COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 1

Community Service Learning Journal

Michael E. Long Sr.

EAM 3053

Arkansas Tech University

 COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 2

Michael E Long Sr.

EAM 3053 Introduction to Ethical and Legal Issues in Emergency Management

Dr. Sandy M. Smith

Arkansas Tech University

Interdiction

The organization Im working with is the Faulkner County Rescue Squad. The squad

would appear to be a dual service organization as it affiliated with the Faulkner County Sheriffs

Department, while at the same time it is an individual agency. What this means is that the squad

can be called out by the Sheriffs Department and when this happens the members responding

are automatically deputized. However, being an independent organization, we can go where we

are needed regardless of the jurisdictional boundaries associated with the Sheriffs Department

(but we are not deputized). For example, we have been called out to Conway County to assist

with body recovery as well as search and rescue efforts. The Little Rock police have also

requested our services for assistance in searches.

This organization is strictly volunteer and consist of first responders, EMTs, nurses,

divers, swift water rescuers and we even have a helicopter pilot. All these volunteers have

regular jobs in different areas throughout the community that is not necessarily connected with

their volunteer services.

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The FCRS provides many different types of services to the community as well as

responding to disasters. One of the services we provide is the child ID for parents of school-age

children and the elderly that may suffer from Alzheimers. We also provide water distribution

during fires and policed activities such as parades, marathons, and at the annual Toed Suck

event. We respond to accidents, medical emergencies at residences and provide non-emergency

transports. As mentioned previously we have divers who assist with searches underwater as well

as underwater recovery of items such as vehicle recovery after an accident or a flood. We also

assist with medical standby at local football games, rodeos, motocross activities, and marathons

to name a few. We have been requested by local merchants to assist with back to school safety

programs for their customers and to provide the child ID as well. We provide search and rescue

for silver alerts and missing child as well as escaped convicts. We can pretty much be asked to

do anything as long as we have the equipment to work with.

My journal follows and as a note I started the Journal on the third not knowing

specifically when it would start. I understand these are not the dates required but I have already

recorded them.

Community Service Journal

September 4, 2017 1 hour 15 minutes

Assisted with checking and repacking swift water gear such as, checking and repacking

ropes, checking life vests, inspecting and deflating rafts and then restocking items in swift water

and dive trailer.

September 7-8, 2017 16 hours

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MGT 319 (Medical Countermeasures Point of Distribution (POD), Planning, and

Response) this was 16 hours of training that I took for the FCRS. The training was At Camp

Robinson and consisted of 8 hours each day.

September 14, 2017 1 hour 30 minutes

Monthly squad meeting. Discussed was swift water gear status after training, the theft of

one air compressor during swift water training, pod training and information about additional

training. Discussed options for additional training. Discussed new Adam protocol and paperwork

to be considered for deployment. The Deputy Commander announced his resignation and his

enjoyment while working with the squad. Preparations and items that needed to be discussed

about the upcoming Faulkner County fair. Meeting adjourned.

September 19, 2017 6 hours

Delivering squad vehicles from Control to Central for parade. Checking and pulling

maintenance on vehicles that were participating in the parade. Making hourly water routes to

deputies at roadblocks, parade officials, and groups getting their floats ready, assist with

directing by Standards to parade route for viewing. 45 minutes of this time I was driving a squad

unit pulling a squad boat in the parade. Returned all vehicles to their proper storage facilities.

September 20-30, 2017 0 hours

No activity in squad

Community Service-Learning Journal

Week 2
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When I first heard about the assignment the first thoughts that enter my mind was the
concern for time. However, then I realized that I was already a volunteer for an organization and
could utilize that as the assignment.

If I have fully understood what I have read about the two I would have to say that they have
conflicting views and cannot be substituted one for the other. Of the two I believe that
communitarianism is preferred over ethical egoism. I believe that ethical egoism has a tendency
to lend itself to selfishness rather than the good of all. I believe that shared community values
provide a unifying effect and can strengthen the community as well as individuals by supporting
those standards. From a religious standpoint we should live lives as Christ did he always thought
of others before himself.

October 6, 2017 0 hours

Monthly meeting but unable to attend due to ATC-20 training at Arkansas Nuclear One

and work that night.

