Feb. 5, 2014 4:59pm Jason Howerton
While responding to a Tuesday night rollover accident in Chula Vista, Calif., a police officer and firefighter got into a dispute over where the fire engine should park. The verbal altercation ended with the uniformed firefighter in handcuffs.
The California Highway Patrol officer reportedly demanded the firefighter move the fire engine off the center divide. He refused and continued to treat the crash victims at the scene.
KFMB-TV captured some of the argument and ensuing arrest on video:
San Diego, California News Station – KFMB Channel 8 – cbs8.com
In the video, the CHP officer can be seen putting the firefighter, still in uniform, in handcuffs while others with the fire crew and officers tend to the crash victims.
The firefighter was reportedly put in the back of a CHP cruiser and detained for about half an hour before being released.
Screengrab via KFMB-TV
Screengrab via KFMB-TV
Screengrab via KFMB-TV
“To detain one of our firefighters in the middle of an incident is ridiculous,” Chula Vista Fire Department Chief Dave Hanneman said. “It doesn’t provide the good customer service, the good public service that both of our agencies are there to do.”
The California Highway Patrol and Chula Vista Fire Department are expected to meet on Wednesday to talk about the incident.
“The driver of a white Honda Civic involved in the crash was transported to the hospital. No word on the condition of the second driver,” KFMB-TV reports.
The cops ego was obviously involved – the firefighter was released within 30 mins – probably on orders from a superior with commonsense. It’s obvious the firefighter parked strategically – to protect the victims and themselves while they were applying first aid at the side of the highway – also for convenience for needed emergency medical equipment. The cops are getting out of hand in recent times and from what I’ve been reading it appears to be global. Video at site
Firefighters vs Cop. 🙂
mediachecker 