Sleepy Hollow firefighter expelled for fighting with colleague

[ONEEYEDMIC 68]

Sleepy Hollow firefighter expelled for fighting with colleague

By SHAWN COHEN

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: December 12, 2007)

SLEEPY HOLLOW - The village board of fire wardens last night expelled firefighter Patrick Hayes for fighting with a colleague at a fire scene, an incident for which Hayes also faces a criminal charge.

"It was bringing discredit to the department and causing disharmony," Fire Chief John Korzelius said in explaining the decision to expel him.

The board voted 10-2 in favor of expulsion, well over the two-thirds majority required.

Hayes, 25, was suspended shortly after he was accused of repeatedly shoving fellow Sleepy Hollow firefighter Miguel Valle at a Nov. 24 fire scene in Tarrytown. Valle fell and injured his knee, requiring hospital care.

Hayes had five days to appeal the suspension, but never did. He also chose not to show up for last night's hearing, where he may have had the opportunity to challenge the ruling, Korzelius said.

Valle did attend.

Hayes faces a charge by Tarrytown police of second-degree harassment, a violation that is punishable by a possible fine and up to 15 days in jail.

Korzelius said the expulsion was in keeping with the department's policy of no tolerance for workplace violence.

"When we're at a fire scene, we're under a microscope, so to speak, and we do conduct ourselves professionally," he said. "If you do anything to bring discredit or disharmony to the department, you will be brought up on charges, much like he was."

[Guest]

Does anyone know what they were fighting about? If it was something that was going to jeopardize the lives of others (or the nozzle :-)) I agree, otherwise wait till afterwards. Stupidity is everywhere, you just need to determine the right time to address it.