fine family fun ,.... I give it 5 stars

MFD to the rescue again!!! How lucky we are to have such a fine Dept. Hope all in town appreciate you like I do.

This was not an accident, but the result of a deliberate act by the young women and her friend. She should be charged a fee to recoup the cost of her rescue. A sign in the Purgatory Chasm parking lot alerting people to the dangers of climbing the cliffs would be in order also, if it isn't there already.

@Tom:
Where in any comments did it say that the fire department personal were complaining. Did I miss that part?
Two people went out and did something stupid. Luckily no one was hurt and everyone went home. To start bashing town employees and oh yea another union dig. Just does not make sense. You are probably right in line with the rest of the masses that attck local police departments as well. They arrested a drug dealer but you know they must have stretched the law to make an arrest. Give me a break.
As far as stating that they can find another line of work. No one ever stopped you from filling out an application to be a fire or police officer, did they?

No Larry Kelly,
You did not miss that part...because it never existed. I did not say they were complaining. I said "Trust me, they weren't complaining." I imagine they had lots of fun buzzing around on the $20,000 Jet Ski we bought them. I know I would.
Yes, I am right in line with the masses that are concerned with municipal employee salaries. America is starting to wake up to the fact that it's unsustainable. Does that me a bad person? Only in the eyes of the union, not the taxpayer.

Please show me where the Town paid $20,000.00 for a Jet Ski.

Not sure exactly which model jet ski Middletown bought. The Base price for a Kawasaki Ultra 300LX if $15,500. Add the rescue platform and all the other rescue gear that goes on the thing, your easily into it for $20 grand, not including gas.

According to the article, 3-4 lives may have been saved using the jet ski in just the past 2 months. At $20,000, That's $5,000 a person. What's your spending cap for saving a member of your family? Or yourself? $300 will get you a canoe and some oars maybe. When you call the Fire dept. you expect them to show up quickly, have the best equipment in perfectly working order, knowledge to handle any situation put before them and the ability to complete it. We've come to expect this and most of the time don't even think about it, the same way we turn on the faucet and expect clean water. There are not many house fires? Why have a expensive fire engine? Well, if you happen to be the unlucky soul who's house does catch fire I'm sure you wouldn't like the fire dept showing up with buckets and a kiddy pool. The Fire dept doesn't buy $20,000 toys to "buzz" around on. they buy the equipment that will help do the job faster, better, easier! same way we use a drill gun instead of a screwdriver, its faster, easier, more effiecient. So in a way, it's all relative! I'm sure the value of that jet ski was priceless to those people hanging off the rocks that day and if you should need their services someday I would like you to put a price on it. Ask them how much is the equipment they are using? If its too much for you say "no thanks, I will take a tire with a sail on it".

The fallacy of John Doe's argument is the lady was rescued with an old fashioned canoe (kayak). The Jet-Ski was only in a support role. Probably cost the town around $500 for that canoe. What's next John Doe, Segways for Middletown Police to stop all the criminals in this town? I have to agree with Tom. No more nice to have stuff bought at taxpayers expense. It's time to reel in taxes in this town as the taxes are oppressive. Don't forget, before MFD bought the jet-ski, people would call the Coast Guard. Remember them?

The Jet Ski's were not a "support role". In fact, they towed said "canoe's" to the chasm, then allowed for the kayak to play the "supportive role" of going into the chasm. The idea of the jet ski was to save time. Had a firefighter had to paddle out to the chasm from second beach, you're looking at an extra ten minutes at minimum, depending on weather/wind. 10 minutes + 40 degree water + 30 degree temperatures= hypothermia, its complications, and possibly death. The fire department is what, 3% of the Town's budget? The police, 6%? Sounds like you want to get blood from a stone. These professionals need proper, appropriate equipment to function. While I'm not saying get the Ferrari's for ambulances, I can't really see eye to eye with you on a jet ski being not needed when we live on an island. The Coast Guard is a resource, yes, but they are at minimum 25 minutes away, again depending on weather. You simply cannot rely on them to be available when they patrol a much larger, vast border. I get your hatred for public servants, and I'm sure we'll just have to agree to disagree, but take your anger out on the people who do crazy things like climb down purgatory chasm, not the professional that save them.

That’s correct; I did not say I hate public servants. Why do you hate the taxpayer? Just because I want municipalities to reel in costs i.e. lower taxes, does not mean I hate municipal employees. Firemen and Police are very noble people and I respect the work they do. However, I don't know that we need to buy $10 million dollar police stations or “hi-priced” Jet-Ski’s. Did anyone even consider joining up with Newport Police and use their Police station and perhaps make “One” Police Department? Of course not. That would mean one less Chief, several less Captains and a bunch of Lieutenants and Patrolmen. God forbid anyone tries to be a good steward of taxpayers’ money.

John, Todd, whomever you are, I, in fact, do NOT hate the taxpayer. I'm not on this board justifying a drunk woman striking a firefighter. I'm not chastising the rescuers for continuing to save people after they do not so intelligent things. I would love lower taxes, but not at the risk of my family, safety, or property. "Use Newport's Police station"?? Newport is bursting at the seams in their own building. So now you want to put more patrol wo/men in there? Yea, you'd get one less Chief, but you wouldn't get any less officers. Their is a span of control that needs to be continues thru the ranks. "hi-priced" Jet-ski's"?? How much is your life worth? Maybe you never need them, hell, maybe you NEVER use the fire department in general. Maybe you never call a Police officer for assistance. Bless you, you would be very fortunate. However, many people use these services, and use them frequently, unfortunately. They are less fortunate people. This is Middletown. Shawn Brown has done a ton to hold the line with the Police Officers and Firefighters in this town. Have you not read the paper? The concessions they continue to take, the budget is tightening every year. These things are necessities, not luxuries. If you disagree, speak to Chief Doire at MFD or Chief Pesare at MPD. I'm sure both of them would be glad to discuss the importance of their budget purchases to you.

Tom, I think he is referring to this http://middletown.patch.com/articles/mpd-woman-allegedly-kicks-firefighter-in-stomach-fraudulent-checks