Tweet
What do you do in this situation?
A friend of mine sent me this story about a little incident that happened in my corner of the country last week. Sorry about the links if they don't work, the posting screen wasn't working too well.
Let me give the quick run down:
Fire department responds to EMS call
Man laying on couch in apartment building lobby complaining of headache.
FD personnel arrive and begin evaluation of pt.
Bystander in the lobby becomes increasingly hostile and verbally abusive towards FD personnel
Situation quickly deteriorates, firefighters make the choice to tackle bystander and restrain him.
Lt. delivers a few kicks with the boot in the process of holding him down.
Obviously a situation none of us want to be involved in.
My question is, what do you do in a situation like this? Do you take action against a hostile person, who could be potentially endangering your crew and patient?
The FF's in this situation really didn't have time to wait for LEO's and went ahead and took action. Does your department offer you any protection in this kind of situation?
Here is the "full" story:
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Fire Bureau has pulled one of its most experienced firefighters off the streets after the man was caught on tape, involved in a confrontation between a citizen and several firefighters.
The video was recorded early Thursday morning at a downtown Portland apartment building and shows a Portland Fire Bureau lieutenant kicking a man who was being held down on the ground.
The man who was kicked does admit that he was being verbally abusive toward the firefighters. The video of the confrontation is sending shock waves through the Portland Fire Bureau.
The surveillance video shows Terry DeGeorge walking through his apartment building's lobby where firefighters are helping someone on a couch who is complaining of a headache. Here is an account of what happened next:
DeGeorge walks in and out of the lobby. The tape does not have any sound, but DeGeorge admits he was annoyed that the firefighters were there. "My rage led to the fireman's rage," he said. "I was loud, probably at a time that I shouldn't have been."
DeGeorge argues with a firefighter, Lieutenant Robert Bedgood.
DeGeorge walks back out the door, then stops, turns around and starts shouting at Bedgood.
A few words are exchanged and then another firefighter grabs DeGeorge.
The two struggle. This lasts for several seconds as other firefighters help force DeGeorge to the ground.
DeGeorge struggles to stand up, but you never see him strike another firefighter.
It takes about 20 seconds for the firefighters to pin DeGeorge to the ground.
Then Bedgood steps in and kicks DeGeorge three times. "The kicking was unnecessary," DeGeorge said. "Maybe in their minds it wasn't. I don't know."
DeGeorge spoke to KATU News in the same lobby where the struggle happened. He had injuries on his face and bruises on his legs and arms. He said he may have been loud and intimidating, but he did not deserve the treatment he got. "Everybody has a bad day," he said. "I wasn't having a good one. Maybe a couple of those guys weren't either."
Firefighters have a copy of the tape and Bedgood is no longer on the street. He is now working a desk job.
When KATU News asked Lt. Allen Oswalt with the Portland Fire Bureau whether he could envision a circumstance where it would be OK for a firefighter to tackle somebody who had not assaulted anyone, he said "there are ways to verbally intimidate or verbally assault people. I don't know what was going on. We do have eyewitness reports of the language that was used and some of the things that were said."
The incident is under investigation by the Portland Police Bureau. According to an initial police report, DeGeorge was cussing and firefighters felt threatened by him.
Here is the Portland Fire and Rescue press release:
This is a press release courtesy of the Portland Fire Bureau
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) has begun the investigation into the incident that occurred Wednesday, January 11th, at the Fairfield Hotel, involving firefighters and a bystander at the scene of an emergency medical response.
At the direction of Fire Chief Dave Sprando and with the support of Fire Commissioner Erik Sten, PF&R's Deputy Fire Chief will lead the investigation, assisted by PF&R's Chief Investigator. PF&R has requested that Portland Police conduct independent interviews of witnesses, and has also enlisted the help of the City of Portland's Bureau of Human Resources.
"I am confident in the steps Chief Sprando is taking to address this situation," Sten says. "He has acted quickly, appropriately, and he is making good decisions."
The officer involved in the incident has been detailed to non-emergency response duties until the investigation is completed.
"As Fire Chief, my first priority is to protect the safety of both our citizens and firefighters," Sprando says. "To that end, PF&R is working collaboratively with Commissioner Sten's office in our approach to get answers and resolve this situation."
Chief Sprando also emphasized that the men and women of Portland Fire & Rescue are dedicated, compassionate professionals who truly care about the community they serve. "I have experienced this commitment for many years," he says, "And I want to ensure it continues for many more years to come."
On Wednesday, January 11th, at 12:15 am, Firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a call for medical assistance at the Fairfield Hotel. When firefighters arrived they began treating the patient in the lobby. An altercation occurred, that involved an individual not associated with the original call for assistance.
All of the circumstances, of the event, are not known at this time.
The Fire Chief initiated an investigation as soon as we became aware of the incident, at about 3:30, Wednesday afternoon. Portland Fire & Rescue takes any type of incident like this extremely seriously and is committed to determining all the facts that will lead to a fair and thorough investigation.
The investigation will proceed as rapidly as possible. There appears to be a large number of witnesses to the incident, and other records including PPB reports, all of which will have an effect on the time it takes to complete the investigation. No personnel action has been taken at this time although, if warranted, action will be initiated as the facts become apparent.
I personally don't feel sorry for the guy at all who they tackle. He got what was coming. I just started wondering though what the rest of us do in this situation. I worry about liability getting in the way of making the choice to protect fellow FF's.
