By Clark Natalie

The Harris Fire Department invited Mayor Rick Smisson to hear their views on the suspension of two of their members, Dwight and Kyle Engler Feb. 23. At that meeting, the department informed the mayor that the members had voted unanimously to reinstate both individuals.

Fire Chief of Operations Will Lacina opened the meeting by establishing a separate board, composed of six members of the fire department, to review the departmentsí Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and internal issues of the department. This will also include disciplinary issues. The board will then present a unified recommendation to the City Council on all issues.

Lacina then recommended members of the department for this board. Members of the department then proposed individuals they would like to see on the board. Before asking those who had been nominated whether they would consent to sit on the board, Lacina let them know that they would have to make difficult decisions, and that being a member was strictly optional.

Those six that were asked to sit on the board along with the Chief agreed they would handle the duties. The board will consist of some individuals the Chief recommended, and some chosen by the members at large.

Lacina then thanked those in attendance for coming. The department had invited Mayor Smisson to hear the memberís views and concerns concerning the suspension of firefighters Dwight and Kyle Engler.

Speaking first, John Pelant told the mayor that the meeting that night came about from the last meeting the department had where it was unanimous that Dwight and Kyle Engler should be reinstated onto the force.

He said the bizarre events reported in the papers, along with rumors had to stop and the department needed to get back to what they do - fight fires. Pelant said in his opinion there was no foundation for the charges against Dwight Engler. Kyle Engler was wrong in leaving a fire situation. He should have told someone. Kyle Engler had been suspended for those actions

Pelant went on to say that between the two Englers, the department was losing a lot of experience and knowledge. Kyle E. had been on the department six years, Dwight E. 19.

Kyle Engler took the opportunity to apologize to the members of the fire department for his action and acknowledged what he had done was wrong. Lacina accepted his apology.

Other members of the department also informed Smisson of their want to have the Englers back on the department.

Lacina then gave the Mayor the opportunity to respond. Smisson thanked the department as he did want to hear what they had to say. He also wanted to share from his heart why the Council is taking the position it is. He applauded the establishment of the board. It is a good first step. Smisson reminded the members that a board is only as good as the people on it are willing to make tough calls. The Council has to do that.

The members of the department are leaders of the city, he went on. Firefighters are more recognizable than the Mayor and Council members. People view the Harris firefighters as they do the fireman who were at ground zero on 9-11. They get that respect because of the uniform they wear.

Smisson went on. The Council recognizes that there are problems on the department. They do not want to run the department, but want it to be run by itís own members. But the City is going to step in until it is cleaned up and can run itself. The department needs to police itself so the City doesnít have to. There can not be the expectation that members will cover up for each other because they are watching out for each other. There has to be a public trust that the department is operated with complete integrity, from the top to the bottom, with the City in mind, not a little group, the mayor said.

The question was then posed to Smisson was what steps need to be taken to get the Englers back on the department.

Smisson said it would take more than an ìIím Sorry.î When people are truly sorry, they demand nothing. The Council needs to see that. Smisson also said that the reinstatement would be a decision of the Council. He could not say what the outcome would be. He said it will take more than a vote by the department. The Council cares about the big picture. It is not a good ole boy thing, wanting to get my buddy back on the department, the mayor went on. The hearing that is scheduled on the matter will still be held and the decision will be made at that time.

Lacina then let Kyle Engler know that his recommendation to the Council will be for his reinstatement. He acknowledged that it was difficult for Kyle to come in front of his peers and apologize. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is what they do afterwards.

Dwight Engler then spoke to the members of the department. He let them know that over his 19 years on the department he had appreciated the camaraderie between fellow firefighters. Because of what had happened, some bridges had been burned, some had been reinforced, he said. Those bridges needed to be re-built. It will take a lot of effort from all sides and some may never be rebuilt. He welcomes the chance to again be a member of the department. If the Council says, he will be back. If it doesnít work out, he is glad for the 19 years he had, he concluded.