When I first heard that on the news, I knew people would look at that in a negative light. It's sad that people would be more worried about their child getting a free toy when all year long, firefighters not only in Coventry, but worldwide risk their lives to save other lives. Personally, I would much rather the community do something to brighten the lives of firefighter's and their families this year. They are always there for the community, showing compassion to complete strangers who feel helpless or scared when sick or injured, and sometimes they are there holding the hand of someone when a family member can't be by their side in time of need. Want a good feeling? Give back.

So only the "on duty" firefighters will work the booths? We call that charity?

So my question is who initiated this interview?

My thoughts exactly Jennifer. Amazing how quickly the public forgot that these guys worked sandy without knowing if or when they will get paid. They cared about the firemen then when they dialed 911. Why doesn't someone in the community step up to help if they truly are concerned for their neighbors in need?

Captain Gorman's request for correction is not unreasonable. The story was clearly biased and meant to be sensationalized. WJAR 10 portrayed these firefighters as something they are not. In fact, I believe that is called slander. Shame on WJAR 10 for picking and choosing the pieces that they wanted to air and misrepresenting this department who in recent weeks HAS gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Charity? You want charity??? These men and women worked without pay and still had to provide for their families. These men and women come from a place of love to support their community. Everyday they run the risk of not coming home at night to their own families. How dare we tarnish their reputations.

Clearly, there are two sides to this story. Perhaps Eyewitness News or ABC 6 would like to air the "other side". Captain Gorman and the voices of the Central Coventry Fire Department should be heard in its entirety.

Sadly, people are going to believe what they want to believe even if it's a distorted truth. Some people are content to heckle, nitpick, and judge. What is happening to our society when obvious lies and deceit are readily embraced. Ultimately, I am perplexed that someone would read this article, and the thing that they take away from it is "charity, we call that charity?"

I'm not naive about how the world works. I'm disgusted.

November 12th
David Gorman went on the news to announce the CCFD will not participate in the boot drive this year.
Gorman states he needs to look after his membership because some are 4 weeks behind on bills.
WHAT???
What the heck kind of excuse is that?
They are turning their backs on tradition to spite the people of Coventry and ultimately the charity will be the one to suffer.

Stop the whining. You are paid in full according to this article and the good people of Coventry had taken their time to buy and donate Stop & Shop cards and gave you discounts on many services in town to help you guys get thru.

Lets not forget if the CCFD had a proper budget and some fiscal responsibility we would not be in this mess to begin with.

This stinks to high heaven.
Shame on CCFD.

First Kerri I said nothing about the people who do the work if anything this is an example of how and why we have so many financial issues. As for them getting paid they will it is against the law for them not to receive what they earned so they will get it retroactively. You can be irate and upset over the way they are treated but do not over look the whole issue of mismanagement and how things are done the days of passing the boot on work time should be done by the community or those who want to volunteer to do so, many people still care but I would rather see them in a training that benefits all of our safety.
Things need to change and how they are done as well, it does not mean that the people who do the work are in the wrong it means those who make the decisions are.

How's this... Food for though... What happens if people didn't get free food free gifts free anything?... What has been done for years out of the goodness of their hearts has made people WANT or EXPECT these handouts... People rely too much on public servants instead of doing there own charity work. As a community YOU should help thy neighbor and stop relying on the government or its workers to do it for you.

@gunslinger and flo..
"They are turning their backs on tradition to spite the people of Coventry and ultimately the charity will be the one to suffer"
"So only the "on duty" firefighters will work the booths? We call that charity?"
So if they do it then it's wrong. If they don't do it then it's wrong.....?????
Do you guys complain about cold ice cream?

