If you think it’s only John Q. Public that gets handcuffed and detained by police unlawfully you’ll be happy to know that in Chula Vista, California firefighters are treated just as fairly.
A California firefighter was placed in handcuffs last week and detained by California Highway Police (CHP) while helping crash victims, all for refusing to move a fire truck after being told it was parked inappropriately in the midst of an emergency.
The incident occurred last Tuesday evening when local firefighters and members of the California Highway Patrol responded to a rollover accident in Chula Vista, CA. The city’s firefighters were first to arrive on the scene, where they parked their fire trucks in a way to block oncoming traffic and protect those at the crash site.
When CHP officers reached the scene, however, they began ordering the firefighters to move their trucks out of the traffic lanes or face arrest. According to the local CBS affiliate KFMB, one officer had already directed a fire engine to leave the scene with its paramedic onboard before they could finish administering medical aid.
Another officer, meanwhile, told firefighter Jacob Gregoire, 36, to move his vehicle. Gregoire, a 12-year veteran, refused and continued assisting crash victims when the officer then placed him in handcuffs and lead him to a police vehicle. He was detained for about 30 minutes before being released.
Unlike previous incidents in which firefighters have been arrested, this incident was captured by a news team on video. One notable case occurred in Missouri, where a firefighter filed a lawsuit against law enforcement officials who arrested him for blocking traffic at a crash site. He was ultimately awarded $17,500 in damages stemming from a false arrest.
This latest incident circulated quickly on the west coast and is now going viral here in the east.
Overwhelmingly, viewers of the video place themselves in the position of the victims. To be told by a paramedic that you will have to wait on your injuries until he moves his vehicle troubles most of us.
Both CHP and fire department officials met the next day to discuss how to handle such situations moving forward. In a joint statement, the two departments called Tuesday’s behavior an “unfortunate” and “isolated incident.” They added it is “not representative of the manner in which our agencies normally work together toward our common goal.”
One thing might be changed.
The response time to that police officer’s home, should it ever catch fire. Add to that the time lost to make sure all the fire trucks are properly parked before they begin the water application.
There has been no known reprimand given to the police officer involved.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