October 8, 2017 45 minutes

Responded to dispatch for water rescue. Upon arrival to deployment area we were placed

on standby and then eventually canceled.

Community Service-Learning Journal

Week 3

1. Do you agree with the philosopher Rousseau that human beings are the source of their
own moral evils?

For the most part I do agree that human beings can make poor decisions
leading to our own bad situations. But there are situations we can find ourselves in
that we did not create.

Give an example from your community service to illustrate your answer.

For example, the agency I volunteer with provides child identification for
children who may become missing. Many times, our children become missing
persons because they are not properly supervised.
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However, we have just completed doing ID information for people with Alzheimers
in case they get lost. This is a condition due to aging and is not necessarily brought
on by anything we do directly.

2. Gilligan argues that our depictions of adult development tend to discourage moral
maturity. Aging is frequently associated in our culture with deterioration rather than
growth. Discuss whether our present youth-oriented society, or fear of aging, and
degradation of older people discourage moral maturity.

Im not sure I understand the question, but this is my spin on it. I believe
that youth today are brought up to disrespect adults because they are given too
much freedom by their parents. I do not believe it has anything to do with the fear
of aging, but just simply the lack of respect brought on by being given too much
without having to work for it. So, our youth are convinced that things just simply
are owed them without regard to any respect or desire or care for the older
population. (They simply are not taught to work for what they get)

October 13, 2017 3 hours 0 minutes

From 5:30 PM to 6 PM setting up computers and cameras for photo IDs.

From 6 PM to 7:45 PM entering information, taking photos, and printing IDs for

residents of Village Park in Conway Arkansas as a community service.

From 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM taking down equipment and transporting back to FCRC and

putting back in proper location.

Community Service-Learning Journal

Week 4
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1. Give an example from your community service where you have encountered people who
hold different values or worldviews from those you consider normal and natural for you.
How have you analyzed and handled those differences? Would you say that you have
either put up some resistance to them or tried to make sense of the different values or
worldviews?

While we were out searching for a missing person, an individual from

another organization posted an email with the photograph of the individual we were
looking for. Over the photograph he had put an inappropriate statement pertaining
to the individual. This was reported to my leader who then addressed it with the
entire group involved in the search. Obviously, my values were different than his
and I was extremely shocked by the fact that we had someone in emergency
response that would do such a distasteful act. In this case I made no sense of the
difference in value but took a stand to correct it.

2. In the Deletha Word case (pp. 124-5), discuss whether the actions of the people who
cheered on her attacker were any more or less moral than those of the man who tried to
save her.
The crowds actions of cheering on the attacker morally and legally made
them guilty of negligence. Morally because, even if the attacker was justified by the
accident the punishment was more severe than the crime committed. Legally, it is a
criminal act to not report a crime and all of those watching are legally bound to give
statements and to testify in the case and can be subpoenaed to do so. They can also
be charged with obstruction of justice by failing to do so.

Discuss also how an ethical subjectivist would answer the question. If you disagree with
the ethical subjectivist, on what grounds do you disagree? Explain.

The viewpoint of an ethical subjectivist is flawed. Ones right to act stops

when it interferes with the right of another person. Ones personal desires or
feelings cease to be important when they conflict with other rights. For example,
someone can believe that it is right for them to be rich however, it is not right for
them to act on that instinct by robbing a bank and taking other peoples money to
obtain that status. The more appropriate name for ethical subjectivism is self-
centeredness. These types of people do not fit well in societies as they only have
concerns solely for themselves and no thought whatsoever of the betterment of the
community.

