Seven Kansas City firefighters have 21 DWIs

The reported figure

Seven Kansas City firefighters have had 21 DWIs. The figure raises questions about how the Kansas City fire department handles driving offenses and whether its rules are applied consistently.

The enforcement question

The new chief’s ability to enforce department rules depends on the authority given to the chief and the disciplinary process governing the firefighters. The number of DWIs, by itself, does not establish what action the chief may take or whether any action has been taken.

The central issue is whether the department’s rules give the chief a clear process for responding to repeated driving offenses. That process would determine how cases are reviewed and what consequences may be available.

What is clear

The seven firefighters and 21 DWI cases are the key figures in the development. The question now is how department policy and the chief’s authority apply to those cases.