Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Detroit firefighter who was driving a squad truck when it collided with a parked car as it arrived on the scene of a medical emergency, has been suspended as the department investigates whether he was under the influence. The incident occurred Sunday, February 21, 2021 and involved an unidentified 26-year-old member who was driving Squad 6.
Squad 6 had been attending an event at Engine 50’s station when dispatched on the medical run. Fire department officials referred to the event as a dinner, but Local4 referred to it as “a big party,” suggesting its sources said that there was drinking going on.
The Detroit Free Press quoted Detroit Fire Commissioner Eric Jones as saying “A part of our processes is to drug and alcohol screen all drivers that have accidents. So, during that drug and alcohol screening, we learned that the firefighter in question was over the legal limit for blood alcohol. He was immediately suspended.” The press also cited Commissioner Jones as confirming that Squad 6 had been at the Engine 50 “dinner party.”
No criminal charges have been filed against the firefighter.
