No Fire, Just Hotheads
Like many people, I suppose, there’s an element of two about the world for which I have managed to hold onto an unrealistic naivete. For me, the notion of firefighters somehow being more heroical and tougher to criticize than, say, the police is one of them.
But today’s Theo brings me out of that remnant of childhood and back to reality.
The tapes, recorded from cameras mounted in the lobby of the Fairfield Apartments, show that resident Terry DeGeorge didn’t appear to touch the firefighters before they forced him to the floor. While he was being held down by two firefighters and a paramedic, another firefighter kicked him three times, the video shows. A security guard restrained him with handcuffs.
The seemingly key part of that, of course, being the fact that DeGeorge was kicked three times by one firefighter while being restrained by three people.
There’s discussion at Bojack’s and a mention at Blogtown.
For now, here is the brief statement out of the bureau itself:
On Wednesday, January 11th, at 12:15 am, Firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a call for medical assistance at the Fairfield Hotel. When firefighters arrived they began treating the patient in the lobby. An altercation occurred, that involved an individual not associated with the original call for assistance. All of the circumstances, of the event, are not known at this time.
The Fire Chief initiated an investigation as soon as we became aware of the incident, at about 3:30, Wednesday afternoon. Portland Fire & Rescue takes any type of incident like this extremely seriously and is committed to determining all the facts that will lead to a fair and thorough investigation.
The investigation will proceed as rapidly as possible. There appears to be a large number of witnesses to the incident, and other records including PPB reports, all of which will have an effect on the time it takes to complete the investigation. No personnel action has been taken at this time although, if warranted, action will be initiated as the facts become apparent.
So now we wait for reaction from Randy Leonard (former firefighter), Erik Sten (who oversees Portland Fire & Rescue), and Tom Potter (you know, the Mayor).
Addendum: Blogtown has restored the duplicate item on this incident, if for no other reason than to get the comments that had been posted to it back online.
Meanwhile, the Trib is on it now as well, and offers a quote from the Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman: “[T]he public should know there were other things going on that provoked that”.
Because, of course, opening one’s mouth can be sufficient and legal cause for a firefighter to kick, three times, a man being restrained on the ground by three other people.
Finally (for now), Theo has posted the police report on the incident, which I haven’t yet had the chance to read, but makes Bojack think the kicker’s statement to police was untruthful.