Tampa's First female firefighter honored - great stuff

Thank you for posting this.

I’ll comment on this tomorrow once I read the responses, if any.

One bone to pick with a comment you made about the union guys and pols yacking.

If you listened to what they said you would hear them honoring one of the finest firefighters I ever worked with. Tony Perez.
Tony volunteered for every charity and helped every single person he came into contact with. He was one of the honor guards at my Dads funeral. My dad was a career Tampa firefighter. Tony among the other honor guards stood in the Florida heat, drenched in sweat, and saluted my Dads coffin as it was being carried from the church to the cemetery. He is one of the most respected man at Tampa Fire Rescue in the last 26 years. So that yacking was well deserved.

The picture you saw of Mechy in her inspector uniform sitting at the new project construction center is one I recognize as I sat next to her during that time.

I’ll comment on Mechy tomorrow.

 

I transferred to fire from police 2 months prior to Mechy being hired. I was also a rookie firefighter at the time.

As expected it was tough for her at first and occasionally as her career progressed. I wasn’t on board having women on the department. That changed as I got to know Mechy and Holly Boggs the other female that was hired and attended the academy at the same time. Both ended up being excellent employees. Boy did my wife and most all the other firefighters wives hate the hire. They didn’t like the thought of a female sleeping in the dorm with the guys. Both Mechy and Holly were good looking (my opinion) so that made it worse. Lol

These are some of the qualities that I like about Mechy.

When she came to the US she didn’t speak English. If I hadn’t been told that I wouldn’t have known she was from Cuba. She spoke better English than a lot of natives. Being bilingual is a big plus in Tampa.

She’s serious about eating healthy and taking care of herself.

She cares about others, not a fake but a real person who leads by example rather than running their mouth.

Mechy, myself, and Carlos L. were at one time the 24 hour fire investigators. We each covered the entire City of Tampa for a shift. It was hard work where we barely had a break the entire shift. Sleep and rest was rare in those days. Eventually the three of us were inspectors together doing new project construction. I my desk was next to Mechy. You don’t spend that much time working with someone without getting to know them well.

I stop by her house occasionally when I’m in Oldsmar where her and Jessie live. Jessie is her husband and a retired captain from Tampa Fire. I consider both a sister and brother, a bond you acquired from being on the FD together. I have lots of brothers and sisters.


As to Dean.

I followed him at UF. I lived in Gainesville during the time he was on the baseball team. I was on a 24 on, 48 hour off schedule at the FD. I drove to Tampa from Gainesville for the last 10 years of my career. (135 miles one way) My wife and I had season tickets to baseball.

The first time and only time I met Dean he was a kid. It was at the house in Oldsmar. I had a mini blind business on the side and installed blinds Dean’s bedroom. Ask him if he remembers it.

Mechy and I spoke about Dean and Troy a lot. She is a very proud mom and rightfully so. Even though I don’t know Dean personally I’d be willing to bet he’s a decent and successful person. If he’s anything like Mechy, it’s a given.

 

Short story.

After a while in inspections I transferred back to investigations and a 24 hour shift. Eventually the FD decided for safety reasons to have 2 on duty investigators per shift. One of my partners near the end of my career was a female (Tammy). I was the only guy I remember that worked with a female investigator. She and I today are still good friends. We text a lot. During that time she got pregnant. Well guess what? The rumor at the department was that the baby was mine. Lol

Fast forward to today. My granddaughter is dating her son. They get along really well and spend a lot of time together so maybe just maybe we will one day be related through marriage. Kiddingly during a text I asked her how her daughter
was doing then asked,,,, Isn’t she the one that the FD rumors said belonged to me? Her response was,,,
“yep, that’s her”. Lol

 

Great thread. Awesome lady!