DC Government Backs DC Fire Fighters Appearance with Obama on Effect of Spending Cuts

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The DC Fire and EMS Department says it's not considering any disciplinary action against uniformed personnel for appearing alongside President Obama during a recent speech the President made about the real world impact of the across-the-board federal spending cuts. Washington fire and EMS chief Kenneth Ellerbe initially told a local TV station that the appearance of three fire fighters at the event last week may have violated department regulations, and the fire fighters were ordered to file special testimonies on how they became guests of the White House event and who authorized it. While Capt. Ed Smith, president of the DC Firefighters Association Local 36, said it's not likely the department will actively discipline the members who participated in the Obama event, he remains cautious over the broader implications of the review. “If it led to discipline later it would be taken as retaliatory,” he told ABC News, adding he knew of no protocol breached by appearing in uniform. “There is a pattern of retaliation with the chief and the department and that is a concern of mine.”  The Department subsequently released a statement saying that  “We fully support the efforts of the President to highlight the essential and life saving work that our first-responders do every single day, and welcome his invitation for our members to participate. We’re exceedingly proud of the men and women that wear the DC FEMS uniform, and thank the President for his support.” - adapted from a report on ABC News; photo by Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images