HVFD insurer balked on coverage due to Joslin

The insurance carrier for the Hochatown Volunteer Fire Department declined to reinsure the department because of “multiple red flags” concerning the department’s leadership and repeated intrusions by Cristal Joslin, the company said in a recent letter to county commissioners obtained through an Open Records Act request.

Jerrad Van Coots, Emergency Service Specialist for VFIS of Oklahoma, which insures emergency services, recently wrote county commissioners telling them why the firm was not able to insure HVFD with its “current leadership.”

The letter was received by commissioners earlier this month.

“We have been documenting multiple red flags that have concerned us over the last year or more. Most, if not all of them, are tied to the phone number that shows on our Caller ID as Joslin Cristal (214) 205-7350. We are of the understanding that this person is associated with HVFD board member Shane Collette.

“The attached voicemail from (Joslin) would be an example of what we have experienced. We assume the voice is Cristal Joslin calling to turn in a claim against (emphasis his) HVFD on behalf of someone else? However, we are not able to get any further information from the board or the person calling it in. We take claims against our insureds very seriously and would like to confirm if this is a creditable claim or not?”

Coots said his firm also believes Joslin has called in, identifying herself as someone else.

“We have in the past received several phone calls from (her number) and different names being given when we ask who we are speaking with.

“We truly don’t fully grasp these situations or who is involved. With those considerations, we are not able to proceed any further with the current leadership.

“We would be open to sending out our risk control team to visit with the department if you’re able to make improvements to operations and satisfy past due premiums on our previous policy.

“Nothing in this email should reflect poorly on the volunteer firefighters at the department,” Coots wrote.