What is the underlying reason they won't participate? That was my first thought when I heard the News @ 11PM. Maybe it's some legal or insurance hassles. It NEVER OCCURRED TO ME IT WAS THEIR CHOICE. I don't know any of these people personally however I live in the community in a different district but you can't miss seeing their particiapaton in so very many charitable events. The caring for people is evident. Hero's is a word bandied about these days and no doubt Superman comes to mind when they run into burning buildings. However on a daily basis they display patience and caring ie. when they are called to help an old man who's fallen in the middle of the night for the 4th time. Stop to help a motorist on the side of the road. Shave their heads in support of a brother. We know these folks have integrity. They are the American's we all yearn to emulate and hope our children and grandchildren will remember. Thank you for your service. Happy Holidays.

There must be a mathematical solution without an argument..I found a possibility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GElsQdkT0V0

" CCFD tradition in question is the week-long journey through the neighborhoods of Central Coventry that Santa Claus takes each year on one of the district's fire engines. Although a final decision has not yet been made in regards to whether Santa's trip will be canceled this year, Gorman explained that there is a significant fuel cost that comes with the week of nightly details, at about $1,800.
. "That's something that our guys really want to do because we honestly enjoy doing it, but it takes us an entire week to cover our district and it costs money to fuel the truck. If the possibility exists, we would love to do it, but that decision will be up to Richard Land to make for us this year."

Nightly Details? hmm...is this to say the truck rides around at night all week with paid firefighters or firefighters on overtime? I would like to know if that is the case,if so it sounds like they receive a Christmas bonus of sorts under the guise of charity.

Please correct me if I'm wrong as I would love to believe that the department truly is being charitable with their off duty time and not just another way to fleece taxpayers hard earned money.

Lets cut the fat please and use common sense. Why don't they have a 3 hour party at the fire station. Seems reasonable and cost efficient. No one wants to be the grinch however the money belt needs to be tightened.
Enough is enough already.

These men and women put their lives on the line everyday for residents of Coventry. They deserve respect for what they do. They didn't get paid for a period of time in which they still served the community with receiving nothing in return. They give their all to protect a community and now that they have fallen in tough times people don't wont to hear it. I applaud these firefighters for staying on the job and doing what they do best. Who would have been there for their families if something had happened to one if them? Put yourselves in their shoes and maybe they give back to them what they have given to the community. I stand behind what they did and are doing and beleive times have changed now do your part they did theirs!

I'm sure there are more people here in the community that understand the station's situation. For those that don't, try learning the REAL meaning of Christmas.

Gunslinger go take your agenda somewhere else, Tough name for a coward!!!

WJAR has posted the complete interview between Parker Gavigan and David Gorman here: http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2012/nov/13/1/extended-interview-david-gorman-55735-vi-47355/

Wow.....how sad that there is such dissention at the beginning of the Christmas season. Now is probably a good time to mention that CCFD has AGREED to be a collection site for toys for the 8th Annual Artic Mission Toy Drive. Last year 300 children received toys because so many volunteers (over 100) chose to organize this event. Can we think about those children whose only Christmas toy may come from a community that is coming together in unity?

To "Not Buying It"......I rode atop that firetruck for many years doing the Santa run - in the cold, the rain and the snow. I'm not complaining and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. You have no idea the lives that are touched, young and old, just to see that truck come by and have Santa wave to them, or for that matter just have "anyone" pay attention to them. I could tell story after story, not only about what the residents got from it, but also about those of us who volunteered and joy we received by giving of our time and making a young person or even an elderly person smile. If I had $1800 I would GIVE it to CCFD so they could carry on the tradition. So, regardless of whether you like, dislike, believe or don't believe in Santa, it's still a Coventry tradition that many look forward to. We all have our struggles and it is not our job to be the judge and jury of others. Let's be reminded why we celebrate Christmas - certainly not for toys and Santa - "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind & strength and love your neighbor as yourself". (aka play nice)

Elaine, I do not think it is so much as as dissention as it it is personal agenda's and or hatred towards these fireman. After reading and viewing the press that has been released over the last 30 hr's or so, it is clear that the negativity is solely focused on discrediting or destroying the fireman that protect the town of coventry. I am born and raised in this town and have lived here for 50 plus years and have seen what they do for this community, I have nothing but gratitude towards these men and women that not only work here but give time and effort to support our community. Thank you to the firemen and women for all you do.

