Three Maryland Firefighters Face Criminal Charges

[JeffSlots 1]

Maryland Firefighters Face Criminal Charges for Alleged Assaults

Volunteers Call Actions One-Sided

Updated: 03-24-2006 01:16:39 PM

GUY LEONARD

Reprinted with Permission, The Gazette Newspapers

Two incidents of alleged misconduct at fire scenes led investigators to file criminal charges against three Prince George's volunteer firefighters.

The alleged infractions include physical confrontations and assault on other firefighters and even tampering with breathing apparatus used when entering burning buildings.

The most recent incident stems from an altercation between volunteers in February at a fire on Standish Drive in Landover Hills.

Lt. Nicholas Martin and Firefighter Adam Brown, both volunteers at Kentland Volunteer Fire Department, have been charged with hindering fire department operations and reckless endangerment of other firefighters in the Feb. 16 incident.

According to charging documents, Martin assaulted the volunteer chief from the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department. The documents say Martin told him to move a ladder truck, pushed him, yelled profanities and threatened bodily harm. The incident was also caught on a citizen's video camera.

A second incident that night occurred when Martin allegedly entered the burning home and yelled at a volunteer captain from Bladensburg, grabbed him by the chest and his self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face mask and slammed him against a wall, dislodging the critical piece of safety equipment.

Brown faces charges stemming from his alleged refusal to follow orders from a superior officer at the same Standish Drive fire.

Charging documents state that when Brown was ordered to move from a doorway to allow two other firefighters to put out the fire, he refused. The fire spread from the kitchen to the dining area.

The two firefighters, who are full-time employees, reported they were pushed and had their breathing equipment turned off or ripped away by unknown assailants on the fire ground, according to the documents. Brown was not named as the person who committed these infractions.

Prince George's Fire⁄EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady declined to call the assaults "fights" because the targets did not return violence in kind.

He said that the fire department's investigations served as a warning against further unprofessional conduct.

"There were no retaliations [at the first incident]," Brady said. "These investigations have been getting across the message loud and clear about this kind of unprofessional behavior."

But the fallout from the Standish Drive incident last month has been serious. Martin has been dismissed and his volunteer chief, Michael Mattison, has been demoted for other alleged rules violations.

Kentland volunteers have also alleged that career personnel assaulted them at another fire scene this month in apparent retaliation for actions by volunteers at the Standish Drive fire.

County volunteer firefighter representatives have complained that Martin's dismissal occurred without due process, though they have said they too will not accept dangerous and unprofessional behavior.

"We're not going to tolerate any violence in the workplace," said Jim Collins, vice president of the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. "But our fire chief [Lawrence Sedgewick] just made a decision without a review. He says we're one company, but there are two sets of standards. Apparently it's no pay, no say."

The controversy has renewed interest in a bill that would create a Firefighters Bill of Rights to standardize procedures for both volunteers and career personnel.

Matthew Despos, the third Kentland volunteer charged, is alleged to have turned off another volunteer firefighter's breathing apparatus as a kind of joke at a fire in Capitol Heights in December.

The victim confronted Despos, saying he was angry about Despos' alleged behavior. The victim claimed in charging documents that Despos said: "Aw... you know I was just messing with you."

Andrew Pantelis, vice president of the Prince George's County Professional Fire Fighters Association, said the incidents have raised tensions in the entire fire service.

"It's members from one department who allegedly are engaging in unsafe and hostile conduct," Pantelis said of the Kentland firefighters. "The fact it's turned into a career versus volunteer issue is a mistake.

"Firefighters shouldn't have to look over their shoulder to see if other firefighters are going to do them harm, either career or volunteer."

[Guest]

That's terrible, these guys should not be fighting at all, let alone on scene!

Anyone who puts another firefighter's life in danger, whether intentionally or jokingly should be kicked out/fired on the spot.

There's no room for error in this line of work and when people are intentionally sabotaging others it makes everything that much harder.

[CAM502 6]

Ok any lawyers from MD in the house. What are we looking at Misdemeanors, Felonies, or a slap on the wrist? Jail or a fine??

