WILX Home ·  Station Info
     
News  ·   Sports  ·   Weather  ·   Downloads  ·   Apartment Guide  ·   Job Search  ·   Breakroom  ·   Blogs  ·   Contests  ·   2008 Election Guide
What's Going Around · Medical Breakthroughs · Recalls · Polls · Schools · Seen on Ten · Money · News Tips · Money Talks · Going Green
Firefighters Become Police Officers? Save Email Print
Posted: 5:28 PM Apr 15, 2008
Last Updated: 7:57 PM Apr 15, 2008
Reporter: Lauren Zakalik
Email Address: lauren.zakalik@wilx.com

A | A | A

The line between firefighter, police officer and EMT will soon become a bit more blurred in Leoni Township.

"We are moving toward a public safety department in Leoni Township," says township supervisor Kip Ballast.

He says that means police and fire departments will eventually become one, with everyone trained to respond to fire, police and ambulance emergencies.

At the expense of the township, they've offered to "cross-train" existing police officers and firefighters in each other's areas.

Police officers are on board. Firefighters, however, are not.

"It's so different being a firefighter and police officer, like night and day," explains firefighter Tony Edging. "As far as becoming a police officer, I'm not interested. I do what I do as a firefighter because I like it."

The township says it won't force anyone to cross-train, but through attrition, they say eventually everyone will be become trained in all disciplines.

"We can provide additional services with about the same about of money by having people cross train," Ballast says.

But until firefighters want to become police officers too, the transition to a public safety department will be slow.

More Stories
Republicans Fired Up For Convention

McCain Accepts GOP Nomination

Student Testifies About Sexual Relationship With School Counselor

Eastern High Suspends Coach & Forfeits Game

Kwame's Effect On State

FDA: Risky Arthritis Drugs

Consumer Alert: Laptop Recall

MIS Offers New Prices For Fans

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Joey Loey Location: Lioni on Apr 15, 2008 at 07:22 PM
So there going to send all three cops to firefiter school..? Or all four firemen to cop school... What..?

WILX Poll
Has The Kilpatrick Scandal Changed Your Opinion Of Detroit For The Worse?

Yes
No


AP Videos
Stay Connected With News Ten

   10 to Go
   News Weather & Video

   Breaking News & Weather
   Download Free to Your Computer

   My 10
   Submit Your Pictures and Videos Here

   Blogs
   News Sports Weather Life

   Espanol
   Clic Aqui Para Leer En Espanol

   Tell Us More
   Tell Us More

   RSS
   Get Your RSS Feeds Here RSS Readers    and Codes

   Weather Source
   24 Hour Local  Weather Channel

   Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
   Latest Developments in Mid-Michigan