Public perception

Las Vegas Fire Chief Greg Gammon needs to worry less about the public's perception of his firefighters and more about the economic realities of his department's unsustainable payroll.

In a Feb. 10 e-mail to all department staff, obtained by the Review-Journal through a public records request, Mr. Gammon pleaded with his unionized charges to take steps to dampen criticism of their extraordinary salaries and benefits and help him insulate the department from pay cuts proposed by the city manager.

Foremost, he wants his crews, workout fixtures at several local gyms, to use the exercise equipment at their stations for a while -- at least until the next round of city budget reductions is complete. "We have a few of our crews that make things difficult for the rest of us," Mr. Gammon wrote.

"We need to get 'all' of the public back on our side. ... Spending 2-3 hours a day at the gym like some crews do is just the kind of actions that tear us down. I'm not saying don't go to the gym, but as a department, it would do us well if we used station exercise equipment for the next couple of months ..."

Additionally, Mr. Gammon asked that firefighters use their generous sick leave allowances "only when it's needed," a statement that implies firefighters have been doing the opposite. When one firefighter claims a sick day, his replacement collects overtime wages. Firefighters across the valley have long been suspected of planning and coordinating sick days and replacement shifts, driving up their wages and future pension benefits -- and adding millions of dollars in costs to local government general funds.

"Our sick leave usage is down. ... You all know our budget will continue to be closely scrutinized by city management," Mr. Gammon wrote.

How miraculous that in these dire economic times, Las Vegas firefighters are suddenly so much healthier.

Like so many government officials, Mr. Gammon is misreading public opinion and focusing on the wrong problem. Residents aren't opposed to having physically fit firefighters -- they need to stay in shape. They're simply starting to question why firefighters -- and all public employees -- should be immune from fiscal sacrifice during this recession.

The average Las Vegas firefighter grosses $110,000 per year and is guaranteed healthy annual pay raises. The city government can't afford them all any more. And yet city firefighters have responded by launching a campaign to scare taxpayers into supporting the status quo, and Mr. Gammon has made it clear that protecting his staff's fat paychecks is his top priority -- even if it takes smoke and mirrors to do it.

It is a matter of fact -- not public perception -- that taxpayers provide government workers with salaries and benefits that far exceed what they earn for themselves.

If Mr. Gammon wants "to get 'all' the public" back on his side, he should remind his staff that they are not a protected class, and that they're subject to the same economic challenges as everyone else.