KSL2786

Nope, I know they wouldnt... Thats why I have no faith in the US legal system, either. What a disaster it is. We're more concerned with figuring out what was going through that guys head when he decided to shoot up a movie theater than just giving him what he deserves. How many people are sitting in prison for minor marijuana offenses, while we stock our convenient stores with liquor and load tv and magazines with advertisements? How many innocent people are sitting in jail for crimes they didn't commit? The list goes on, and on. A little disappointing when the people who did it are right under there noses and they can't do anything about it. Meanwhile they probably caught some highschooler for smoking a joint, instead. And I still think that he should have just tackled that dog. Pretty weak move to bust out the gun as far as I'm concerned.

I hear ya. I guess I just don't see even the most vicious of dogs as enough of a threat to where lethal force is necessary. There are other ways of restraining them, even if that just means manning up and tackling the dog yourself. I'll admit my opinion is biased, I'm a dog lover. I've never met a dog vicious enough that I couldn't have taken it down with my own two hands. The actions taken here were overkill if you ask me. I think the officer was just trigger happy and wanted to use his gun.

No way to use it in this situation? They had enough time to pull the trigger on a real gun, why wouldn't they have been able to pull the trigger on a tranq gun?? I just don't think that a dog that MIGHT weigh 100lbs max is enough of a threat that it needs to be shot and killed. Thats pretty weak and not respectable at all as far as I'm concerned. Sorry for my meter-maids comment but thats how I feel. Where I live I've not seen cops be very capable of stopping crime, catching criminals, or anything of importance other than stopping speeders, writing parking tickets, etc. We had a car stolen out of our driveway a few years back. There was video footage of known criminals passing through a gas station a couple blocks away from my house around 3am, on bikes. Our car was gone, there were 3 bikes left in the yard. They knew who these guys were and knew the area they were from..they were known criminals. Cops wouldn't touch em.. didn't to squat. Sorry but I just dont have much respect for law enforcement officers and not much will change my opinion until I start to see positive results in my community. We've got people dropping dead every day from heroin overdoses yet no one is being convicted of sales. Too busy running radar and eatin donuts to do real work I guess.

Captain ToHellWithItAll, Yes I have been making some calls and it has definitely been helpful. I've heard everything from it doesn't matter (aside from having to jump through some additional hoops) unless you've had two or more, to services that say after its been 5 years then you are insurable again. I'm still incredibly interested in this field and I know I can do well in my class. I sincerely do want to help people. Its a problem I've created for myself and I understand and respect everyones point of view. Initially I felt like this situation was might be devestating to my hopes of becoming an EMT but I guess now I realize that its all about self advocation, proving myself to be changed, taking responsibilities for my mistakes etc. Its going to be a long and bumpy road for me to get my foot in the door anywhere probably, but I want it bad enough that I can't let this discourage me or hold me back from trying. Thanks again to everyone for your input, even the ones that that stated things I may not have wanted to hear. I value the advice an opinions given here and I assure you..I'm not leaving this thread with my panties in a bunch!! I would like to continue to be involved on this website because I think I could gain al ot of valuable knowledge and perspectives from experienced folks in the field. I know I did wrong and I feel terrible about it. I never want to put anyone at risk because of my own selfish stupidity. Unfortunately, it already happened and I can't take it back so all there is to do now is move forward and deal with it..doing whatever it is I need to do to get to where I want to be to make up for the mistakes of my past. Also thanks to everyone for the well-wishes. It means a lot to me and I appreciate it. I hope I can be successful somehow in this field and use the knowledge and skills I will gain from training, in whatever scenario it may be..ambulance, raft guiding, etc. Take care everyone and perhaps we'll catch up on a different thread in the future.

Darn I was really hoping someone would hold my hand Thanks for wishing me luck, I do appreciate it.

Stupid meter maids.... why don't they stick to writing speeding tickets thats all they're good at anyway. I'm just saying... its called sedation. They make guns that shoot sedating darts.. Why don't they carry those for situations like this? I had friend in Montana whose dog was shot by the police because a concerned neighbor called in and complained that the dog was barking at people who were walking by and she thought it was a threat. Cops showed up and shot the dog with a shotgun. WTF

No sir I'm not mad at the facts, I'm mad because of the way you present them, finding ways of inserting snide remarks and personal insults when there is no place for that here. If you want to state facts, state facts. All the statistics in the world don't mean shit. You can sit here and tell me that I'm going to get another DUI because thats the FACTS... and I know in my own head that it wont, so I'm not mad, I dont care. I just think you're a dick, thats all. And yes, I love long walks on the beach. Especially under the moonlight. PAUL RYAN VP!!!!!!!!

And just because I want to give you a little glimpse of who I am, other than the convicted drunk driver, I am a whitewater kayaker, and avid outdoor enthusiast. I hold swiftwater rescue and wildland firefighter type II certifications as well as CPR, First Aid and Wilderness First Responder Certs. I feel like I'm a qualified candidate to consider work in this field, but if the powers that be want to keep me out of it, so be it. I'll be happy to take my skills and services elsewhere to another type of Entity. Maybe I'll find a search and rescue crew to work for out west or something. Work for a private wildland fire contractor, or become multi-day expedition rafting guide somewhere. Hey that sounds like a lot more fun that working on an ambulance anyway! Who knows, nice to have my life ahead of me to figure that all out, meanwhile I'll just keep gaining more credentials and experience along the way.

