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LETTERS
Assemblyman/firefighter did it by the book
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To the editor:
My fire department and my assistant fire chief, John Oceguera, have recently come under fire from Review- Journal columnist Glenn Cook and a right-wing blog. I want to set the record straight, something I would have been glad to do had Mr. Cook contacted me before he published his column, and something I tried to do when I was contacted by that conservative blog.
John Oceguera has dedicated his life to public safety as a firefighter, and didn't stop there, choosing to add more public service by running for public office. We should be encouraging more firefighters and public safety officers to lead our community, not less. It is exactly the type of real-world experience that we desperately need in our public officials.
John has risen through the ranks at the fire department over the past 20 years because of his leadership qualities, years of experience at every level of fire service and his extensive education -- which includes an AS degree in fire science, a BS degree in fire administration, a masters public administration, a law degree from the William Boyd School of Law, and numerous fire safety certifications and qualifications.
Just as he has done throughout his service as a legislator, John Oceguera has worked hard and played by the rules. John has done it by the book -- he's been a firefighter first, and a part-time legislator, second.
Contrary to what was reported, during the legislative session, Oceguera was paid for only nine hours of work a week, and for the rest of the time he was on either unpaid leave or used accrued vacation time. In return for these nine hours of pay a week, Oceguera participated in weekly early morning executive video conferences, early morning full-staff video conferences, and composed a weekly operations report for me which showed he processed more than 1,900 emails (about 120 a week) to do his job.
But Oceguera didn't stop there. Throughout the legislative session, Oceguera came into the office virtually every weekend. In addition, Oceguera was on call every weekend until early May, from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday, which means he was on the clock for more than 240 hours a month while serving in the Legislature. By comparison, my other chiefs are required to be on call for only 118 hours per month.
This was something he and I agreed to before the legislative session began because we needed his valuable help at the department. What many have done, but Oceguera chose not to, was take a standard leave, which would have left us with a void to fill.
Instead, Oceguera found the time to fulfill his most critical responsibilities by working early in the morning and on weekends -- providing far more time to us than he was compensated for, a great deal for the fire department.
The right-wing blog criticized Oceguera for being a firefighter who is a part-time legislator. Understanding the importance of operating under proper procedures and guidelines, we long ago requested the opinion of President Bush's office of special counsel and they concluded that this agreement is in full accordance with proper procedures, laws and regulations. Whatever the opinion of this blog, Oceguera may serve in the Legislature as an assistant fire chief.
My assistant fire chief did everything by the book. In fact, he went above and beyond to fulfill his duties to the people of Nevada and help my fire department avoid the catastrophe that would have come from being left short-handed.
To do it, he went 120 days, seven days a week, on very little sleep. To do it, Oceguera was only paid nine hours a week (one day of work) by the fire department, but used up two valuable vacation days a week and ended up working far more than he was compensated for.
In my view, John should be getting awards for his sacrifices, not accusations. John Oceguera is one of my most qualified, dedicated and honorable firefighters. He has earned the respect of every firefighter under my command, and the city of North Las Vegas is lucky to have him in their employ.
Al Gillespie
North Las Vegas
The writer is chief of the North Las Vegas Fire Department.
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rwsdao: You forgot mention that you were also very likely 100% responsible for the cost of your college education, likely costing you thousands of dollars. I know I was. And despite being almost 40-years old, I’m still making payments to repay my college loans. Very much UNLIKE North Las Vegas Assistant Fraud Chief John Oceguera, who’s base salary is in excess of $138,336 per year. Nevertheless, tax payers were required to pay 100% of the cost for Mr. Oceguera’s rather extensive college education, which includes an AS degree in fire science, BS degree in fire administration, masters of public administration and a law degree from the William Boyd School of Law. Would someone please explain to us, the tax payers, (the people who funded 100% of Mr. Oceguera’s education), the relevancy of any fire fraud acquiring MPA and JD degrees? More so, would someone also please explain to us, the tax payers, even the remote necessity for us, the tax payer, to pay for Mr. Oceguera’s nonessential college education? And while college tuition reimbursement programs are clearly suitable, are not such programs offered to assist employees to become more knowledgeable, or more efficient in their current job? What other rationale could there possibly be to justify offering employees such a complimentary inducement, particularly when the employee taking advantage of such an inducement is already collecting more than $138,336 per year in compensation? I realize this post raises a significant amount of questions, however, as a tax payer, I would sincerely like to have an (honest) answer to each and every one of them. However, I won't be holding my breath waiting for some honest answers!
