An open letter to city of Pittsburgh residents and city council

April 2. 2010

I am a paramedic working in the Pittsburgh area and I would like everyone to reflect on these thoughts. The events in Hazelwood during the 2010 storm were a tragedy and reflect the failure of an entire city. I send my condolences to the family that lost a loved one; however that is not the reason for this letter. Today Pittsburgh Paramedic Josie Dimon was fired even after the State of Pennsylvania investigated and found that no law was broken. This is a travesty.

In order for a person to choose a career in public safety he or she must have a level of compassion and desire to serve that few will ever know. We spend our days and nights dealing with trauma, tragedy, and the grotesque underbelly of human society. In order to cope and continue to deal with the ever present stress of our jobs we become calloused and jaded. These are natural defenses that are a necessity to preserve our emotional well being. The comments that Dimon made on the telephone, not the radio, could have been made by any Paramedic, Police Officer, or Firefighter. In fact if the general public heard the conversations that take place behind closed doors in the field most would be disgusted. Anger and frustration are the armor that allows us to climb back on the trucks after a dead baby is cradled, or a son is told that his mother is dead. Consider walking a mile in our shoes.

I call to the city of Pittsburgh residents: don’t Judge this person by the words of one night but by the 11 years of service she gave to you. To city council you must reverse you decision.

Simon Taxel

Paramedic

FAPP local 7