Folks, Robert A broke the story way back on August 29th, 2022. About the gang fights at the Burns v. Crest High Schools Football game, a medical emergency, an EMS Ambulance brake down, Robert “Luke” Queen and other related aspects of the pervasive problems that seem to plague Cleveland County. But are kept secret from the public. Robert A recommends readers scroll on back to that article for a full grasp of the various issues at hand.
This article is about another aspect of that Burns v. Crest High School Football game that has been percolating between School Board Chairman Robert “Luke” Queen, the Cleveland County EMS as well as the Commissioners. Especially Commissioner Chairman Kevin “Mad Dog” Gordon. Up to now, all done behind closed doors. And some real problems and issues kept secret from the public. Secret, until NOW!!!
First of all, Robert A recently received a Christmas Card that included a note AND a folded up -copy of an email from County Manager Brian Epley and EMS Director Tommy McNeilly that was sent to Robert “Luke” Queen. It seems that sometime after that gang fight at Crest High School and the associated medical emergencies, Epley, McNeilly and Queen had had some perhaps not so friendly communications. That email is provided in full, at the end of this article.
Epley and McNeilly’s email started off defending the EMS and ended up with underlined statements scolding and critical of Robert “Luke” Queen. We will start there.
Those statements stated:
It was also mentioned that you proactively engaged in moving a piece of apparatus. While the spirit of which these actions were taken is appreciated, this was not done in consultation with the medics on scene, and this could have resulted in confusion or patient care delay. To be clear we understand the urgency and eagerness to help, but in the future, we do ask that scene control be maintained.
These underlined statements were put there by County Manager Brian Epley using Code words;
- “Moving a piece of apparatus” meant driving the defective EMS ambulance away.
- “this was not done in consultation with the medics on scene”meant this was OUR ambulance and YOU drove it away without asking any of US.
- “in the future, we do ask that scene control be maintained”meant YOU stay out of OUR way while WE are doing OUR job.
Of course, Robert “Luke” Queen was in the wrong by driving the defective ambulance away and deserved everything that Epley and McNeilly were scolding him for.
But County Manager Brian Epley and EMS Director Tommy McNeilly were doing COVER-UP duty for Commissioner Chairman Kevin “Mad Dog” Gordon. As well as applying “Gordon-esque” style retaliation against anybody that verbalizes any complaints or criticisms about anything that Mad Dog says, does or is involved with.
It was Mad Dog Gordon who pushed the EMS “hostile takeover” of all the Cleveland County Rescue Squads. Spending way too much money on buying out their buildings and such, instead of making sure the finished EMS “product” had all the equipment and qualified staffing they needed. And that ALL the EMS equipment was functional and in good working order. As well as well-stocked and supplied with medical equipment and medical supplies. Fuel, tires and oil, etc.
It was Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon who claims to be an expert know-it-all about Emergency Services. It was Kevin Gordon who registered himself (as a one man show) with the NC Secretary of State as an LLC Corporation named Innovative Solutions for Emergency Services. Operated out of his home at 1310 Stoney Point Road, Shelby, NC.
From all appearances, it is Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon who has pushed Brian Epley into resigning from his high paying job as County Manager. As well as terrorizes all the County staff and other Commissioners too. And now, School Board Chairman Robert “Luke” Queen. As Luke and Kevin Gordon are both Hot-Headed know-it-alls and foolish too. And firefighter rivals trying to run each other down.
And, all this seems to be proven beyond a doubt by the FIRST part of Epley and McNeilly’s email that is provided in full at the end of this article. A major indication that there are serious and deep problems and issues with the Cleveland County EMS (and Cleveland County government) and its leadership. A deep “do-do” situation for Cleveland County taxpayers and all citizens. Men, women and children.
- “we are glad that everyone had a positive outcome.” Note that this positive outcome was NOT because of anything that the Cleveland County actually did. More luck than anything else.
- “this was a very unusual situation with multiple medical requests happening simultaneously, exacerbated by lighting failure causing an unstable environment” Note that there was NO mention of a gang fight that caused some (or maybe all) of the medical requests.
- “The ambulance that is on scene at civic events Is generally not intended to be a primary transport unit unless the scenario is very urgent (i.e., cardiac arrest) In the event of medical engagement, the medics on scene would begin administering patient care and request an alternative transport unit be dispatched. “
Note that this Epley and McNeilly statement is totally wrong in so many ways that it is totally BS. Does EMS have and maintain a fleet of ambulances NOT suitable for patient transport? If so, why??? Is a football game a “civic” event?? Does EMS maintain a group of medics that are marginalized by a lack of transport ready vehicles?? Why would non-transport ambulances be kept to drive medics around, but an alternate transport ambulance would be available if requested. There is no logic or common-sense reason available for this kind of statement. Bottom line, the ambulance at the Burns v. Crest football game was needed for transport, but the door to the transport area would not open, making the ambulance NOT functional. Then alternative transport was required. It was only luck that the patient outcome was positive.