That's fine, just make sure the cheapskate buys a round of beers next time it's his turn instead of sneaking out.
No u thinks zzzzzzz idiots
Once he started the adding more "public service" bs I knew it would all be self serving drivel. Right again.
The fire departments in the valley make a big thing about 4th of July fireworks going off in the valley. "Don't shoot off illegal fire works, you could get arrested for a serious crime!" Yeah, right. On the evening of the 4th there at least 300 individual resident, empty lot and street fireworks shows being set off; nary a fire truck or police car can be seen. One with only a half a meatball for a brain can spot these neighborhood shows from miles away, yet the fire department doesn't make an attempt of approach one of these 'family events'. If they wanted to catch them it would be easy, but no its more rewarding to get overtime pay guarding the golden gaming palaces on the strip from any misdirected 'strip' fireworks display for the public. It is the same mentality as the police announcing the advance location and time for DUI checkpoints on holiday. TV and radio boldly announce, “They’ll be checking for drunks at Sahara & Decatur from 7:00 p.m. to midnight…Duhhh don’t get caught!!” The latter takes real brains and planning from some geniuses.
The Nevada Constitution is clear.
If you work in the Executive Branch you're not allowed to serve in the Legislature.
If you're a member of the State Bar then you're an extension of the Judicial branch -- even regulated by the Supreme Court. You're not allowed to serve in the Legislature, either.
The only people who can't seem to understand this are Executive Branch employees and Attorneys. Oceguera is certainly the former and probably the latter, also; a lawyer is not necessarily a Member of the Bar.
That line about getting an affirmative legal opinion from some Bush-era bureaucrat is the most arrogant and ridiculous thing I've read all week. I would expect nothing less from a public Fire Chief. And what would you expect a government lawyer to say? Even so, Chief had to go all the way to *Washington* to shop for a favorable opinion!
Sooner or later the regulators will come under the control of the industry they're supposed to be watching. So in a sense (if not in actuality), lawyers for BIG Gaming write the gaming laws.
Government lawyers who enforce ethics rules (ethics regulators) work to provide legal cover for ethics *violators* -- especially other lawyers.
I went to sign up to be one of those Union, Hero, On-Duty Costco Shopping, On-Duty Gold Gym Weight Lifter, A Paid Boot Collector Firefighter, etc.,etc. and so I could make $180,000 plus a year, retire at age 48, all with my GED and the line was around the block about 5 or 6 times.
I am not disputing that he did it by the book. But I have a problem with this book being a book that he READS and WRITES at the same time. So I guess my problem is still two-fold 1) I have a problem with the book! 2) I have a problem with the self serving public employee writings in the book.
Do you think they will let a casino manager write gaming regs? probably not!
@Mr. G. I don't demand any service. I would never think of calling the gang bangers (police), I don't have kids so the teachers can starve and I don't mind and fire protection is a needed service that should be privatized. There is no logical reason it has to be a government monopoly. I would voluntarily pay for such a service as would many others. The current version police "protection" that only amounts to gang bangers I would never pay for voluntarily. Nor the government schooling system. So, keep this "services" if you want them. Just stop forcing those that don't want or need them to continue paying for them. It is what a civilized person would do. So, you got to ask yourself. Are you civilized or a barbarian?
The fire frauders I see laughing it up at the local pub about how well they game the system are heroes indeed. It takes big kahunas to dare people to take them down. They will all retire after 20 years of non work with mid 6 figure pensions, health insurance and all the rest while we peon worker bee tax payers get to toil for their benefit. Heroes indeed.