Long Island Fire Officer DUI in Fire Apparatus

[Monty 35]

Surprised this hasn't been mentioned earlier. I know there are still places where DUI's may be swept under the carpet - but I think / hope this is becoming rarer. Something to think about with the local parade season just around the corner ..... Fortunately in this case it just seems to be property damage - and of course reputation.

From firefighter close calls (I believe this doesn't follow the law of the posting policy - but the article does clearly state it should be passed on to fire-fighters) :

UPDATE-LONG ISLAND FIRE OFFICER DUI IN FIRE APPARATUS

Sunday, February 17, 2008

A Riverhead (Long Island, N.Y.) Volunteer Fire Department Captain faces disciplinary action after police say he was drunk when he crashed a firetruck into a utility pole following an appearance in Greenport Village’s Washington’s Birthday parade.

Captain Robert Block, 43, will be disciplined by the fire department following an investigation, said Bill Kelly, chairman of the Riverhead Board of Fire Commissioners.

"We do not tolerate this and we will be enforcing this vigorously," Kelly said. "There’s no reason for this at all and we will be pursuing this."

Riverhead Town police charged Block, with driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a child after the Saturday incident. His son, who is 8, was also in the fire truck, but was unharmed.

Captain Block was not injured in the crash, which occurred at about 6:50 p.m. on Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead, police said. Another firefighter, James Redmond, 49, was treated and released at Peconic Bay Medical Center for a head injury, police said.

Block had been walking in the parade, Kelly said. Police said they did not know if Block had been drinking before heading down the parade route.

Block was released from police custody and will appear at Riverheard Town Court at a later date, police said.

Riverhead police Officer Peter Troyan said the crash occurred while Block returned the fire truck to a fire department building.

"They were coming back from a parade in Greenport," Troyan said.

Kelly said the fire department called police after it was told there was an accident involving a fire truck. Police investigated, and Block failed a field sobriety test, Kelly said.

A police report described the fire truck, which is 11 years old, as damaged. A monetary estimate of the damage was not available.

While there is no question that the Captain has provided more than a decade of good service to the Department, the D.U.I. issue again is brought to light in the fire service. Here are some related thoughts on the FF DUI issue in case you missed them the last time...

http://firefighterclosecalls.com/secretPHP...php?issueID=398

There is a lot that can be done to avoid this from happening again in any FD....we just have to want it. Brotherhood? Pah-leez. Ignoring the booze problem in our departments allows real bad stuff to happen...eventually...and we chose to ignore it a lot for a variety of reasons. Dealing with the booze issue at any FD is difficult for any member of any FD...but it doesn’t take away the need to still deal with it directly or indirectly. Or, just ignore it and let history repeat itself...not knowing who they will hurt or potentially kill. This latest DUI amongst "us" is another warning from an incident that is real bad-and could have been horrific. Maybe this can help: http://www.withthecommand.com/2003-May/OH-BillyG-AA.html

More to follow.

Notification

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Edited February 19, 2008 by Monty