Recognizing that no one could save the premature infants’ lives, he and an attending paramedic turned their attention to getting the mother to the hospital. Only later, when it was clear that the mother’s life was not in danger, was there time to rethink what had been done with the fetuses.
That they had been flushed into a septic tank was crushingly painful to everyone who learned of the incident. The knowledge was so painful, the very thought of it so unbearable, that someone had to be held accountable.
That someone turned out to be Davis.
Perhaps that is appropriate. We do want emergency responders to be cool under pressure, to be trained to react appropriately to any emergency, to make good decisions. Above all, we want them to save lives.
That’s what Davis thought he was doing. If he made an ill-thought or un-thought-out decision to flush the fetuses, it was out of urgent concern for the mother and nothing else. For that he has lost his job.
Odenville firefighters pleaded with the mayor and City Council to keep Davis, saying “he has given to this town more than can ever be repaid.” Davis said he was touched by the outpouring of support and spoke of the bond that has developed among members of the Fire Department. He said he considered his fellow firefighters family. Yet, he did not contest Mayor Buck Christian’s decision to let him go.
As Odenville begins its search for a new fire chief, we hope the injuries from this tragedy can begin to heal — for the town, for Davis, and especially for the family who lost their twins.
Read more: stclairtimes - Odenville officially terminates fire chief
I thought of this recently......In the movie, "A Few Good Men" with Tom Cruise & Jack Nicholson, there were two marines arrested for the death of a fellow marine. But, they were following the order of Col. Jessup, the person in charge. The marines couldn't understand why they were discharged from the service because they were simply following orders. But the only difference in what has happened with Chief Davis and with this movie is, that when all is said and done, the man (Col. Jessup) that gave the order admitted it and WAS arrested and suffered the consequences of issuing the order!
Now I know that there's a huge difference here because what he ordered caused death to another human being. But, the way the family, the mayor, the council members & the sheriff have acted, you'd think that Davis caused the death of these twins, which is NOT the case and we all know that.
Again, the person that gave Davis the order to flush the commode NEEDS TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES, as well as Davis, otherwise, to many, it appears that the family and the sheriff made Davis a personal target. So I hope, for the sake of all involved, the right thing is done here.
DAVIS DID MAKE A BAD CALL TO FOLLOW THE ORDER GIVEN, BUT THE MAYOR MADE AN EVEN WORSE DECISION BY FIRING HIM. But it's obvious that Davis has more support then the mayor who needs to start looking for other employment as there's no doubt he will be voted out come election time.
I am just saying Davis has been put through enough by the mayor and council..This is just so sad. Davis was doing what he thought was best for this family...