YOUR COMMENTS

Have to agree with Joe and Jon. Just not a good idea. These two branches of Emergency Service have different missions. We should not blur the line between the two. The two need to work together frequently, but this goes too far. Too bad the Fire Chief involved doesn't get it.
- Bob, Manchester

I think the officers here did a great job in taking every precaution to not let the situation turn into a hostage. Don't forget when an officer did go to the door before he was greeted with a gun in his chest. There was a one year old child in there and he had everything he needed to make this situation a deadly one not only for the officers and him but for anyone who lived in the building and especially the young child. I think it is nice to know that the officers are willing to go any lengths to ensure the safety of everybody around. Agree or disagree but no one was injured and I doubt that would have been the case if they just walked up to the door and announced who they were.
- Jennifer, Manchester

I heard the fire alarm and rushed out, slipped and broke my back on the stairs and am now paralyzed.....oh but at least this guy with the kid and the gun are in custody....
- Tree, bedford

As I read through these comments I am amazed at how closed minded some folks can be. So to you I offer the following scenario. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you are a violent criminal, and if arrested, you will spend a very long time behind bars. One evening, you are at home with your one year old son, and the fire alarm system has been activated. You now know that law enforcement will go to great lengths to arrest you, including impersonating as firefighters. So what do you do? You barricade the doors, turn your lights out, and wiat until the alarm system has been reset, and the fire dept has left. What you are not aware of is this. When a fire alarm system is activated, there is a good chance that it might be from a FIRE. And what you are also not aware of is that a tenant on the first floor has fallen asleep with a cigarette in their hand, and set the bed on fire. You are also not aware that a fire will double in size every TEN MINUTES, and soon you will be trapped. If you die, few will mourn your loss. But what about your one year old son. Should he die as well, simply because you were afraid to pay for your crime.

You can open your eyse now, and your minds while you are at it. I am glad the incident in Newport ended without any injuries, but the way they chose to do it might do more harm than good in the long run to INOCENT PEOPLE.
- Dan, Canterbury

i always thought that a police officer hade a job that we pay them to do even if it is dangerouse what the hell wright do thay have to make it more dangerouse for firefighters dont you think there job is dangerouse enough with out kop dressing up like them to do what thay get payed for
- john, manchester nh

Firefighters are in no more danger now than they were before this incident.

The people in that building will evacuate the next time the alarm goes off, while it might just be a fire, it might also be another case where the police wanted to avoid a stand-off, and those people certainly do not want to be involved.

It is not illegal to don a firefighters gear in a simulated fire situation if the fire chief is aware and aproves.

Any firefighter that is afraid they will be shot knocking on a door needs to get a different job. If the call was placed from the residence then they are expecting you. If it is an alarm sounding and you need to evacuate a building, the person is not going to shoot you out of fear you are there to arrest them, they will be more concerned about the reason behind the call, you move on and notify command. Just do your job, if smoke is showing then point it out.
- Marley, Hampton

Mark of Bedford,
It appears that you know even less about fire fighting based on your comments. Impersonating a lottery worker is a little different than impersonating a firefighter, someone who is there to help you. And firefighters take chances on every call they go to of not knowing who and what is in the building or at the situation. You think they survey the area first to see if there are weapons involved? No they go in not knowing what to expect. Police officers are trained to handle that line of work, and they should put on THEIR uniforms and take responsibility for their job.
- David, Manchester

All these negative comments about what the cooperating departments did does not change my mind that this was a job well done! They all desesrve a commendation!
- Chris, Chester

As a former firefighter I think it should be said, we are all working towards the same goal, Public Safety. The only people who are going to see firefighters in a dim light because of this are the dirtbags who don't trust police or firefighters anyhow. Honest law-abiding citizens everywhere are cheering "hurrah" for the arrest of a potentially violent felon who nearly took the life of a police officer. The firefighters union should take into consideration that the CHIEF of the NEWPORT fire department APPROVED of this action. It worked, and I think such quick thinking on their feet should be praised. Quit looking for negatives in using a smart solution to a problem. The felon got captured, no one got injured, everyone wins. If you are opposed to this then you are the sort of dirtbag who doesn't respect police anyhow and you shouldn't have any say in anything.
HOORAY FOR THE NEWPORT POLICE FOR COMING UP WITH THIS SOLUTION. THE REST OF YOU SHOULD CRAWL BACK UNDER YOUR ROCKS OR CONSIDER ABIDING BY THE LAW.
-Truth in New Hampshire. Liberals Go Back to Massachusetts.
- Robb, North Walpole

