'The big bucks'

I am writing this letter in response to the submission by Andrew Riley regarding true heroes.

Although I am a 17-year veteran of the Warwick Fire Department and served as chief of the department during 2009-2010, I am writing this letter as a private citizen and the statements, opinions and viewpoints herein do not necessarily reflect those of the department.

Initially, I would point out that Mr. Riley needs to do a little more research, or any research at all, before rambling on about something he knows nothing about. The Fire Department and Ambulance Corps personnel in Warwick are not highly paid, nor paid at all, as both organizations are totally volunteer; the men and women of these organizations work tirelessly, and respond whenever their pagers go off at all hours of the day and night without complaint.

Indeed, reflecting the steady growth of Warwick, the Fire Department responds to approximately 700 calls per year, ranging from structure fires to serious motor vehicle accidents and the Ambulance Corps receives, and responds, to over 2,000 calls per year.

These volunteers place their lives on the line, leave their families and friends at a moment’s notice no matter the time of day, charge out into the cold, the rain, and the snow and heat, all in the name of helping their community and their neighbors.

During Hurricane Sandy, fire personnel manned the Warwick firehouses all through the night and went on run after run to a myriad of calls for assistance all in the name of assisting the community and being there for our neighbors.

Likewise, I am sure that the men and women of the Warwick Police Department are not getting “paid the big bucks.” Rather, they are getting paid a modest sum, which seems paltry when given the fact that they place their lives on the line to protect us day and night.

They were there for us during Hurricane Sandy, as they are 24 hours per day, seven days per week and, knowing the exceptional character of the men and women of the Warwick Police Department, I’m sure they gave of their time when they got off duty to assist the victims of the Hurricane.

Perhaps Mr. Riley would like to try directing traffic in the middle of the night, on a pitch black road in the driving rain, after all, there are big bucks involved.

Gregg Snigur

Warwick