimed the fax was not a letter but some ideas he and other members were "kicking around."

Dan Lawson, Scott Lawson and more than 20 members of the rescue squad attended Sunday's meeting along with Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator Chris Coyle and attorney Elmer George. George represents the Lawsons, who are not related to each other.

Scott Lawson, who may or may not be the current commander of the squad (See related story), recently received a letter from three other officers indicating he was being stripped of his title.

Scott Lawson opened the meeting by saying he had circulated a petition among the members asking that he remain the commander of the squad.

"Do you, Matt (Boswell) and Matt (Mattingly) still want me to resign," Lawson asked Water Recovery Lt. Gary Luce.

"I think it's in the best interest, yes," Luce said.

Lawson asked the members present if they wanted him to remain as commander and several responded vocally that they did.

Lawson then handed squad member Chris Reid a letter indicating that he was being dismissed.

The letter stated that Reid's membership was being terminated because of "unprofessional attitude, behavior and the insubordination you displayed on the scene of the 10-46 (motor vehicle accident with injuries) on Miller Pike and at the station April 16, 2001."

Reid declined to comment about the letter and the accusations.

Dan Lawson, who's signature was on the letter, said the timing of Reid's dismissal had nothing to do with the recent turmoil at the squad. Lawson said the letter was issued the day of Reid's insubordination but Reid denied ever receiving it. Therefore, it was presented to him in front of witnesses Sunday, Lawson said.
Scott Lawson then told Whitlock he had circulated a petition asking him to reinstate Dan Lawson. Scott Lawson said 85 percent of the membership sided with Dan Lawson.

"The county judge has stated that this is in your hands only," Scott Lawson said. "What we're asking you J.T. is will you reinstate Dan Lawson?"

"Not at this particular time," Whitlock said. "I'll tell you what's fixing to happen. If either the judge or I withdraw our signature under your authorization to operate, you can't operate. You don't have a rescue squad. If I didn't withdraw mine, the judge would withdraw his. I can assure you of that."

"So, you do not support 85 percent of the membership," Lawson asked.

"I'm not supporting or unsupporting anybody," Whitlock said.

"What he's telling you is if you all don't do what he wants you to do, they're going to cut your funds off," George said. "Which to me is totally against what the public wants in this community. As a citizen and as an attorney, I'm outraged at this conduct."

Squad member Tommy Moore asked Whitlock why he was suddenly taking an active role in the squad.

"A month and a half ago, you were for all of these people," Moore said. "Now, you're letting three or four people run this squad."

Whitlock said he questioned the validity of the petitions presented to him in favor of the Lawsons. He asked that the squad take a vote with secret ballots to determine if the Lawsons should remain on the squad.

Moore said a secret ballot wasn't needed and that members should vote by a show of hands.

Whitlock said a secret ballot would be more accurate.

"One thing that's disappointing to me is why they don't want to have a secret ballot as to whether they support Danny," Whitlock said Monday afternoon. "I believe some of the signatures on their petition (to reinstate Dan Lawson) were obtained with a form of intimidation." Whitlock wouldn't say to which form of intimidation he was referring.

Before Whitlock left the meeting, he said he would consider reinstating Dan Lawson if it was proved to him that the fax was written before he issued an order to follow a specific "Signal 8" policy. Dan Lawson said he could prove the fax was written before Whitlock gave the order.

Lawson also said he believes he is still a member of the squad because he doesn't think Whitlock has the authority to remove him.

"Technically, I'm not off," he said. "But I'm not going to make any runs until this is resolved."

Tim Rice resigned from the squad following Sunday's meeting. He declined to comment about his reasons.

"We're still trying to dig up the facts," Whitlock said later. "I told Dan to call the telephone company and get a copy of his fax log. I still have an open mind. The outcome will be determined by what is discovered on that log.

"Dan is still off the rescue squad. And now, two more are gone. They are all capable. We're three low on skilled men right now. Trained people are hard to come by and it takes a lot of time to get that training.

"The problem is not a lack of qualifications. It's professional jealousies and personality conflicts. Once we get rid of those problems, things will run as smooth as they always have."

Hourigan said it's becoming impossible for him to avoid being drawn into the conflict at the rescue squad, but he has never threatened to pull his name from the Order of Affiliation.

"It's more than just an issue between J.T. and the squad now," Hourigan said. "It was my hope that they would work it out. I may have to become involved. We need to pull those folks together.

"If either of us don't sign (the order), there is no rescue squad. We each can independently refuse to sign. That would be a last option.

"If J.T. was speaking for me, he was speaking without my authority. I have never discussed the Order of Affiliation with him. If it reached the point where I think the welfare of our citizens is threatened, I might consider that option. So far, our patient care has remained very good. I haven't had any complaints from any patients."

© 2001 Lebanon Enterprise  All Rights Reserved.

BACK TO NEWS INDEX

BACK TO MAIN INDEX

COMMENTS

Copyright © 2001 The Kentucky EMS Connection. All rights reserved. News stories may be copyrighted by another organization. Original material may be reproduced provided source is credited.