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Clarification
Posted by:
SJAvato (IP Logged)
Date: November 01, 2006 10:30AM
I would like to make it absolutely clear that none of my superiors have ever pressured me to change a call. I have been given advice and consultation that has been helpful and provided perspective that I may not have originally had, but when my decision was made, I was supported fully. I hope that I provide that same service for those that I supervise. (That having been said, I will not support a decision that cannot be supported by the facts surrounding a particular incident. Sometimes, if we're not man enough to admit we are wrong, we need a boss to do it for us.)
I am, however, aware of investigators who have gotten "pressure" to make decisions that might not be supported by facts. Before a new string of discussion occurs; this is in both the private and public arenas. I am aware of private sector investigators who were told not to write reports when their call did not agree with a client’s hypothesis or represent the client’s interests. I have heard some public sector investigators complain that their bosses (who may or may not have ever investigated a fire) do not understand an "Undetermined" call and still view it as a failure. Undetermined is appropriate when the cause cannot be determined; not when I don't want to look very hard.
There are plenty of issues in fire investigations; enough to keep this board busy for years. We come closer to answers when we admit the shortcomings and allow for open and intelligent discussion of the problems (even if we don't use our names - remember The Federalist Papers? Writings that helped shape a nation and scholars still argue over who wrote them - or at least what parts each wrote.)
Steve