IN-PERSON LEARNING IS CATCHING
FAMILIES OFF-GUARD.
>> Devin: A CRASH AND A
CONTROVERSY.
THE LOCAL 4 "DEFENDERS"
INVESTIGATE AN ALLEGED PARTY AND
A DRUNK DRIVING CRASH INVOLVING
A DETROIT FIRE ENGINE.
GLAD YOU’RE WITH US FOR LOCAL 4
NEWS AT 6:00.
THE ACCIDENT IN QUESTION
HAPPENING OUTSIDE A DETROIT HOME
WHERE THE DETROIT FIRE
DEPARTMENT WAS RESPONDING TO
HELP SOMEONE WHO HAD FALLEN ILL.
>> Kim: AND QUESTIONS ABOUT A
GATHERING AT ONE OF THE FIRE
HOUSES SHORTLY BEFORE THE CRASH.
LOCAL 4 "DEFENDER" SHAWN LEY
JOINS US WITH WHAT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS CONFIRMING AND
WHAT HAPPENS NOW.
SHAWN?
>> Shawn: ABSOLUTELY.
AND HERE IS THE SETUP.
THE WOMAN INSIDE, 46 YEARS OLD
AND VERY SICK SUNDAY NIGHT, AND
THE FAMILY VERY CONCERNED AND
CALLED 911.
DETROIT FIRE GOT HERE FIRST
BEFORE THE AMBULANCE.
AND SHE WILL TELL US EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
>> NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE HEAR
SOMETHING LIKE IT WAS HIT
SOMETHING, BOOM!
OH, WHOSE CAR IS IT?
OH MY GOD, IT’S YOUR CAR!
>> Shawn: IT’S SMASHED UP IN THE
SAME PLACE IT WAS SUNDAY NIGHT
WHEN THE DETROIT FIRE ENGINE HIT
IT.
HER SISTER WAS SICK IN THE HOME.
THE 26-YEAR-OLD FIREFIGHTER
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE HALF
MILLION DOLLAR RESCUE ENGINE HIT
HER CAR.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS
CONFIRMING THAT FIREFIGHTER WAS
DRUNK BEHIND THE WHEEL.
>> RESPONDING TO YOUR EMERGENCY.
>> WOW!
OKAY, WHAT DO THEY DO AFTER
THIS?
>> Shawn: THAT’S WHAT WE’RE
INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT.
DETROIT FIRE INVESTIGATING A
DINNER, BUT WHAT SOURCES ARE
CALLING A BIG PARTY HERE AT
ENGINE 50 ON THE EAST SIDE.
THERE WAS DRINKING, ALLEGEDLY
LOTS OF DRINKING, AND MEMBERS OF
SQUAD 6 WERE ON DUTY AND DROVE
THE FIRE ENGINE TO THE PARTY
PUTTING THEMSELVES MORE THAN TWO
MILES AWAY FROM HER HOME WHEN
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND THE
CORNER.
THE DRIVER WAS IMPAIRED,
RESPONDING TO A MEDICAL
EMERGENCY.
>> WE’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN
ACCIDENT AT OUR LOCATION, COULD
YOU PLEASE SEND POLICE.
>> Shawn: DANGEROUS SITUATION.
>> YES, IT WAS.
>> Shawn: A SUPERVISOR TOOK THE
FIREFIGHTER FOR A DRUG AND
ALCOHOL TEST, A .018.
AND OTHERS SAY IT WAS HIGHER.
EITHER WAY, THE FIREFIGHTER WAS
NOT ARRESTED.
>> IT’S UNTHINKABLE.
NOT ONLY WAS HE NOT ARRESTED BUT
IT WASN’T EVEN REPORTED TO
POLICE, IT WAS REPORTED AFTER
THE FACT.
>> Shawn: THE ATTORNEY HAS A
HISTORY OF DEALING WITH THE
DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
SUING THEM WHEN FIREFIGHTERS
TOOK THIS PHOTO WHILE A HOME
BEHIND THEM BURNED.
>> THIS IS A PROBLEM, NO
QUESTION THE JUDGE IS POOR.
WHERE IS THE OWNERSHIP AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE
SUPERIORS?
>> WE’RE OUTRAGED!
>> Shawn: ERIC JONES SAID THE
FIREFIGHTER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED
AND THE CASE TURNED OVER TO
DETROIT POLICE WHERE AN ARREST
COULD BE MADE.
JONES WANTS TO KNOW WHO WAS AT
THE PARTY, WHO WAS DRINKING,
INCLUDING DEPARTMENT
SUPERVISORS.
>> WE KNOW THAT ONE FIREFIGHTER
CONSUMED ALCOHOL, WE HAVE PROOF
OF THAT.
IN ORDER TO MAKE FURTHER
DETERMINATIONS, WE HAVE TO
COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION AND
FOLLOW THE FACTS WHERE THEY LEAD
US.
LIKE ALL FIRST RESPONDERS, WE’RE
OUTRAGED THAT SOMEONE WOULD
CONSUME ALCOHOL AND DRIVE AN
EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE.
>> Shawn: AND WE’RE ALSO
LEARNING THAT ONE, AT LEAST ONE
SENIOR CHIEF, IS BEING
QUESTIONED AS PART OF THE
INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGEDLY
BEING AT THE PARTY.
THE CHIEF IS BEING ASKED HOW
MUCH ALCOHOL THE CHIEF MAY HAVE
CONSUMED.
AND WE’RE HEARING FROM THE
FIREFIGHTERS UNION ON THIS
GETTING US THIS STATEMENT,
SAYING THEY BELIEVE THIS IS AN
ISOLATED INCIDENT AND PANDEMIC
AND STRESS-RELATED AND WANT TO
WORK WITH THE MEMBERS TO MAKE
SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
BACK TO YOU.
>> Kim: SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
REST OF THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THAT
FIRE ENGINE.
DO WE KNOW?
>> Shawn: ABOUT THREE MORE
FIREFIGHTERS ON THE ENGINE, AND
THEY WERE LEFT IN SERVICE.
WE ASKED THE COMMISSIONER WHY
LEAVE THEM IN SERVICE, ASSUMING
IF THEY WERE AT A CELEBRATION OR
A PARTY, WHY JUST ASSUME THAT
THE DRIVER WAS DRINKING.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE GUYS?
THEY WERE NOT TAKEN OUT OF
SERVICE.
WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY RUNS
THEY WERE ON AFTER THAT.
WE DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE
DRINKING OR NOT.