While responding to a Tuesday night rollover accident in Chula Vista, Calif., a police officer and firef!ghter got into a dispute over where the fire engine should park. It ended with the uniformed firefighter in handcuffs.
The California Highway Patrol officer reportedly ordered the firefighter, identified as Jacob Gregoir, to move the fire engine off the center divide or he would be arrested. As he worked the scene and checked the overturned car for more victims, he reportedly told the unidentified officer that he would have to check with his captain.
That’s when the officer decided to detain the firefighter instead.
According to UT San Diego, Gregoir — a fire service veteran of more than 12 years — parked the truck behind an ambulance to provide protection to the emergency responders from oncoming traffic. This is apparently a standard safety procedure fire crews are taught.
“To detain one of our firefighters in the middle of an incident is ridiculous,” Chula Vista Fire Department Chief Dave Hanneman said. “It doesn’t provide the good customer service, the good public service that both of our agencies are there to do.”
Hanneman later confirmed to UT San Diego that fire crews are trained to park their rigs with the intention of blocking oncoming traffic.
“I know clearing the freeway is a priority for the CHP. Our No. 1 priority is the safety of our firefighters and patients,” he said.
“The driver of a white Honda Civic involved in the crash was transported to the hospital. No word on the condition of the second driver,” KFMB-TV reports.
No comments:
Post a Comment