Thanks to those that offered your local policies and constructive criticisms in regards to the original post.

What makes you think I've not taken it like an adult or moved on? You are jumping to conclusions and making assumptions again. clearly you think you walk on water, i'd rather not concern myself with your opinion any longer. it never mattered anyway. This is just a stupid blog where I posted to get a little feedback regarding a situation that I'M HANDLING...like an adult. EMT cert will benefit me in other aspects of my life, my life will not fall apart if I can't find a job on an ambulance due to whatever policies they might have in place. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. At this point I'm also making the decision to MOVE ON.. like an adult, and ignore any future speculation you feel compelled to post on this thread. Shame I can't just delete it all together, but I suppose you and others will have fun continuing to troll on here and talk about me the convicted drunk driver. No face, no name, clearly no morals or integrity, right?. My whole life is summed up in the events of one night.. I wouldn't want to work for anyone who saw things that way, anyhow.

Paramedic Mike you have jumped to some conclusions. I didn't ever say I should be considered a better option. I simply said that just because someone has a clean driving record doesn't necessarily mean they are any better than I am. I know plenty of people who have never been convicted but have done it many times, and continue to do so. I also know people who have been convicted of DUI, and would never consider doing it again. I never said pity me, or expected sympathy. Sorry for stating a fact. Of course there are repeat DUI offenders but there are also a grip load of people out there with one conviction and they learn there lesson. Someone who's never had the hammer brought down on them will be more likely to continue to engage in the same behavior again and again until something happens. Of course there are huge statistics for repeat offenders, but that doesn't prove anything other than that they are keeping track of all the dumbest people out there. This would be a much more suitable statistic to research: Out of *ALL DUI convictions* what percentage of them do it again? The statistics you have given are meaningless rhetoric unless they are compared to something under the same scope of relativity. All I'm saying is that I could walk into an employer and say with the utmost certainty that I will never drink and drive again in my life. How many other entry level, or even experienced EMT's can POSITIVELY say the same? I'm sure they're out there. I"m just saying... in my personal opinion a one time conviction shouldn't be an automatic disqualification. But in this world everything boils down to what you look like on paper, and money. It is what it is. Spare me the inaccurate assumptions that I'm looking for sympathy, if you actually knew me as a person you would know how far from the truth that is. I suppose that kind of thing is not always easy to discern in text.

I can hold certification and License in the state of Wisconsin with a misdemeanor OWI. Only thing that stops you from that is a felony. My understanding is that getting hired on an ambulance is probably out of the question in the near future. Its really too bad that because someone has made a mistake that employers would immediately disqualify them. If I were an employer, I'd be more concerned about the folks who haven't been caught, because their the ones you have to worry about it happening too after you've already hired them. Just my two cents I guess

I appreciate all the feedback. One thing no one has really touched on is the possibility of working in an ER. It seems to be all gloom and doom when it comes to the chances of me working on an ambulance, which is too bad. I guess the ER would be my fallback. If none of the above work, I really don't know. I thought I had really figured it out with this one but because of a stupid decision I made back in my hayday it might not work out. I know I have to work twice as hard to prove myself and I'm prepared to do so. Also, is it different for volunteer EMT at all? In Wisconsin I am surrounded by tons of small, backwoods communities.

Hey thanks for the reply. Do you know if it is at least relatively common for people who have achieved proper certification and licensure to be hired on an Ambulance and not drive? I realize that obviously they'd probably rather have people who can do both, but I can't imagine I am the first person to run into this issue. I just really hope to get a job as an emergency care provider!

Thank you for the reply, it is nice to know policies in other states too. The O stands for Operating, and yes it is the equivalent of a DWI.

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and this is my first time posting. I have, however, read a lot of these threads and been able to find very helpful answers to some of my questions. I guess with this post I am hoping to get more specific answers as they apply to the state I am in. Let me start by saying that like everyone I have made mistakes in my life. Just over a year ago I made the terrible decision to drive home after a night out with friends. I was pulled over for going over the speed limit and admitted to drinking. I was over the legal limit and was arrested for OWI. I accept full responsibility for my actions and feel terrible about what I did. Since this occurred I have taken significant steps to make changes in my life. I received treatment, I no longer drink and have changed my life for the better. As awful of a situation as it was, in the end it has made some positive changes in my life. I am enrolled to start EMT-B starting tomorrow at my local tech college. My interest in this field begins a long time ago and mostly involves firefighting. I have spent time working as an on-call wildland firefighter in Montana and one day hope to return to fighting wildfires. However, as I have moved back to Wisconsin to be near family I have opened my mind to other possible career choices. I am taking EMT-B as part of the Fire Service Protection Cert, but I have found that I would really be interested in Paramedic training. Problem is, with my OWI, I"m not sure that I'll be able to even get into a Paramedic School. Since getting that OWI my life has done a complete 180 and I am very proud of the things I have done so please, don't belittle me for mistakes I've made in the past (I've seen a lot of that on here regarding this type of situation) but rather please accept me for the person I have become, the changes I've made and the passion I have for this field. So, to break it down I guess I am wondering if Paramedic training is at all a possibility for me in a year or two (keep in mind if its different state by state, I would be willing to relocate) and also what kinds of things I can do in Wisconsin with an EMT-B or EMT-Intermediate. I am interested in working in an ER doing triage as well, if thats a possibility. Thanks in advance for your time.