The National Enquirer couldn't top this: "Consensual sex while on duty may not be cause for dismissal."

An article published on Jan. 27, in the Sacramento Bee, stated that "Sacramento city firefighters received new rules and regulations prohibiting sex on duty, but fire officials say the new rule cannot be used to discipline four firefighters accused of participating in group sex in a fire station last year."

The article explains that instead the officials will have to apply an old rule that states "firefighters be governed by ordinary and reasonable rules" and "do not bring discredit upon the department."

Just for kicks, I forwarded this news article to our corporate vice president of human resources and asked for his opinion. If this situation happened in our company, what would happen? He said he hadn't dealt with the situation before, but it certainly did concern him. "Of greater significance is the fact that one of these firefighters [the captain] appears to be in a supervisory role of the others," said the VP. He explained that the fact that the captain may be in a position to evaluate the firefighters' job performance and determine their pay or eligibility for promotion is really undermined by his behavior.

According to the Sacramento newspaper, Fire Chief Julius "Joe" Cherry said he'd heard of at least three incidents of group sex at one station. Interestingly, city or fire officials didn't seem to know whether having consensual sex on duty is a firing offense under the old rules.

By the way, this is the same fire department that in July 2004 suffered through newspaper reports of on-duty firefighters attending a Porn Star Costume Ball, which supposedly triggered "the largest investigation into misconduct in the department's 131-year history."

Has it occurred to anyone that sex in fire stations could be grounds for sexual harassment suits? How about paternity suits? If a firefighter has a heart attack while having sex in the firehouse, is that an on-the-job injury? If he dies, would it qualify as a line-of-duty death? Want to bet somebody would sue?

Meanwhile on the southeastern coast, an article in the Feb. 5, 2005, Tampa Tribune reports a Tampa Fire Rescue captain helped arrange a photo shoot of naked women on the department rigs for a pornographic Web site. The whole mess quickly escalated into lies, threats and politics.

It's interesting that we're concerned about firefighter safety, health and survival. We're trying to get fire chiefs and officers to enforce seatbelt rules, institute fitness programs and offer more training. Fire and emergency services need to create healthy environments that foster professionalism and public service. How can you encourage diversity when double standards or the "boys will be boys" attitude continue? How uncomfortable must it be for co-workers in environments that knowingly tolerate such behavior?

Both the Sacramento and Tampa fire departments are generally well-respected metropolitan departments. Metro departments have a unique role in setting high standards for surrounding departments in their area. FDNY, Chicago Fire Department and San Diego Fire Department are proving that metro departments can and will change to meet higher standards of professionalism.

I'm sure every department has its share of bad apples, but at what point do you say enough is enough and boot them out? There are long lines of able-bodied men and women waiting to get a job in fire departments across the country.

Can you afford the scandal?

Janet Wilmoth, Editor