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BROTHER AND SISTER DOWN
This morning the Local 1014 Membership, and frankly the entire department woke to the horrible news of the death of Firefighter James Taylor, and his wife, a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy and ALADS member.
By now you have read the Department communication and more importantly read the news and have seen the television reports on the incident. Local 1014 has had a long night working with the Department to address the numerous issues that must be handled for this extremely tragic incident. Local 1014 has been in contact with the Department and the Board of Supervisors to not only collaborate in the hard work that must be done, but also to ensure all elements of support for our members and their families is in place.
This type of firefighter death is happening in increasing numbers statewide and nationally and Local 1014 Members are no stranger to the harshness of the subject. We are working to ensure that all immediate family members and co-workers both directly and indirectly including the LAFD and LASD brothers and sisters are cared for in a formal and official manner. Department resources including the Peer Support Team, Behavioral Health Specialist, Medical Director, and specialized resources from the International Association of Fire Fighters Health and Safety Office have been contacted and are in service.
We will keep you updated and informed as we move forward to deal with this extremely tragic day for our membership, the membership of ALADS and LASD and our Brothers and Sisters from LAFD, and both general and broad Membership intervention as well as very specific individual intervention are in place and we will work hard for the best outcome we can.
As we progress through this hard time, please take a moment, or more than a moment and literally say a prayer for Brother James Taylor, his wife and their child of 6 years, as well as other family and friends who are affected. We will be using all of our resources to protect and preserve the rights and the needs of everyone in this time. We will stand together shoulder to shoulder once again to shore our family up and get through this.
In Solidarity,
Local 1014 Executive Board
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