City work is no place for folks with thin skin.
Taxpayers can be harsh critics, after all, and those who work for the city are, by nature, always in the public eye, often under difficult circumstances.
Yet some city workers are viewed more charitably than others.
The public works department may fill 100 potholes, but it is the pothole they miss that often frames public opinion.
Likewise, police may serve the public with courage and honor under the most difficult of circumstances, but there is nothing that damages the reputation of police more than a single incident where an officer’s judgment or conduct does not meet the justifiably high standard to which they are held.
Where ever public workers are on the job, you will find a critic.
But of all the city’s departments, the one that seems to consistently find favor in the eyes of the community is Columbus Fire & Rescue. We do not suggest the department is immune to criticism, of course. In fact, by commending the fire department, we are sure it will invite some criticism from some corner of some offense, real or imagined.
But for the most part, we seldom hear much in the way of criticism of the department.
Wednesday, the CFD took possession of a shiny new $1.2 million ladder truck which has, quite literally, all the latest bells and whistles.
The shiny new truck replaces the shiny old truck, which may explain, in part, why the CFD is viewed in so favorable light by residents; of all the departments, the CFD seems to demonstrate a pride of ownership we all can admire.
That 25-year-old ladder truck, outdated in many respects as fire-fighting technology continues to expand, is still as clean and functional as the day it rolled off the assembly line.
While the new ladder truck has been on the department’s wish list for years, the department’s commitment toward taking good care of the equipment it has, outdated though it may have been, is something we can appreciate. (Take a look at that 4-year-old car in your driveway. Chances are, it’s not in pristine condition.)
The pride the department demonstrates is not limited to care of its trucks, though. Drive by any fire station and you’ll see the grounds are well-maintained, the fire stations clean, every thing put in its proper place.
We believe this says something very positive about the culture of the department, and it manifests itself in many areas, including the most important ones.
Three years ago, the city’s fire rating improved from a 5 to a 4, making Columbus one of only a handful of Mississippi cities to achieve that status.
First under the guidance of Kenneth Moore, who retired in 2014 after nine years as chief, and now under the direction of Chief Martin Andrews, the department continues to meet those high standards.
For citizens, that means quick response times, lower insurance rates and growing confidence the fire department will be respond promptly and professionally, no matter the crisis.
We have a fire department we can be proud of, mainly because there is a culture of pride that has been carefully cultivated within the department.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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