Memphis Firefighters Assoc. Pres. on Vandalism: “It’s GUT-Wrenching.”

by | Sep 4, 2020 | Local News | 0 comments

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“It’s really gut-wrenching,” Memphis Firefighters Association President Thomas Malone tells ‘Wake Up Memphis’ with Robyn Walensky. Malone’s 2,220 members are absolutely disgusted by the recent rash of car burglaries this summer. Thugs stealing and vandalizing at least 50 cars at 11 different Memphis Fire stations.

Host Robyn Walensky asking Malone, “How’s morale among your members?”

“Not very good, you take the regular day-to-day operations we see here, we’re one of the busiest fire departments in the country and then you add in the coronavirus pandemic, and then you’re walking around with masks on and everything else, and then there’s always no extra money for the firefighters, no raises.”

Malone goes on to tell ‘Wake Up Memphis,’ “there’s more work being put on the firefighters, I mean it really starts to get to these people. But, being the professionals they are, and performing the way they do, when someone calls the Memphis Fire Department, we will always be there.”

The department currently has 1,500 members and 700 retirees.

Walensky questions if the Memphis Firefighters are being specifically targeted or is this a ‘crime of opportunity’ as the men and women often work herculean 24-hour shifts with their cars left unattended in the various parking lots.

Malone says he’s not sure, but “think about this, they spend 24 hours on a shift, and now the first thing they have to do is go take care of their vandalized car the next morning? What really gets me is these firefighters are out on an emergency, and the people that are stealing from them, it may even be some of their family members stealing from them, it’s really gut-wrenching.”

Malone believes someone clearly knows who is behind the burglaries and all the vandalism. He says a $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

Call Crimestoppers at 901-528-CASH

All calls will be kept confidential.


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