Not to mention that impersonating a police officer is illegal....how about impersonating a firefighter.....how about if the fire truck was damaged, and will the residents evacuate the building the next time the alarm goes off...or will they think its fake, and stay inside - when this time it may be a fire, not a gung ho cop trying to make a bust..... !

What if this guy was gone when they went back, and took his guns and child on the road....?? I wouldn't feel safe living in Newton, they seem to have their priorities wrong.
- mike, chester

Fellas, come on, Firemen?? Why not shut off the water to his apartment and then knock claiming to be maintenance or the super or whatever? I really don't think some individual in the future will ask himself if the firefighter in front of him is a cop and decide to start shooting....I think he will start shooting because he's a nut job and he has a target in front of him. As for this instance, you had a guy who was willing to listen to suggestion and put his firearm down on the floor. Although armed he apparently didn't have the "killer" instinct in him that day. I agree with the other person who had stated that that was the time for the first arriving officer to act as a trained law enforcement officer and arrest the individual but I am guessing there is more to the story. As a firefighter I am not happy with how the officers went about their job, but it happened. Now the discussion should be how not to do it in the future.
- Joe, Conecticut

I commend all who were involved in this decision. It ended without a shootout which is what we want. No one got hurt or killed. I was a former firefighter and we worked closly with our police dept. on many occasions to quell situations. I'm with Jon, in Perkinsville-well said. There are more serious things going on that should be of more concern than this. Its over with, let it rest and stop whining.
- Dave, BARRE, VERMONT

As a call firefighter here in Peterborough for 30 years, I this this is a very bad idea. Firefighters are trusted and assumed to be there to help. This action lowers that trust and could endanger firefighter in the future. Both the fire chief and police chief should be fired for this action.


Jon, Peterborough
- J hampson, Peterborough

I have served on a fire department for five years. I have also work with Police Officers on scenes for various emergencies.

I have mixed feelings about what the Officers of Newport and the neighboring towns did. Please understand they did what they thought was appropraite to ensure the safety of the individuals in the building.

However, yes there are otherways that they could have handled the situation and they may have worked during the day time. This incident happened at night.

I do understand that there may be some skepticism over the actuallity of a real emergency relating to fire. I hope that the residents of that building remember that if the alarm is going off--get your ***** out!

If you are a firefighter, your department should be holding mass-casualty trainings (some should relate to what if there is a perp with a gun) that include police officers and other departments.

If you are guilty of something then guess what sooner or later the police and officials that be will get you. Get over it, you did wrong, pay for your crime(s).

Thanks
- Blue, Hillsboro NH

I get the firefighters' concerns. However everything about way the press conference was handled was unprofessional. Their own leadership has done more damage to their reputation with the public than the incident. Just look at the comments here.
- Andy, Tuftonboro

I'm not against the police department or police officers, they have a job I wouldnt wish on anyone. While I commend the police officers at having a positive outcome, it increases the danger for other first responders who arrive on an emergency scene and what someone in the position of this suspect may do in future encounters. Not every city or town has a combined job model for police/firefighters. Firefighters, ambulance crews, and other professions are not trained to be police officers and do not have the capability or ability or training to defend themselves.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

You Anti-police firemen or fire supporters are making a big deal out of nothing. Not only was a dangerous situation resolved safely through inter-departmental cooperation, with no one getting hurt, there was really no other way to do it! A SWAT response would have resulted in a barricaded subject, known to be armed, with a child and who knows how many other people in the building who could be possible casualties. The police chief had to have been in a horrible position, and he should be commended for seeing a way out of it. What else could he have done? That child and everyone else in the building was at risk! What if he had decided to kill the child then himself, because he felt trapped? Would you prefer that outcome moron?

