We’re thankful to see the Green River Fire Department healing from the trial disgraced former fire chief Mike Nomis put it through. Part of that healing process involved firefighters, some of whom had known Nomis for decades, talking about how his actions impacted them on a professional and personal level.
Each victim impact statement, either read to the court by Sweetwater County Attorney Daniel Erramouspe or given by firefighters themselves, told a larger story of how Nomis’ actions publicly alienated a group of men and women committed to serving their community. Firefighters were questioned, sometimes during an emergency call, about if money donated to their foundation was actually used for fire department needs. Internally, fractures formed because of Nomis’ actions while hiding his role in the embezzlement. Austin Ryder, in his statement, talked about how his dream job of being employed by the department quickly turned to a nightmare that began to negatively impact his life outside of the GRFD.
There’s no doubt that lessons were learned as a result of this incident. If anything, it shows the need for a robust system of checks and balances within any charitable organization, the firefighters’ foundation included. Who would have thought the city’s fire chief would have been involved in a scheme to take money from the department’s foundation?
Up until recently, it would have been inconceivable for almost anyone to think that would have happened.
Yet, here we are.
However, it’s important to realize Nomis’ crimes should not reflect upon the department as a whole. As a volunteer service, the members of the GRFD are committed to aiding the community in some of the worst times anyone can experience. While they have responded to multiple fires in the past month, the GRFD isn’t solely focused on fire fighting and prevention -- they assist in vehicle crashes, river rescues and other emergencies. Green River receives a lot from a group almost entirely staffed by volunteers.
Nomis may have given the department a black eye through his actions, but we think it’s safe to say the community realizes Nomis and his wife Stephanie are at the heart of the theft, not the GRFD as a whole. Also, despite the public scrutiny placed on the department, its members have selflessly committed themselves to serving the community.
This includes a short-lived initiative to drive by and wish people a happy birthday during the early lockdown days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It may take some time before all of this is behind Green River and the fire department, but we think the department is well on its way towards healing its relationships within the community and those amongst its members.
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