October 15-21st, 2017 0 hours no activity

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Community Service-Learning Journal

Week 5

Think back again on the question in your Week 4 CS-Learning Journal regarding ethical
subjectivism:
You discussed the Deletha Word case (pp. 124-5), as to whether the actions of the people
who cheered on her attacker were any more or less moral than those of the man who tried
to save her. You also discussed how an ethical subjectivist would answer the same
question.
Just for our purpose of learning about legal issues, add to the Deletha Word case that one
of the individuals in the cheering crowd, while not cheering with the others, was
nevertheless a rescue worker / responder in uniform.
1. Based on the description and required elements for Negligence from the Week 9 legal reading
assignment (below), do you believe the rescue worker would be guilty of negligence? Why or
why not?
Whether the worker was negligent or not depends a lot on the type of rescue
worker he was. However, regardless of his role as a rescue worker he could be
charged with negligence in a court of law. As noted previously many of the
bystanders could be charged with obstruction of justice if they did not give
testimony of the actions of the attacker.
If a judge hearing the case was an ethical subjectivist and all the elements for negligence
were met, do you believe that judge would find the rescuer legally liable for negligence? Why
or why not?
From my experience in the courtrooms that I have been in I have seen some
questionable judgments. But I believe that the judge would declare negligence simply
because he would be concerned about his case being overturned on appeal. This would
be the self-centeredness referred to earlier only wiring about his own career.
2. In your community service work do you have a duty to act under certain
circumstances? Explain your answer.

Yes. As an EMT I am legally obligated to respond to emergency medical issues.

However, there is a clause in my training that says we are to make sure the scene
is safe, this scene could possibly be considered unsafe limiting liability due to
negligence. However, negligence in a civil case (that of charges being brought by
family members or in other words being sued) is highly probable if I do not act.
The actions of the man were felonies in any one there would have a right (not an
obligation) to stop the man and hold him until law officers arrived on the scene
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(this is referred to as citizens arrest) but is also subject to question by the courts.
For every law there always seems to be some type of counter law.
Negligence
Negligence is a common law doctrine that has evolved over the years. Its basic principle is this:
every person has a general obligation to act in a reasonable manner at all times, considering the
circumstances. When one acts (or fails to act) unreasonably and that act (or failure to act) is the legal cause
of an injury to a person or property, liability ensues.
Table 14-1. Elements of Negligence
Element Explanation
[Step 1 determine if a Duty exists] [If a Duty exists, there is an] Obligation to act in a reasonable
Duty manner
Breach of Duty Unreasonable action or failure to act
Legal Causation Frequently referred to as proximate cause, this simply means
that the harm happened as a reasonably close result of the act or
failure to act
Personal injury or property damage Occurs
Result Liability

Activated by Faulkner County Sheriffs Department for

Missing Person (Kelly Evans) Search.

October 26, 2017 8 hours

8 AM met at control to pick up reflective vests radios, and water. Took squad vehicle and Polaris
to IC.

9 AM formed groups for search activity, received grid location for search and separated to
search areas

9:15 AM- 10:45 AM line searched sector 6 four missing person (Kelly Evans).

10:45 AM reported back to IC for new sector assignments assigned section 8 open grid area
search by all-terrain vehicles. (Covered many acres).

11:45 AM to 12:15 PM rest. And lunch.

12:15 PM received new search area (wooded area on foot)

3:16 PM completed search of all areas (search completed without finding the individual).

Left to refuel and return vehicles and supplies back to control.

Approximately 4 PM assignment completed, and all equipment returned to its proper place.
COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 10

Community Service-Learning
Journal 6

1. Do you agree with Ayn Rand's argument in The Fountainhead, that the only good that
people can do for one another is "hands off"?

Yes and no. Confusing isnt it? The fact of the matter is that there is no absolute in
Rands argument as there exists some truth in everything but. But everything Rand
says is not true.

2. What effect would this principle have on those who benefit from your community service
work?

The effect of this principle is dependent on the beliefs of the individual who is giving
and who is receiving. Some individuals reject assistance regardless of the intent. On
the other hand, others become totally dependent on others and expect everything to
be done for them.

3. What effect would this principle have on emergency management as a field?

It already influences the emergency management field. Some people serve just to
gain authority and use their service to lift themselves above others. Other serve to
truly give back what they feel they owe to the community and do not count
themselves as slaves in the process.
Likewise, some people refuse the assistance in fear of becoming subject to their will
or losing part of their self-respect. Self-pride can be an obstacle in obtaining the
needs for one to truly become independent. The fact is no one can do 100% of
everything for themselves.

4. Dr. Dogoode is charged with negligence. If, unbeknownst to the prosecutor the defense counsel
loads a jury with ethical egoists will the jury find the defendant guilty of negligence? Why or why
not?