How on earth does this have anything to do with public trust of firemen? It doesn't! You as a fireman are no more likely to get shot by a nutjob who thinks you are the police. It just is not realistic to think that. Besides, most of the firemen I know are fearless, why all the sudden whining about being afraid to do their job?

Lastly, I don't exactly understand the first cop leaving after he convinced the subject to put the gun down. That would have been the time to draw his own gun. At which point the guy could be held at gunpoint until secured and/or backup arrived. And if the guy was crazy enough to resist while at gunpoint, then he gets shot. Big deal, I personally don't care if the lowlife gets shot, he deserves what he gets if he wants to pull a gun on a policeman. But I still think the cop shouldn't have left, he had the situation in front of him and he failed to deal with it, and he would have been responsible if it HAD turned into a barricaded subject.

And if the criminal fell for the police trick he's an idiot, he had to know the police were coming back for him.
- Dan, Epping

Ryan in Manchester;
Gee, I'm sorry. I guess the F.B.I's HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) should never pretend to be members of the media when they engage an adversary. Lord knows criminals might start mistrusting the press.

Oh, and all of those sting operations where people with outstanding felony warrants are told they've won the lottery, only to be arrested at a fake lottery office? Well, we can't do that anymore because criminals will start targeting lottery officials.

Firefighters are NEVER knowingly allowed into a situation where there is an armed person. Doesn't happen, genius. The police control any scene involving an armed subject. So the possibility of a firefighter being shot is ZERO.

Ryan, you know little about firefighting and even less about law enforcement.
- Mark, Bedford

Jon in Perkinsville, VT-
you are the exact type of short-sightedness I was talking about. This incident ended with no one being hurt or killed. But think about the long term ramifications of this incident. What happens when a firefighter is killed in the line of duty by someone that thinks he's really an undercover cop and not a firefighter? You'd be ok with that? What if that firefigher was YOUR child? Would you still feel the same way?
- Kevin, Portsmouth

I don't care what the police have to do to arrest someone who's broken the law. I'd support them in all instances.
- Brian, Farmington

Great plan, great idea worked out with BOTH the fire and police depts.. No "shots fired", no one injured, no streets shut down, no stand off, ect., ect. ect. A dangerous felon was taken off the streets. But as it always goes no matter what the Police do some of you people will never be happy....
- T. Bailey, Twin Mountain

Hey Mark in Bedford..... YOU SHUT UP!!!! Put yourself in a Fire Fighters shoes for a minute and you would see what is so wrong about this, you dope!
- Ryan, Manchester

As I firefighter the last thing I want is an armed criminal, who otherwise wouldn't mistake me in my turnout gear, thinking "This may be a cop" and shooting me.

To the people who think this is no big deal, ask yourself this question.......would you mind if officers not only conducted a sting operation posing as whatever occupation you have....but made a big deal of it in the press so that now it's nationwide....how would you feel?

I'm willing to bet that these brave Law Enforcement officers were wearing body armor under the misused turnout gear when they made the arrest. Sadly, the firefighters who have to go to this apartment complex for an actual honest to goodness call for service will not, and now everybody in the complex is going to wonder if they are really with the fire department.
- Mike, Columbia, SC

Anyone that thinks this was a good idea needs to slow down and think.The town of newport have police for this and if they could handle it call state police or someone with a rapid response team. The newport fire chief was wrong to agree to using firefighter uniforms and gear for this. all he did is make the dangerous job of a firefighter even more dangerous. Not only for his firefighters but for all of us. So any of you that think this was a ok can line up at my front door to tell my four kids its ok when i get killed by a felon with a shotgun answering a call for help.
- mike, goffstown nh

Kevin, Potsmouth

"Short Sighted", maybe you need to continue to live at the Magic Kingdom, it must be much safer there watching "Cops" or "Swat" on TV. Criminals are not known for playing by any rules. Think about it. This incident ended in the best possible scenario, they are many others that don't. Whether the police dressed as doctors, mail men, fire fighters, or construction workers they still did the right thing. I think if it was your child or your apartment building you may have a different outlook.
- Jon, Perkinsville VT

If the police are EXPERTS... why on earth do they need to pretend to be firefighters to arrest someone. I mean, that's their job, right? They have experience arresting other people... so, why? This is the strangest thing I've ever heard.

