DETROIT, MI – A Detroit Fire Department (DFD) paramedic was suspended from duty last Friday following an incident involving an ambulance crash while he was reportedly under the influence of alcohol. The paramedic, whose identity has not been disclosed, was transporting a patient at the time of the incident.
The paramedic was navigating through the city of Hamtramck, situated approximately five miles north of downtown Detroit, just after midnight. During the journey, he side-swiped three vehicles, according to a statement from the Detroit Fire Department.
Following the accident, the paramedic waited for law enforcement to arrive on the scene. The six-year veteran of the department was subsequently tested for alcohol, in accordance with departmental policy, and was found to be under the influence.
“The vast majority of the people that don’t engage in that type of conduct, it puts a stain or a black eye on them and on the department,” said DFD Chief of Staff David Levalley. “This is an incident that is not systemic throughout the department.”
“This is definitely a serious offense,” Levalley said. “This could be anything up to termination from the department.”
Detroit Fire Department Commissioner Chuck Simms expressed the department’s zero-tolerance stance on the use of alcohol while on duty. He assured that appropriate actions would be taken in response to the incident. Simms also said that the department has numerous programs to help employees struggling with alcohol.
Despite the unfortunate incident, Simms praised the department’s team of EMTs and paramedics for their daily lifesaving work. He also highlighted the supportive services available for employees dealing with issues like alcohol dependency. He emphasized the department’s commitment to ensuring that employees are aware of and can access these services.
The patient being transported during the incident was not injured. The department also clarified that the paramedic involved in the incident had no prior accidents or alcohol-related incidents on his record. The DFD announced that the suspension of the paramedic was an unpaid suspension.