MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Is it another example of a double standard in the Memphis Fire Department? Some employees were kicked off a blood donation bus while others were allowed to stay.
For years we've told you one story after another about the unequal policies at the Memphis Fire Department. Fire bosses let one employee get away with something while another does the very same thing and is punished. This time around, it comes down to something as simple as giving blood.
Signs were posted around the offices of MFD's Fire Prevention Department asking employees to give blood. Fire Marshall Ron Brown arranged to have a blood donation group set up in a parking lot during work hours.
It was a blood drive last week for an employee diagnosed with leukemia. But despite the signs asking people for their help, not everyone was allowed to.
Here's the double standard: sources tell us Brown allowed his deputy chief and other managers to donate blood on the clock, but regular fire prevention employees were kicked off the bus.
Keep in mind the employees who tried to give blood don't fight fires, so there were no safety concerns about them getting dizzy or sick after their donation.
Fire employees say it's the double standard that has them upset. Our cameras clearly saw some employees on the bus donating while others were turned away.
When we tried to ask Brown about the policy to participate in the blood drive, he refused to comment.
Last week MFD spokesperson Lt. Wayne Cooke said he was not in a position to comment, but after asking for days he finally came up with something to say.
Cooke said there was no special treatment. Employees were supposed to be off the clock when they donated. When Brown discovered they were on the clock they were removed from the blood bus.
Truth is that discovery conveniently happened after many of the bosses had already donated.