Kinda scares me that the police need to do that to get the job done, maybe I should buy a gun and rely on myself for personal safety. Everything in NH is backwards anyway.
- Anthony, Methuen

The police should never disguise themselves as firefighters while conducting a sting.

Will other criminals think twice before harming a firefighter who might actually be a cop?

I have never heard of such a horrific caper.
- John Burtis, Derry, NH

When either police of firefighters take the job they accept the danger. If anyone takes offense at what the Newport Police did then they should also take issue wioth: Female officers working vice details, Narcs working undercover, Stake out cops working as cashiers in convenience stores, all the way up to guys working in our Embassies. Maybe they should wear red shirts the have SPY written over the back. Get real- the point that everyone is missing is that a 1 year child is safe and nobody got huirt. If that was my grandson in there and they dressed up like Mother Teresa it wouldn't bother me.
- R Chapp, Newport NH

Ok, let me get this straight: You critics don't like this idea because the police dressed like firefighters??? You know what? Shut up...all of you!!!

You are the EXACT SAME CROWD that would be screaming if the door to the apartment was rammed and a SWAT Team entered. Pick your poison.
- Mark, Bedford

this is just bad news all around. Anyone that doesn't see why is just short-sighted and not "thinking outside the box".
- Kevin, Portsmouth

FFTRS fight fires not people period --end of story
- Charles Fletcher, Claremont

Chief Hoyt, Officer Belisle and all involved public safety professionals should be commended for a job well done and thinking outside the box and facilitating a peaceful resolution in this high risk incident. Bringing this highly armed convicted felon into custody and minimizing the risk to public was clearly their objective, and the use of fire fighter uniforms was not unreasonable.
- Jon, Perkinsville VT

Taylor,

It is pretty obvious that YOU are the one not reading closely enough.

The point that people are making is that this action of the police endangers firefighters by causing doubt as to whether they are actually firefighters, or police. So in the future, a criminal faced with a firefighter at the door may just shoot first, just in case.
- Rich, Bennington

So the land sharks are mad? Sorry, but this situation was ended safely and no one was hurt. Sounds good to me. Looked at what happened in nearby Charlestown this summer. Police raided a trailer, shootout occurs, everyone is mad. This happens, no one is hurt, everyone is mad.

Question for everyone: When can the Police do anything right?
- Tom, Concord

John Lewis, manchester Why would you care as long as they put out the FIRE.
- Dan, Nashua

I do find it interesting that other uniformed people are concerned about being mistaken for police; this says volumes about the public's attitude towards police.

Truth is, people in uniform are already mistaken for police all the time.
- Kevin, Lancaster

In response to the question below about combined police/fire departments, they are called Public Safety Officers, and they have the very same trust problems that are being brought up by the Firefighter's Union and the comments below. I know several people who work fire only positions in these Public Safety Depts and they have problems all the time when they go into high crime areas. Strange, because as a member of a Fire only Dept I rarely have problems.

The misuse of fire hose by fire departments during the civil rights movement created a huge strain between the fire service and the African American community. Instead of seeing firefighters as someone there to help they saw them as the enemy. Situations like this, especially since now it's all over the media (I mean, here I am in sunny SC commenting on it) there has been a level of doubt created among the folks we are trying to protect.

Law enforcement agencies raid occupied apartments many times every day all over this country without having to resort to tactics like this.
- Mike, Columbia, SC

This just throws crap in the Firefighters face. This just makes every call a firefighter goes on, makes anyone ask is that a cop or a FF? The police just put the local FD in a bad position.
- John Lewis, manchester

Compared to the typical overt SWAT disaster (kick in the doors, break the windows, throw flash-bangs, shoot the dog), this was a brilliant way to execute a high-risk warrant with minimal risk to everyone.

