Crimes and fires don’t strike only when it’s convenient.
Police officers and firefighters with the Kinston Department of Public Safety are on the job today like any other day, except it’s not any other day. Balancing family needs with your sworn duty to the city can take some work on Christmas.
“You know, it’s kind of challenging, actually,” Sgt. Roland Davis said. “I can’t speak for everybody, but I know in my family, there’s lots of demands. My wife’s family lives in Rock Hill, S.C. My folks live in Kenly, and I’ve got a 20-year-old college student — he kind of bounces back and forth in between the two.
“Having to work on the holiday — if my wife had packed up and gone to South Carolina, I would have been here by myself. I wouldn’t have gotten so much as a Christmas dinner.”
At the Fire and Rescue Division, at least three people are covering for others so they can spend Christmas at home.
“I don’t have any children, so I’m doing what we call a ‘shift trade,’ where we trade time for time, between firefighters,” Fire Control Specialist Matthew Barwick said. “I’m working for a firefighter who’s got a 5-year-old son so he can be home with his family.”
Two firefighters are taking vacation days, but the second person had to call in at 6:30 a.m. to make sure no one called in sick, and come in if necessary to make sure the trucks are fully staffed.
Of course, not everyone can work their schedule to get time off.
“What’s tough is I’ve got some guys who work with my group who have 4- or 5-year-olds,” Davis said. “They’re working the Christmas holiday, and you’ve got a 4- or 5-year-old son or daughter who comes up to you and says, ‘Mommy’ or ‘Daddy, when are you going to be home for Christmas?’
“That’s when it’s tough.”
On the job, there are variations on what to expect. Barwick said firefighters are aware that as families gather, there’s an increased chance of kitchen- or cooking-based structure fires, and the subsequent necessity of making sure everyone escapes the fire safely.
The Law Enforcement Division also has its eye out for events that tend to become prevalent during the holidays.
“The holidays, traditionally speaking, it seems like we have increased alcohol consumption, and when people drink more than they should, that lends itself to all kinds of issues,” Davis said. “Domestic (disturbances); the suicide rate is higher around the holidays. It also seems like the shopliftings and larcenies go up around the holidays.”
Davis also said that people should pay attention while on the road. With so many distractions, it’s important to pay attention to the matter at hand and avoid getting into a wreck.
Regardless if they can’t be at home, KDPS members are celebrating with another family.
“The real difference is there’s a lot more camaraderie among the shift members because they know it is Christmas,” Barwick said. “They take pride in being able to serve the city on Christmas Day,”
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at WolfeReports.