In all honesty this question cannot be answered. The egoists jury could go either way. Because
they would be self-serving and want the best results for them regardless of the facts. The best
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results for them would be with the popular opinion of others about the case. On the other
hand, they may be willing to agree just to finish the task at hand, so they could get back to
what is important to them. The scenarios for this question involve many what ifs. As each
individual juror would have their own individual self-achievement go that cannot be known
at this time or by the other jurors. The deliberation of the jury could go in many directions
resulting in a conviction or a not guilty.
No one can with 100% accuracy determine how any individual (not to mention 12) regardless
of ethics will react in any given situation.

October 29, 2017 - November 4, 2017 1 hours 15 minutes

(ENTRY CORRECTED NOVEMBER 14)
Monthly meeting on November 2

Community Service-Learning
Journal 7

1. Do you agree with Cultural Relativists that morality is created collectively by groups of
humans and differs from society to society? And that we cannot pass judgement on the
moral values of other cultures? Explain your answer.

Yes and no, some morality is created in groups and can differ from one group to
another. But universal morals apply to everyone whether they agree or not. One
must first understand that norms and morality are different and do not reflect the
same thing. For example, the colonists believed that we had the right or moral
freedom to believe what we wanted and rejected the norm of a state forced religion.
Once we obtained the moral freedom to choose, norms quickly began to develop
forming religious concepts. Thus, leading to discrimination against some religious
organizations despite the right for religious freedom, such as, Gov. Boggs of Illinois
extermination order against Mormons in the 1800s. Another example, would be
standing in an elevator facing the front is considered a norm however, it is not in-
moral to face the back of the elevator.

2. What about this example? Do you agree with Cultural Relativists here Culture A has a
long-standing, deeply rooted tradition of cannibalism. We in the United States cannot
pass judgement on the moral values of Culture A. Explain.

Cannibalism is a norm set up by groups (see above examples) not a moral for the
group (universally speaking). We in the United States or other (so-called civilized)
country have a moral obligation to protect all life by educating others in proper
COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 12

respect and value of life. Universal morality as defined in my previous papers or

assignments gives the US and other countries the obligation to educate and bring
other uncivilized countries into compliance to the universal norms. To further state
my understanding of universal morality I give the following example. One can have
sex change operations to give the appearance of another sex. However, the fact
remains that their DNA will always remain the sex they were born with regardless
of any actions they may take. This is a universal or natural law that cannot be
changed. And because it goes against nature it becomes in moral. However, I do not
wish anyone to think that I believe that they should be forced into compliance as this
takes away their God-given right of choice that he ultimately will judge not me, and
as such they should be treated equally in all other aspects as an individual that their
rights should not be forced upon others acceptance.

3. How is your Community Service going generally?

It is going well. Sometimes however, I wish I could do more, but school and work set
limits.

4. What is your favorite aspect and least favorite aspect of your Community Service?

Actual deployment and training is my favorite aspect of volunteering as opposed to

logistics (inventorying, cleaning, and restocking) is my least favorite.

November 5, 2017- November 11, 2017 0 hours no activity

Community Service-Learning
Covers Journal 8 and Journal 9
(So, this is worth 50 points)

5. As you complete the charts, a common theme becomes clear. What is it? Equally

a. Have you observed the rule of law applied [fill in the word from #2 above]
_____Equally ________________and ethically/morally to all people in the
United States? No,

Explain your answer.

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 13

In all my observance while sitting in a courtroom and listening to the cases

before mine, I have witnessed approximately 90% of the judges making
rulings on their opinions (which they are not supposed to have an opinion in
a case just listen to the facts) and in the other 10% the judge would listen to
one side over the other and make his ruling accordingly despite the facts.
Police officers also ticket some people but not others because of the way
people treat them or some other reason. To treat people equally regardless of
the individuals beliefs, color, or social economic class they should write
tickets to everyone equally and there would be no such thing as professional
courtesy between law enforcement agencies in not writing tickets.

b. What about outside of the U.S.? Explain your answer.

While the US has its problems in exercising the law equally is still does a
much better job than the other countries. So, in this aspect the US is much
fairer in its execution of the law equally.

