WEST WARWICK, R.I. — No single person bears the blame for the fire at The Station nightclub, but, for relatives of the dead and survivors of the inferno, one name stands out: Denis P. Larocque.
“Rocky,” the town’s chief fire inspector at the time of the fire, inspected The Station at least twice in the years immediately preceding the blaze, but he failed to cite club owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian for installing highly flammable foam soundproofing materials that covered some walls and parts of the ceiling. Starting in 1999, he also dramatically increased the club’s legal capacity from 258 to 404.
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Why didn't then RI AG Patrick (Democrat) Lynch charge West Warwick fire inspector Denis Larocque with manslaughter because of his obvious gross negligence with his Station inspections??
Because at the time the RI House Speaker, the most powerful political seat in the state, was Bill (Democrat) Murphy and Bill Murphy resides in West Warwick. There was NO WAY Lynch was going to legally expose the town of West Warwick
Because at the time the West Warwick town solicitor was Tim (Democrat) Wiliamson, also a member of the RI House, resident of West Warwick and close friend of House Speaker Bill Murphy. There was NO WAY Lynch was going to legally expose the town of West Warwick.
Oh and did I mention that the RI Attorney General's older brother Bill Lynch was the head of the RI Democratic party at the time??
Welcome to Rhode Island! State motto: It's never about what you did ~ it's always about who you know
Shoney's comment only further illuminates the process that was undertaken by RI officials to evade any accountibility for the failure (if not the corruption) of the "inspector" in this tragedy. While the Globe is to be congratulated for FINALLY merely raising this completely obvioius point, the question remains how the media managed to completely ignore this facet of the case. From day one it was understood the night club had passed "inspection" at least twice. That there was no pursuit of the government officials culpable for this gross negligence is, at least, understandable. Governments NEVER willingly admit failure (much less incompetence....much less possible corruption). RI officials would have had to expose themselves as incompetent on multiple levels as well as likely absorb a huge financial judgement for their malfeasence. The "sweet" deal the brothers received only further proves the degree to which the government was willing to go in order to forstall any open disclosure and discussion of the incompetent inspection. The media's natural job is, of course, to speak "truth to power" and its clear no media outlet bothered to pursue this aspect of the negligence at all, much less with the vigor it deserved considering the lives that were, needlessly, lost. Why, years later, is this "inconvenient fact" only now seeing this, marginal, illumination? Thanks for finally, at least, bringing it up. But why did the Globe NOT pursue the government's corrupt handling of this matter from begining to end?
He should have been fired and incarserated for his role.
Take away his pension. I could have been one of the people in the club that night. It makes me sick that "Rocky" is living fat and happy off of the taxpayers despite knowingly putting them in jeopardy.
Not only does he get a pension but he scams the system for a disability pension. Low lifes like this guy are what is bankrupting the public pension system. And the taxpayers pay and pay and pay............
The virtual free ride that the Derderian brothers got is only overshadowed by the disgraceful pass for fire inspector Larocque. I just re-read an article that the Globe ran at the time of the fire that disclosed that the club had had a fire from pyrotechnics shortly before. The fact that the Derderian brothers did not make changes than makes their actions criminal, neglegent, and premeditated.
"Travis, who said he had seen fire break out at The Station at another show last fall, waited for someone to spring forward with a fire extinguisher and put out the fire as they had last fall." This is a quote from the Globe story "In Seconds, Elation Turned to Horror" By Ellen Barry and Raja Mishra in 2003. How can it be that no one, no media outlet or group forced the state of Rhode Island to deal with this issue in a just manor?
Reading the particulard from Shoney above explains it all with great clarity. The only consolation for all involved is that the Derderian brothers and the fire inspector live every day with the deaths of 100 people on their shoulders, and hopefully on their minds.
"The "sweet" deal the brothers received only further proves the degree to which the government was willing to go in order to forstall any open disclosure and discussion of the incompetent inspection."
We only think that we have protection in situations like these..... just like with law enforcement, and "justice," it is actually an illusion that we convince ourselves to make us feel safe and secure. It is not really there. Just sit in court as a civilian for one whole day, and you will understand this. And you will never be the same.