Your Voice: A letter of resignation from Mike Sabine

Michael Sabine

After considerable consideration, I am formally announcing my resignation from the Lebanon Rescue Dept. as a driver/crew chief/driver trainer/ice-water rescue technician/instructor/2012 responder of the year.

I became a member November 2011 and had earned responder of the month January 2012, due to making the most calls that month. During the year of 2012, the rescue department lost many great licensed personnel. 

I watched the games being played with the chief and asst. chief with many members and tried to look past it but finally spoke up. At one point, I was told I was in line for an officer position to basically keep my mouth shut.

My son joined the department as a junior and has been personally attacked by the chief and asst chief due to me calling out the chief and asst. chief's wrongdoings. It scares me to know that people's lives are put in danger, due to the lack of leadership, professionalism and common sense by both chief Coles.

The illegal actions and continuous rule breaking by certain members that the chief Coles have ignored disgusts me. I cannot continue to be on a department that is run like the Wild West. I have been a resident of the Town of Lebanon since June 2012 and unfortunately cannot keep serving this community but will continue to serve a neighboring community, as I am a member on another department. 

Since my administrative leave on May 17, 2013, I have not had an answer of why I had been placed on leave as of today's date 7/19/2013. This process has caused nothing but pain, stress and anguish on myself, my family and my friends. If and when the chief Coles are removed and the department is run professionally and abides by the laws, I will be more than willing to come back to serve my neighbors of Lebanon, whom I enjoy helping so much.

I will stay actively involved in attending selectmen’s meetings when I am available and put my two cents in to help better this community that I am a proud resident of. I will miss the few good people left on the rescue department, that are now being harassed by the chief Coles because of their affiliation with me. 

Thank you very much, I hope to serve this community in the near future, hopefully sooner than later. 

Sincerely, 

Michael Sabine 

Lebanon resident