Let me give the quick run down:
Fire department responds to EMS call
Man laying on couch in apartment building lobby complaining of headache.
FD personnel arrive and begin evaluation of pt.
Bystander in the lobby becomes increasingly hostile and verbally abusive towards FD personnel
Situation quickly deteriorates, firefighters make the choice to tackle bystander and restrain him.
Lt. delivers a few kicks with the boot in the process of holding him down.
Obviously a situation none of us want to be involved in.
My question is, what do you do in a situation like this? Do you take action against a hostile person, who could be potentially endangering your crew and patient?
The FF's in this situation really didn't have time to wait for LEO's and went ahead and took action. Does your department offer you any protection in this kind of situation?
Here is the "full" story:
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Fire Bureau has pulled one of its most experienced firefighters off the streets after the man was caught on tape, involved in a confrontation between a citizen and several firefighters.
The video was recorded early Thursday morning at a downtown Portland apartment building and shows a Portland Fire Bureau lieutenant kicking a man who was being held down on the ground.
The man who was kicked does admit that he was being verbally abusive toward the firefighters. The video of the confrontation is sending shock waves through the Portland Fire Bureau.
The surveillance video shows Terry DeGeorge walking through his apartment building's lobby where firefighters are helping someone on a couch who is complaining of a headache. Here is an account of what happened next:
DeGeorge walks in and out of the lobby. The tape does not have any sound, but DeGeorge admits he was annoyed that the firefighters were there. "My rage led to the fireman's rage," he said. "I was loud, probably at a time that I shouldn't have been."
DeGeorge argues with a firefighter, Lieutenant Robert Bedgood.
DeGeorge walks back out the door, then stops, turns around and starts shouting at Bedgood.
A few words are exchanged and then another firefighter grabs DeGeorge.
The two struggle. This lasts for several seconds as other firefighters help force DeGeorge to the ground.
DeGeorge struggles to stand up, but you never see him strike another firefighter.
It takes about 20 seconds for the firefighters to pin DeGeorge to the ground.
Then Bedgood steps in and kicks DeGeorge three times. "The kicking was unnecessary," DeGeorge said. "Maybe in their minds it wasn't. I don't know."
DeGeorge spoke to KATU News in the same lobby where the struggle happened. He had injuries on his face and bruises on his legs and arms. He said he may have been loud and intimidating, but he did not deserve the treatment he got. "Everybody has a bad day," he said. "I wasn't having a good one. Maybe a couple of those guys weren't either."
Firefighters have a copy of the tape and Bedgood is no longer on the street. He is now working a desk job.
When KATU News asked Lt. Allen Oswalt with the Portland Fire Bureau whether he could envision a circumstance where it would be OK for a firefighter to tackle somebody who had not assaulted anyone, he said "there are ways to verbally intimidate or verbally assault people. I don't know what was going on. We do have eyewitness reports of the language that was used and some of the things that were said."
The incident is under investigation by the Portland Police Bureau. According to an initial police report, DeGeorge was cussing and firefighters felt threatened by him.
Here is the Portland Fire and Rescue press release:
This is a press release courtesy of the Portland Fire Bureau
Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) has begun the investigation into the incident that occurred Wednesday, January 11th, at the Fairfield Hotel, involving firefighters and a bystander at the scene of an emergency medical response.
At the direction of Fire Chief Dave Sprando and with the support of Fire Commissioner Erik Sten, PF&R's Deputy Fire Chief will lead the investigation, assisted by PF&R's Chief Investigator. PF&R has requested that Portland Police conduct independent interviews of witnesses, and has also enlisted the help of the City of Portland's Bureau of Human Resources.
"I am confident in the steps Chief Sprando is taking to address this situation," Sten says. "He has acted quickly, appropriately, and he is making good decisions."
The officer involved in the incident has been detailed to non-emergency response duties until the investigation is completed.
"As Fire Chief, my first priority is to protect the safety of both our citizens and firefighters," Sprando says. "To that end, PF&R is working collaboratively with Commissioner Sten's office in our approach to get answers and resolve this situation."
Chief Sprando also emphasized that the men and women of Portland Fire & Rescue are dedicated, compassionate professionals who truly care about the community they serve. "I have experienced this commitment for many years," he says, "And I want to ensure it continues for many more years to come."
On Wednesday, January 11th, at 12:15 am, Firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a call for medical assistance at the Fairfield Hotel. When firefighters arrived they began treating the patient in the lobby. An altercation occurred, that involved an individual not associated with the original call for assistance.
All of the circumstances, of the event, are not known at this time.
The Fire Chief initiated an investigation as soon as we became aware of the incident, at about 3:30, Wednesday afternoon. Portland Fire & Rescue takes any type of incident like this extremely seriously and is committed to determining all the facts that will lead to a fair and thorough investigation.
The investigation will proceed as rapidly as possible. There appears to be a large number of witnesses to the incident, and other records including PPB reports, all of which will have an effect on the time it takes to complete the investigation. No personnel action has been taken at this time although, if warranted, action will be initiated as the facts become apparent.
I personally don't feel sorry for the guy at all who they tackle. He got what was coming. I just started wondering though what the rest of us do in this situation. I worry about liability getting in the way of making the choice to protect fellow FF's.
Comment