In an unbelievable story a cop handcuffs and detained a firefighter for 30 minutes while the firefighter was trying to do his job at a crash site.
The cop claimed that he asked the firefighter to move his truck, but the firefighter refused, stating it was parked in such a way as to protect those working the scene.
Just when you think that police in this country can’t get more out of control…well, here you go!
A California firefighter was recently placed in handcuffs and detained by highway police 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 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.
One driver was reportedly transported to the hospital after the accident, but there’s been no word on the second driver or on the conditions of either one.
Videos and photographs of the incident were captured by KFMB and posted on the internet, sparking outrage among many commentators who couldn’t believe what was happening.
Chula Vista Fire Chief Dave Hanneman called CHP’s behavior “ridiculous” in a statement, while the firefighters’ union president John Hess praised Gregoire’s actions.
“I’m very proud of Jacob. He did a good job,” he told CBS 8. “He made all firefighters look good. He was there to protect the citizens and he was willing to take a stand to do that.”
The aftermath of the incident has revolved primarily around who was in the right legally. Speaking to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the city’s fire deputy chief Steve Ricci acknowledged that CHP has jurisdiction over the roads, but said that since firefighters arrived on the scene first they had initially taken command of the situation.
“As to a formalized transfer of command to the CHP — I don’t believe that ever took place,” he added.
http://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=DZV6QQKdh4U&u=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUNYDmk2sGv0%26feature%3Dshare
This cop is an idiot
Firefighter is ignorant for not obeying orders. It is not a privilege to be disobedient
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????? A COP CAN GET AWAY WITH ANY DAMN THING INCLUDING MURDER, SPEEDING, RUNNING RED LIGHTS WITH NO LIGHTS ON, TEXTING OR CALLING WHILE DRIVING…AND THIS FIREFIGHTER IS DISOBEDIENT????? CALL 911 AND HOPEFULLY NO ONE SHOWS UP AT YOUR DOOR WHEN YOUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN. HE WAS DOING HIS JOB AND THIS COP WANTED TO DISTURB HIM. GET A LIFE DUDE.
About a year ago in New Orleans a parking cop put a hub lock on a working ambulance at a heart attack call.
cops are turning into $#%&!@*s
did the cops put out the fire?
Gimmee a badge I WANT POWER HA HA HA HA
This is c**p and should be investigated by an independent agency.
GOTTA BE A NONUNION COP!!!!
The fireman’s coworkers should have arrested and confined the cop.
Fire the stupid cop. If one of the victim’s family member’s needed medical attention and died as the results of interference form the cop they would have a lawsuit big time.