Monday, June 18, 2007

** San Francisco EMT charged with sexual assault continued to work EMS

** West Virginia ambulance catches fire

** FDNY medics complain of unfair treatment

UNITED STATES NEWS

** San Francisco’s Fire Department is taking it on the chin, after news broke that a paramedic charged with sexual assault continued to work for the service for over a year. The San Francisco Examiner (June 18) said Fairfield resident Timothy Gutierrez, 39, was tagged with felony sexual assault for an incident that occurred while he was off duty in March of 2006. In May of this year, he was also charged with indecent exposure. In addition, two restraining orders are on his record for domestic violence. Service Chief Joanne Hayes-White said Gutierrez’ conduct was being watched and that no complaints had been levelled while on the job. She also said the department was not legally able to fire him for incidents occuring away from work.

** A Greenbrier County, West Virginia EMS worker suffered burn injuries Saturday, after the rear cab of the ambulance he was in caught fire. WDBJ (June 18) said the incident, which occurred as the crew was completing a call, took place outside the Roanoke Memorial emergency room. The patient being treated was not injured. Police say the blaze may have started after an electrical component malfunctioned.

** Twelve female Fire Department of New York (FDNY) paramedics are expected to launch a formal complaint over what they say is unfair treatment by superiors. The New York Post (Ginger Adams Otis/June 17) said the group is taking umbrage to an order they attend retraining on chemical respirators. Out of 14 medics tasked with the classes, 12 were female. A department spokesman brushed off the discrimination accusation, saying safety dictated the decision. Two of the females involved in the complaint are also suing FDNY for allegedly failing to promote five senior women to upper tier posts.