[Guest KFD236]

That's terrible, these guys should not be fighting at all, let alone on scene!

Anyone who puts another firefighter's life in danger, whether intentionally or jokingly should be kicked out/fired on the spot.

There's no room for error in this line of work and when people are intentionally sabotaging others it makes everything that much harder.

←

You are absolutely right, messing with someone else's SCBA is like playing Russian Roulette. These members should be suspended from the Fire Department indefinately and if they go to jail and go to that jail that has their own FD they should not be allowed to join or even take part in any functions in that department or in any other department that they wish to join or have any form of paricipation with. I am extremely disappointed in these guys.

Edited March 28, 2006 by kfd-exchief

[IzzyEng4 427]

I had posted this under another topic. It is sad that the turn of events went this way. This should not have ever happened. In a way I am glad this cameout out in the media because it is punishing the guilty parties. On th flip side, again we have another black eye to the fire service.

OLD CRAP HAS TO DIE!!!!!!! STOP THE BS and TEACH THE RIGHT WAY. WE ARE FIREFIGHTERS!! LOSE THE ATTITUTES!!!

Sorry for the rant but we all get bad apples. We have to learn them the right way or have them leave.

Edited March 29, 2006 by IzzyEng4

[Guest DG795]

Charges Dropped In Firefighter Brawl

Written By Gary Reals 9 News

Created:4/18/2006 9:43:26 PM

Last Updated:4/19/2006 10:19:40 AM

Authorities have decided not to prosecute three local volunteer firemen, despite a brawl that broke out among firefighters two months ago as a house was burning in Prince George's County.

The fire department filed criminal charges against all three. Now those charges will be dropped.

We've yet to hear from the Kentland volunteers who won't be taken to trial. But there is most definitely dissatisfaction from the firefighters union Tuesday's announcement:

The top prosecutor in Prince George's County won't be taking the three volunteer firefighters to trial. State's Attorney Glenn Ivey made his decision after reviewing the evidence and concluding it was insufficient.

Two career firefighters suffered minor burns while fighting a fire at this home in Landover Hills two months ago after a pushing and shoving match outside the burning house. The fight was captured on home videotape. In the end, the prosecutor determined they had the evidence but not the crime.

The president of the firefighters union which represents the two burn victims says the prosecutor is sending the wrong message to the public.

Even though there are no criminal prosecutions, one volunteer, Lt. Nick Martin, was terminated from his position with the Kentland Volunteers. And Chief Mike Mattison also of Kentland, has been relieved of his command. Both actions taken by county Fire Chief Lawrence Sedgwick.

Whatever your opinion is, It was irresponsible to assume that the 3 firefighters were guilty based on articles read on the internet, and not based on evidence.

Even in this article, the reader is led to believe that the incident was the videotaped one, when in fact the dropped charges dealt with a completely separate incident at the same fire.

Edited April 20, 2006 by DG795

[Guest Rich DD]

This kind of childish behaviour is not acceptable. The assultants should be fired, and criminal charges should be held to their highest possible penalties.

The acts described above only causes issues and distention between firefighters. That is only going to make those who are good at their job, professional, and go beyond the call of duty look like a bunch of clowns.

That kind of distention will continue to haunt the fire departments involved for years to come, regardless of the efforts to resolve all the "bad" that was done.

Those of you who partake in this behaviour are disrespectful, ignorant, and most likely to end up in court defending your immature actions before your peers.

I truly hope the assultants in this case get the book thrown at them.

Edited May 3, 2006 by Rich DD

[Guest]

I also posted under a similar topic. However, what's bothering me is that there are members here that are trying to justify and excuse the Kentland crew's behavior as traditionalist, dedicated and hardworking - To me that signals a huge problem - I'm tired of hearing that the "media" is making this up or "distorting" the truth. Several outlets have produced the same news stories, articles and documents that tell the same tale - these Kentland guys screwed up in many ways and now they have to face the music - and implement changes in the department and their traditions. So what their a "tight-knit" crew and respond to lot of calls - They're going to end up killing someone. I'd love to hear what Billy Goldfeder has to say!