I do not blame the firefighters, they give their heart and soul. But the mismanagement by the ones at the top have brought discace and shame on a noble public service.
Shame on them and I believe Mr. Gorman had his hands in the downslide.

Oh really John? Last time I enquired Mr Gorman is a fire fighter? Please do elaborate on his hands in "The down slide"? Personally in my opinion your agenda is that of a sensationalist of the media. ..... Bill O'Reilly comes to mind! .....
Good Night John Boy!

Easy DBB, read my post above. He is the union leader and the chief, those 2 help to make the budgets and the decisions. But maybe you and Realistic can head down to the Amusement Park together.

Sounds to me that the Union was trying to elicit a bit of taxpayer sympathy and it backfired. $1800 for fuel? Assuming diesel fuel is $4.00 / gallon, that would be 450 gallons; assuming that the fire truck gets 10 miles to a gallon, that would be 4,500 miles. For $1800 in fuel, they could take Santa to California and halfway back again...just sayin.

John , Your blind hate for Mr. Gorman is obvious, Doesn't give the right run down everyone else. Grow up !! Listen, what ever happed to you at Rocky Point in the horror house maybe you see a shrink for. Little creepy but whatever!

I do not hate anyone. Hate is a strong word. I dislike mismanagement and corruption of the taxpayers money. And the House of Horrors is located on Arnold Road where these closed door money spending decisions are made.
Get a clue and open your eyes. Maybe Mr. Gorman can toss you a leaf blowing between running the union and running the department. Tax free of corse, because what town records show is that he is delinquent. That is a fact, it is public record and maybe you can hop on your rascal and take a ride down 117 to the town hall and look.
But as I will assume you are probably associated with the public services in some way so you are looking out for your own pockets and not the hard working taxpayers.

John A is that for Assalone?

STILL CAN"T SPEND THE MONEY WITHOUT THE COURTS APPROVAL!!! You are as thick as a brick! And I thought that you would say that about the most corrupt man in town

Another great link about Assalone: He owns a trailer park and he owns the sewer line and he bills people without them knowing what the bill is for. http://www.city-data.com/forum/rhode-island/1329837-coventry-westwood-estates-water-sewage-bill.html

"John A" Do you hate all Firefighters or just Mr. Gorman?? Maybe it's a crush because boy you know a lot about him!! You sound like a stalker!

Isn't it crazy how a bogus report on how the boots will be filled this year, and i think they will be, has grown into such a stupid mess with haters and lovers comenting on these other issues?????? the people need to come out and get informed the correct way by listening and finding the facts as they are. Some people are, and have their own interpertations albeit sometimes wrong, they have spoken and maybe from the side of their mouths. There have been problems that arise and get repaired, some others not so much. All the leaders are not bad, embrace the problems and fix them. Let it work out, it will take some time! just pointing fingers will not work.

it seems everyones bitching about the ccfd wasting money, but yet they want the firefighters to travel around with a santa on a truck without having an emergency. i do know they put their lives on the line, and they get a good pension for that, but to save the world and save christmas and give to every charity, in the long run its all coming out of tax payers pockets no matter what they do. it seems like a nice thing they do, but they should just stick to fighting fires and saving lives. isnt DCYF out there for the children, their the ones that should be out their volunteering for all these charities and helping families and children. thats the problem with society nowadays. the firemen shouldnt be doing all this extra work, when apparently other people (DCYF) are getting paid to do the work but are not doing it. firemen are supposed to fight fires, department of child, youth, and family are supposed to take care of children and families. IMO. there are so many departments in this state and towns that are being paid tax paying money but arent doing what they should be doing.i have no gripe with neither ccfd or dcyf, im just trying to make a point.