6. Third, now answer that question from a perspective other than your own Specifically,
answer by stepping into the shoes of someone you are doing community service work
with or someone else with whom you are familiar enough to know that he or she is: from
a low socioeconomic status; a minority; access-challenged; or an otherwise disabled
person.

From the perspective of another person I would have to say my answer would
remain the same. Especially since part of my answer was determined from my
observation of other cases in the courtroom.

November 12, 2017 -November 25, 2017 1 hour 30 minutes

On 16 November I assisted with installation of new shelving units and reorganizing of supplies
and equipment along with inspecting of equipment and discarding outdated supplies.

Community Service-Learning
Journal 10
Ch. 10-Deontology

1. As an emergency manager, do you agree that righteousness demands that we do our

moral duty and that we place the harmony and well-being of the community over our
COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 14

self-interests?

Yes, righteousness is a form of moral duty. The government is of the people, by the
people, and for the people. This is something too often forgotten by the people who
hold offices in the government. Their righteous in moral duty is to do their best for
the people they serve and to do so equally without prejudice. As EMS professionals
we must always put the needs of the people we serve before our own. However, we
cannot do our moral obligation without being fit for the job. This requires some
restraint to not be over worked so we can do our job to the best of our ability. We
still need nourishment and rest to perform functions effectively and with good
reasoning. This said others should come first.

Give an example of a moral duty you fulfilled as part of your community service.

As a member of the Faulkner County Rescue Squad I volunteered to assist in the

search of a missing person. This activity took eight hours to complete. While I did
not have to stay the entire time, I did. I worked the night before and the night after
this gave me little time for rest. However, it gave me enough to do both jobs
effectively. I had a moral obligation as I had committed to research and if it did not
interfere with my other obligations I was morally bound to stay.

Chart 1

Source: Black's Law Dictionary Free Online Legal Dictionary 2nd Ed.
The Four Pillars of the Rule of Law:
http://thelawdictionary.org/article/four-pillars-rule-of-law/

Rule of Law No one is Above the law.

The Four Pillars of the Rule of Law

Pillar I Pillar II Pillar III Pillar IV

Define in your Define in your Define in your Define in your
words: words: words: words:
Everyone must Law must be open The law is the law Law enforcement
follow the law and available to all regardless of who and judicial
equally you are processes must be
equal in all aspects
COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 15

Key Aspect: Key Aspect: Key Aspect: Key Aspect:

Lawmakers must Fundamental rights Professional Legal system must
follow the law must be upheld and courtesies should avoid political
not violated not limit the effect oversight
of law

Key Aspect: Key Aspect: Key Aspect: Key Aspect:

The enforcer must Cant obey what Laws should be Discrimination of all
also be subject to you dont know enforced equally kinds must be
the law about always avoided

Chart 2

Source: Black's Law Dictionary Free Online Legal Dictionary 2nd Ed.
Three Alternatives to the Rule of Law:
http://thelawdictionary.org/article/three-alternatives-rule-law/

Rule of Law No one is Above the law.

Three Alternatives to the Rule of Law

Divine right of King Rule of man Ochlocracy

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL 16

Define in your words: Define in your words: Define in your words:

Simply put the king or Where one rules without Laws are overrun by groups
ruler has the final word. consideration of the and the law has little or no
freedom to choose by others recourse due to the scope of
the situation.

Example (real or Example (real or Example (real or

hypothetical) as it relates
to EM/HS:
Example, in EM would be
the fact that the president
must be the one to formal
declaration a disaster for
funding purposes.
hypothetical) as it relates
to EM/HS:
The implementation of
martial law during an
emergency would be an
example of this rule of man
hypothetical) as it relates to
EM/HS:
An example, of this type would
be the actions of mobs looting
after a disaster when the law
has little or no recourse to
make arrest and hold for trial
due to the number of
incidences or the priority of
saving lives from the disaster
first.

November 26, 201 -December 2, 2017 0 hour 0 minutes

No squad activity. (NOTE: week 8, 9 and 10 have been corrected on December 5, 2017)

Total time for community service this semester 39 hours.

Total time from start of classroom assignment 14 hours. (Starting from September 29,
2017).
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