Union president says Arlington Co. unfairly targeting those seeking disability retirements
By Dave Statter
dstatter@wusa9.com
STATter 911 — http://www.statter911.com
WUSA9 — http://www.wusa9.com
Related Video: 9News Report
ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. — For David Stebbins, it was heart medication. For Ray Buettner, it’s his disability status. For another former Arlington County firefighter, it was desperation that led to suicide. Arlington County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association (IAFF Local 2800) president Mike Staples told STATter 911 late last week, these are just some of the examples of the frustration Arlington firefighters and medics face in dealing with problems involving their health and retirement benefits.
Staples says he has tried for years to work within the system to get help for his members. Saturday, they took their grievances directly to the Arlington County Board of Supervisors. Despite complaints from board Chairman Paul Ferguson they were taking up time allotted for citizens to discuss employee issues, the group tried to let it be known they were upset and angry with the bureaucratic maze they have tried to navigate.
Staples says among the biggest problems is how the county has dealt with 18 firefighters and medics suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following the September 11, 2001 attack at the Pentagon. Ray Buettner (pictured above) is among those Staples says is not getting proper treatment and pension benefits.
Staples choked up when recounting the story of another one of his members suffering from PTSD. Staples says he talked regularly with the man trying to help him deal with the frustration of handling the benefits and treatment issues. According to Staples, shortly after one of those calls, the man hanged himself.
In another case, Sherri Stebbins says her husband David died of a heart attack during the same time she was trying to work through the bureaucracy and get the correct heart medication prescription filled.
County officials said they will meet with the firefighters to try and work through these problems. Arlington County Manager Ron Carlee says despite rapidly rising heath care costs, the county has greatly increased benefits to firefighters since 2002. Carlee also points to the challenge of managing pension obligations as being a major problem for the county.
Mike Staples believes those who deserve disability retirements are being unfairly targeted as the county tries to contain costs.
Since 1972 Dave Statter has covered the news. A good deal of Dave’s reporting has focused on how fire and emergency medical services are delivered in and around Washington and Baltimore. Along the way, Dave was also a volunteer firefighter, an emergency dispatcher and a cardiac rescue technician.