Jumpline magazine Spring 2025 - Flipbook - Page 16
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Fire Chief Ray Jadallah
Ray Jadallah
Fire Chief
families, your friends, will never want to be the ones on the
receiving end of a phone call, or an in, person noti昀椀cation of
your untimely death.
To my Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Unfortunately, I have seen 昀椀rsthand the pain, grief, and guilt
family. I’m speaking to you today with
those families are left to deal with. As well as the life altering
a heavy heart and profound sadness,
consequences. If you're struggling, I implore you to speak up,
as we've all experienced an unimagwhether your struggles deal with personal issues, related to
inable loss in our 昀椀re department
the job, or a combination of both. Know that there's someone
family. Captain Bill Gustin, a pillar at Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
there waiting for you to say, I need help. If you see someone
and a legend in the 昀椀re service, left us before any one of us
struggling, don't wait to reach out. You may be the lifeline a perwas prepared to see him go. The good old captain, as he often
son has been hoping for. I stand with you. This department's
referred to himself, was not only an exceptional 昀椀re昀椀ghter, but
leadership stands with you. Your union's leadership stands with
also an instructor and a leader. He was a loyal friend, a mentor,
you. And we're all committed to creating a culture where we
an icon in the 昀椀re service, and an all-around, amazing human
seeking help is seen as a sign of resilience, responsibility, and
being. For many of us, Captain Gustin wasn't just someone we
courage.
looked up to professionally. He was someone who shaped the
culture of the 昀椀re service, not just in our department, but also
I know the untimely loss of Captain Gusten weighs heavily on
throughout the country and the world. And yet, this legend of
all of us. This was a huge loss for our MDFR family, especially
the 昀椀re service was humbly ours, so proudly, one of our own.
dif昀椀cult after the loss of another one of our greatest, Lieutenant
Alex Acosta, who left us just eight months ago. These incidents
His dedication, his skill, and his sel昀氀essness were unare injuries to our souls, and oftentimes leave us asking ourmatched. His contributions to our department, and the legacy
selves questions: Did I miss something? Could I have done
he leaves behind in the 昀椀re service are a true testament to who
more? Why didn't they ask me for help? Who's responsible?
he was as a student of the 昀椀re service. But beyond his legacy
Was it something I said or did? These questions often come
in the 昀椀re service, we must acknowledge a very dif昀椀cult part of
from a place of love and grief, but it's important to remember
his passing.
that suicide ideation is complex. And it's rarely the result of one
While we mourn the loss of an icon, we
event or one person's actions. Instead of focusing on guilt, we
also have to recognize a painful truth.
can honor their memory by supporting each other. Breaking the
Captain Gustin’s passing is a reminder
silence around mental health. And ensuring that no one feels
they have to face their struggles alone.
that even the strongest among us can be
silently struggling. Struggles that are often deeply
I implore you to take advantage of the Department and the
union's resources, as well as countless outside resources that
hidden behind the uniform, behind the bravery, and behind the
have been created to help you. Just like the First Alarm Founcourage that it takes to do what we do. These struggles are
dation recently created by Lieutenant Acosta's
sometimes silent and undetectable. Sometimes
wife after her loss. As someone said to me rethey're obvious, and they are masked by subcently, just give it a chance. Give something out
stance abuse issues or other self-destructive
there a chance to help you. We are a close-knit
behaviors. Independently of how we display
family, and no one in this family 昀椀ghts alone.
these struggles, one fact remains true; these
When one of us hurts, we all feel it deeply.
struggles are treatable and manageable if we
“If you’re
seek and accept help.
Let's end the stigma, support one another,
struggling, I
and make sure that everyone knows that help
You are no longer to carry the weight of this job
implore you to
is here, and there is no shame in reaching for
in silence; as if struggling with the emotional and
it. To Captain Gustin's immediate and extendspeak
up,
whether
mental toll is a sign of weakness. This needs to
ed family, to his closest friends, and to all of
end now! This needs to end here. Strength isn't
your struggles
us who were touched by his life and his work;
about suffering and silence. Strength is about
deal
with
personal
my heart is heavy with grief due to the sudden
recognizing when you need help and having the
issues, related to
departure. But it's also full of gratitude for havcourage to ask for it. We don't ignore 昀椀re昀椀ghters
ing the privilege to have known him, work with
in physical distress on the 昀椀reground, and we
the job,
him, and more importantly, learn from him. We
won't ignore ones who are struggling internally
or a combination
stand together as one 昀椀re family, and we will
either. Lean on your family. Lean on your loved
of both, know that
carry forward Captain Gustin’s and Lieutenant
ones. They may not understand the complexiAcosta's legacy of excellence in the 昀椀re serthere’s someone
ties you face on the job, but that doesn't mean
vice, as public servants with pride, respect, and
they can't help you. Just remember, they will be
there
renewed commitment to each other's wellbethe ones most affected by your absence from
waiting
for
you
say,
ing. They wouldn't want it any other way.
their lives. Trust me when I tell you that your
‘I
need
help.
’
”
Thank you.
children, your life partners, your parents, your
Bill Gustin speech,
transcribed 3/23/25
Spring 2025 | JUMPLINE Magazine
