New Haven Investigating Firefighter / Cop Clash

[IzzyEng4 427]

Another reason why we all need to play nice together. The public is watching folks!

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archive..._probes_fir.php

Fire Lt. Felipe Cordero was helping a woman who collapsed from an apparent drug overdose. A cop arrived on the scene — and ended up handcuffing Cordero and holding him in the back of a police car.

The bizarre and potentially dangerous incident took place in Fair Haven Wednesday afternoon. It drew a small crowd.

And it drew a response from city officials.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Weird situation to say the least. I've never had a bad experience with an NHPD Officer, they've always seemed like really good guys. I can understand the cop being pissed off at the lady doing the old "I wanna go to the hospital, no wait, I don't" deal, and I can understand him yelling at her, but hooking an FD Officer who is trying to render medical aid? Not cool. Also, the North Haven comment was way out of line too. I hope this can just be chalked up to a cop having a bad day and some apologies being sent out, but I fear this will turn into something much larger.

[Guest]

That cop down South resigned cause he held that NFL player at a traffic stop, the guy was doing his job! This will def get blown way out of proportion. A handshake a case of beer and an I am sorry goes a long way!

Edited April 3, 2009 by roofsopen

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Agreed roofsopen.

[gpdexplorer 46]

I feel like this scenario is becoming very common place lately.

I have a friend in the Atlanta FD who got into an altercation with an Atlanta PD officer after he pulled a woman out of crack house. As he was tryin to get her to a bus for smoke inhalation the officer placed her into custody and wouldn't allow the FF to take her to receive treatment. The FF tried to get the P.O. to let her get medical attention and the P.O. escalted things from there. Luckily the FF didn't get hooked up, only because supervisors saw what happened.

[abaduck 123]

<sighs> I really despair when I read stories like this. What were they thinking?

A FF interfering with a LE operation hasn't got the skills or the authority and is liable to end up in jail. A cop interfering in patient assessment/treatment, or fire suppression activities hasn't got the skills or the authority and is liable to end up in jail.

Let's just leave the egos at home and play nice, huh? One thing for sure: we fight, we BOTH lose big-time.

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong but according to NIMS the IC of a medical incident is the responder with the highest level of medical training. If that is the case then would I be mistaken for believing that the paramedics mentioned in the article would have the final say as to whether the patient goes to the ER or prison and not the cop since the paramedics would be in command.

Just because a drunk driver is violation of the law does not mean they go to prison first and then go to the hospital.

[IzzyEng4 427]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong but according to NIMS the IC of a medical incident is the responder with the highest level of medical training. If that is the case then would I be mistaken for believing that the paramedics mentioned in the article would have the final say as to whether the patient goes to the ER or prison and not the cop since the paramedics would be in command.

Just because a drunk driver is violation of the law does not mean they go to prison first and then go to the hospital.

Yes you are correct in your thinking BV, however this is not a matter of who is in charge, the patient was going to the hospital per NHFD and AMR and the NHPD cannot stop them obviously because medical supersedes the situation. However because their is a crime involved, drug charges, the PD has to follow the patient to the hospital. The problem is the cop basically berating the patient while getting medical treatment from the FD and also the ambulance on scene. The Lieut said something to the cop, who has conflicting reports of being a good cop and a bad cop, basically to back off (going by the article).

Being a former dispatcher for the area the Fair Haven section of New Haven is a rough spot, a lot of drug and gang activity unfortunately. In New Haven, usually the PD does not respond to medicals along with the FD (CFR and medics) and AMR (transport ambulance). Since this was an OD case especially in a "bad" section of the city known for the drug problems, the PD automatically goes to the scene (EMTs remember Scene Safety?).

This is another unfortunate case of a public servant abusing their power and not thinking before they open up their trap! By what is being said too there have been other problems with this officer.

[helicopper 1,050]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong but according to NIMS the IC of a medical incident is the responder with the highest level of medical training. If that is the case then would I be mistaken for believing that the paramedics mentioned in the article would have the final say as to whether the patient goes to the ER or prison and not the cop since the paramedics would be in command.

Just because a drunk driver is violation of the law does not mean they go to prison first and then go to the hospital.

According to common sense we all have responsibilities at a scene and have to collaborate or at the very least cooperate to get the job done. Clearly this was not the case in this situation. Not having any first-hand information and relying exclusively on the report of a "witness" in a "news"paper, I'm not going to wade into the whole argument of who's right or who's wrong.

Suffice it to say that egos, attitudes, and/or a lack of communication played a role here and rather than get better, the situation got worse.

BVFDCJ, unfortunately the situation is not as crystal clear as you'd like it to be. Yes, in a purely medical environment the highest trained EMS provider should be in charge - based on the article, that would be the paramedics who arrive and not the fire lieutenant so his role was not necessarily IC. Let's stir up the mud in the water now - if the person is under arrest, the police can not legally allow the person to leave their custody even for medical treatment. Usually, this is simply resolved by having PD transport to the hospital or by having PD accompany the prisoner in the ambulance. Again, this was not reported clearly so we don't even know if she was under arrest.

This is another unfortunate case of a public servant abusing their power and not thinking before they open up their trap! By what is being said too there have been other problems with this officer.

Hey, Izzy, jumped to a conclusion here didn't you? We don't know what the exchange between the FD officer and PD officer was when out of earshot of the "witness" so who knows what really happened?

[IzzyEng4 427]

Hey, Izzy, jumped to a conclusion here didn't you? We don't know what the exchange between the FD officer and PD officer was when out of earshot of the "witness" so who knows what really happened?

Sorry Christ didn't realize I hit the center of the doughnut, I mean bran muffin (your one of those healthy law enforcement types I forgot!!!! LOL!!!) Besides Chris, your just jealous that CT has had blue lights on their cop cars for years now!!! Just joking of course brother!

Yah now I wish I didn't type the last statement Like I did 'cause I just read another article from another paper that their is a lot of finger pointing going on here between both the LT and the PO. But at the same time NHPD is under a very watchful eye since they had the major problems with their drug unit and the corruption that went on. Then on the NHFD side, well you have their problems which have been all over the papers as late too.

[Guest]

in this type of situation no one gonna win just let by gone be by gones and go back to work

[Guest]

Common sense is not all that common.

[helicopper 1,050]

Common sense is not all that common.

You hit the nail on the head! Absolutely right!

[ajsbear 11]

Some one told me Common Sense died years ago. We all need to think before we speak. Much is said in the heat of the moment. Slow down just a little. Think, then speak. It will avoid a lot of problems later.