As for "disguising" police, every undercover officer is in "disguise".
- Kevin, Lancaster

I just read that the Fire Fighters union is upset for the Police using their suites as a means to arrest someone. I read all the time how you people blog on about wasteful spending in the government. Well here you go a perfect example. If it takes the police to dress as the Pope to arrest someone, then by all means go for it!!! They need to do what ever it takes to make our streets safe. You people need to stand in there shoes for a day.
Prettty soon the deer population will complain that its not fair that hunters dress in camo!!!
- Ryan, Manchester

What about Waterville Valley? The police are the firefighters there. And the firefighters are the police. A situation was difused. Great job to the NPD. And the whiny firefighters union that is going to hold a press conference about this can go and....
- Jim, Newport Nh

Well, this is the end of Firefighters as the GOOD guys only there to help.

Will Firemen dress up as Cops next?
- Steve, Haverhill

Bottom line is that no one got hurt. Good job !!
- G.Paul, Concord

Doug in DC, are you a member of congress. Usually when something that stupid is said in Washington, that's who says it. "Dilute the trust in public safety” are you talking about the convicted felon, who was committing another felony by having the weapons. The same convicted felon who earlier had pointed a weapon at the head of a police officer. His trust, that's who's trust your concerned over. Olive and the other cop haters, that’s whose trust is diluted. But you know what, they didn’t trust the cops in the first place, so now it’s two parts per billion instead of one. As for people not calling for help when they need it, I don’t buy that. All you have to do is watch Fox on Saturday night and they’ll show you all kinds of rocket scientists that call for help while taking a hit off the bong. You know what else, I’m sure there are exceptions, but for the most part if you call 911 for someone other than police, let them in your home and they see something that you shouldn’t be doing, I’ll bet they tell the cops. I mean come on, if you call for an ambulance the police are going to show up anyway, same with fire department. Maybe not always, but again often enough that I doubt the bad guys are taking the chance.

I’m part of the public; my trust isn’t diluted in any way. But then again I’m not breaking the law.
- Dan, Nashua

"Police shouldn't disguise themselves"

If you knew the first thing about law enforcement you would realize what a ridiculous statement that is. This was a well thought out successful operation. No one got hurt, and the police got their man.

Maybe they should of kicked the door in and got a baby killed, or, as one reader suggests, wait until he lets his gaurd down, meanwhile, while waiting, a drug deal in his apartment goes bad and a baby get killed.

Sounds to me like you are all hopeing for a big shootout on tv with lots of casulties so you can say, how come the police didn't handle this before it go out of control.

Stay out of what you don't know, let the experts handle it.

Great job NPD and NFD!
- ken, nashua

I still laugh at all the ignorant people (Mike in Chester) who post comments here. READ the article. POLICE officers were dressed in firefighter uniforms. They did not send actual firefighters to do the work of police officers.

I think the tactics were warranted and in the interest of community safety.
- Taylor, Bedford

Police and Fire work well together. This is a hard situation. I can see both sides of the story. Don't let this story break down the greatness that both police and fire offer to eachother. Strong brotherhoods. Thanks you to all who serve our communities.
- Fred, Chichester

I can understand that the police were looking for a safe way to arrest the suspect without harming the people in the apartment, but dressing as firefighters and pulling a building alarm goes way, way over the line.

Pulling the fire alarm in a non-emergency situation is a crime. Impersonating firefighters is also a crime. If I were a resident of this town, I would have grave concerns about the tactics of this police department and would probably request an investigation. The safest and most common way to apprehend a suspect like this is to wait until he lets his guard down and pick him up when he exits the building and is driving away.
- James, Bedford

Great. Now it is not only police officer's who are at risk of being shot by coming to my door, but firefighters too? That was a great way to destroy firefighter neutrality.
- Jeff, Manchester

Thanks to the Police in this Town, the next time we are met with a convicted felon in possescion of a gun or or other weapon, maybe they will just shoot first and ask questions later.. GREAT FORWARD THINKING !! Maybe we can get some public safety personnel killed....! Did the police chief of this town order bullet proof vest for all the firefighters so they will be prepared for the next call they go on????