- The ambulances on scene during these events are additional units placed in service specific for that event. They do not in any way detract from the typical countywide 911 system coverage.This is another nonsensical statement similar to the preceding statement. Robert A has the very same reply. Except to add that the lack of adequate funding, caused by wasting the available funding would be the only reasonable answer. And who is in charge of funding the EMS? The Commissioners under Kevin “Mad Dog” Gordon and his one-man so-called Innovative Solutions to Emergency Services. Only, there is nothing innovative and nothing is solved by such a foolish MO as Epley and McNeilly have described.
- There were competing medical priorities during the event. Shortly after the lighting failure, there were three (3) medical dispatch requests at the game which all required attention and all of which were in different locations. Only one of those resulted in patient transport. Robert Asays, Folks, remember that this event was supposed to be a High School football game. Not an active war zone. Or, the scene of gang- war violence. But the gang fights were a reality and the Sheriff’s Deputies did their duty without complaint or whining. Or blame any other county agency leadership. Note that Robert A has not found one word in this message about gang fights. Although Epley did mention “an active crowd of bystanders” buried deep in this email.
Folks, tis is another example of cover-up of the weaknesses at CCS, the Commissioners and the School Board. Gang violence at CCS is here and it is real. Only Cleveland County so-called leaders refuse to admit that it even exists. Which is their only way to justify doing nothing except to hope it goes away. All on its own,
Robert A believes that identifying problems and then effectively fixing the problems are the only way that Cleveland County Government will ever be able to make real change and improvements. Something that the existing officials seem determined NOT to do. Right now, it appears that the 2024 Commissioner’s elections, with three seats coming open would be the right time to sign up and run. But two more like minded and good candidates would be necessary to make the right and proper changes in how Cleveland County operates. Folks, YOU need to be thinking about this too.
The full content of Brian Epley and Tommy McNeilly’s email scolding Robert Queen is provided below. At the end of that email, you will find a link to my August 29, 2022 Article All this crazy stuff has got to stop and WE, meaning ME and YOU, will have to be the ones to put a stop to this mess.
CC: “Tommy McNeilly
From: Brian Epley
Sent Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2022 10:20:32 .0400 (EDT)
Subject: <no subject)
To: “rqueen1967@gmail.com”
To ; Mr. Robert Queen
From : Brian Epley & Tommy McNeilly
Reference : EMS Operations
Dale 9/8/2022
Good Marling Mr. Queen,
I hope that this email finds you well, I write to follow up about your observations and concerns concerning EMS operations during the Crest and Burns football game held Friday, August 26. We appreciate your time and feedback during our phone conversation last Tuesday, August 30, and as discussed, I am following up now that our team has concluded its internal review.
Foremost, we are glad that everyone had a positive outcome. As we discussed last week, this was a very unusual situation with multiple medical requests happening simultaneously, exacerbated by lighting failure causing an unstable environment. In difficult situations like this, Cleveland County EMS responds according to priority and need. As a department and organization, we always focus on continuous improvement which requires communication. After review, we had several key takeaways that may be helpful:
- The ambulance that is on scene at civic events Is generally not intended to be a primary transport unit unless the scenario is very urgent (i.e., cardiac arrest) In the event of medical engagement, the medics on scene would begin administering patient care and request an alternative transport unit be dispatched.
- The ambulances on scene during these events are additional units placed in service specific for that event. They do not in any way detract from the typical countywide 911 system coverage.
- There were competing medical priorities during the event. Shortly after the lighting failure, there were three (3) medical dispatch requests at the game which all required attention and all of which were in different locations. Only one of those resulted in patient transport.
- As a team, we are very appreciative of all the help that was offered by many citizens but moving forward we would ask that members of the public refrain from engagement unless specifically asked to do so by the medic with scene control. In situations like this where there are competing patient interests, active scene control and logistics is critical. For example, during this event, medics had challenges reaching the patient in need because of an active crowd of bystanders. It was also mentioned that you proactively engaged in moving a piece of apparatus. While the spirit of which these actions were taken is appreciated, this was not done in consultation with the medics on scene, and this could have resulted in confusion or patient care delay. To be clear we understand the urgency and eagerness to help, but in the future, we do ask that scene control be maintained.
I am hopeful that our conversations have proven helpful and informative Take care.
Brian & Tammy
The Link to the August 29, 2022 article is:
https://citizensforgoodgovernment.org/online/gangs-fight-at-crest-v-burns-hs-football-game-and-more-stadium-lights-go-out-during-game-burns-student-held-by-deputies-until-parent-arrives-gun-threats-in-crowd-young-woman-collapses-after-pa/