Tag Archives: assault

An Ohio fire chief has agreed to accept a 90-day suspension rather than face a disciplinary proceeding that could potentially have cost him position. Braceville Township Fire Chief Todd Garland was facing six charges related to an incident that occurred in June, 2016 while personnel were attending to a combative patient.

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In this episode, Curt and attorney Brian Bregman discuss the complicated legal issues associated with disciplinary investigations where the accused firefighters are potentially subject to criminal liability – and may have a 5th Amendment Right to remain silent.

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In this episode, Curt discusses the recent acquittal of two Prince George’s County volunteer firefighters with Attorney Brian Bregman. Brian represented one of the firefighters accused of assaulting two female career firefighters at the scene of a structure fire in 2015.

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A Chicago police officer who was involved in an on-duty altercation with a Chicago fire captain in 2011 that resulted in a $1.6 million settlement in favor of the police officer, has filed a new suit claiming he was demoted in retaliation for the first suit.

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An Indiana fire chief was arrested at the scene of a house fire Tuesday for reportedly pushing a police officer who was breaking windows in an attempt to ventilate the building. The incident occurred in the Town of Cannelton and involved Cannelton Police Officer Ryen Foertsch and Cannelton Fire Chief Christopher Herzog.

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A Toronto firefighter is facing criminal charges for assaulting a female colleague, who claims she was forced to endure years of abuse at the hands of male firefighters. Jamie Wilson claims she was the victim of widespread bullying and harassment ...

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A Spokane fire captain who pushed a belligerent patient after the patient spit at him, is challenging a three-shift disciplinary suspension. Captain Greg Borg got into the altercation on a medical run after waking a patient who was sleeping on a sidewalk surrounded by beer cans.

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A lawsuit filed by a civilian fire department employee that accused Portland Fire Chief Erin Janssens of assault has been settled for $5,000. Brian Alcid, who served as a facilities maintenance supervisor, filed suit last October claiming that in December, 2013, Chief Janssens grabbed him by the neck.

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The San Diego Fire Department is investigating a complaint filed by a videographer who claims that a firefighter touched him as he was filming an EMS patient on a public street. The videographer, J.C. Playford, was filming a female patient as she was being wheeled on a stretcher toward an ambulance when the unidentified firefighter confronted Playford and the two begin arguing.

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A Canadian woman is suing the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Department and the Halifax Regional Municipality claiming that firefighters conducted an “invasive examination” of her cervix last year when she was pregnant.

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A battalion chief with the Richmond Fire Department has been accused of assaulting a firefighter. Battalion Chief Tina Watkins, formerly the department’s Public Information Officer and one of the first female firefighters in Richmond, has been charged with simple assault over an incident that occurred at Station 23.

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A woman and her minor son are suing two South Carolina fire departments over a post-accident altercation that led to the mother and son being arrested. Julia Hyman and her son, identified in court pleadings as J.H., filed suit earlier this month against the Berkley County Sheriff’s Department, Whitesville Rural Fire Department, Whitesville Rural Fire Department Station 1, and numerous sheriff’s deputies and emergency responders.

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Here is a follow up to the story we covered last week with regards to the Glendale, Arizona firefighters who were disciplined for using excessive force against a man who assaulted them. The family of James Murillo has filed a multi-million dollar claim against the City of Glendale, Captain Sean Alford and Acting Captain Daniel Padilla, claiming the firefighters assaulted and verbally abused the mentally ill man last October.

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Today’s burning question: My crew was on an EMS run and the patient took a swing at us. Can we hit him back to defend ourselves? Answer: You can defend yourself, yes. If striking the patient is necessary to defend yourself, then yes you can strike the patient without being liable for battery. However, you cannot strike the patient in retaliation for him swinging or striking you, nor can you strike the patient out of frustration… even if he swung first!!!

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