This man/woman Chief SHOULD BE FIRED! and the members of the FIRE DEPARTMENT should not show up for calls until they are properly outfitted as police officers....
- Mike, chester nh

Wait a minute. The UL story says that the original officer couldn't affect an arrest because he had a shotgun aimed at his chest and face. Then it says that he got the suspect to put his weapon down and then he left. Then the suspect showed no qualms or suspicion when firefighters showed up soon thereafter (though the article doesn't state the proximity to the original confrontation) and willingly surrendered. All in all, sloppy reporting. Try again.
- Tom, Dover-Foxcroft, Me.

This sort of activity serves only to dilute the trust in public safety. Having police disguise themselves as other, well trusted, agency employees (fire, hazmat, or EMS), and then are revealed to be police, then citizens may be more reluctant to allow the other agencies (fire, hazmat, EMS) access into more sensitive area (the home, for example), for fear of discovering something they'd prefer to have hidden.

The bond of trust between the public and the fire department has been broken, by the police. Shame on the police for doing this, as well as for the fire department for being party to it.
- Doug, Washington, DC

Good ole' Yankee ingenuity. Love it.
- BW, Candia

I don't see a big problem with it, as long as it happens very infrequently. The biggest problem is when the press publishes it, and the world finds out about it.

In my community to a SWAT team used my fire departments step van style cascade/salvage unit as aprt of an early morning drug raid. A gas leak was simulated, and one of our engines parked up the street a few houses. Plice dressed as firefighters first went to the drug dealers home and said that they were evacuating the children from the neighborhood to get the suspects girlfriend and kid out of the house. These police officers were from other parts of the county so the locals did not recognize them as local police. Most of the police officers were volunteer firefighters in other towns as well.

About ten minutes after the girlfriend and kid were removed they stormed the house. Confiscating a large quantity of drugs.

About 4 years ago my department responded to a working duplex dwelling fire. The fire was on the second floor, and it was discovered that there was a large pot growing operation with booby traps in the basement. Fortunately no firefighters got hurt. We are more than willing to get the junk out of our community. Whatever it takes. We ahve a bigger problem with drugs than fire right now. The drugs will lead to a downturn in the community, which leads to a more significant fire problem due to the nature of the people and buildings in lesser states of repair. getting rid of the drug problem is in a round aboutt way fire prevention.
- Steve, Washington, NJ

This is a awfull idea! Now every alarm activation and building fire firefighters respond to, are potentially wanted fugitves or whatever going to arm themselves thinking this could be a trick?? Don't fire fighters have a dangerous job allready?
- Ryan, Manchester

I think the point that Jack is trying to make is you take away the authenticity of the person in uniform like this. Kind of like the military driving a medical vehicle to work their way into a hostile area. Next time around the actual medical crew could be slaughtered.

Having said all that, I can't say this was a bad decision if there was a child involved.
- Jay, Londonderry

Alex think about it.....the police have people on scene who would not let anyone i.e ups...enter the building while they are doing this and the fire dept was in on this so they would know about it aaaaaand would you rather have a one year old held hostage or a shoot out in a crowded apartment building...kudos to Newport PD for thinking outside the box and using their imagination to arrest this guy safely.....
- jennfer, bethlehem

Jack I guess you don't think that the police might coordinate their effort with whom they disguised as?

Obviously this was a completely well coordinated effort which minimized the danger of having the lunatic with gun start a shoot out.

Just as I am sure an effort in which being disguised as a UPD driver would mean that UPS would know this was occuring. Efforts like this are not typically pretty well organized.
- Mike, Manchester

Commendable action, however not a good idea.

I recall sometime ago that police were disguising themselves as UPS drivers to make a sting bust and that turned out not to be a good idea as what would happen if an actual driver showed up to make a delivery. I'm sure you get the idea.

Whats going to go through the mind of this person again if and when he gets out or someone in his predictament has the actual fire department show up.

The police shouldn't disguise themselves it represents a danger that can go far beyond this encounter.
- Jack Alex, Manchester