We looked into this, calling a couple of buddies up north. It's just about all true:
- Off topic but this can't be swept under the reg. This morning at North Ave and the river, two of the local winos fell in the river and were rescued by our Fire Dept.
Our Marine Unit showed up in there van, and two of our Officers approached the scene, one dressed n a CPD uniform and the other dressed in a wet suit. They were told by the CFD Captain in charge that they were not allowed on the scene and when the Officer wearing the wet suit attempted to step around the fireman, the Fire Captain grabbed the officer and threw him to the ground. When the Officer attempted to get up, he was again thrown to the ground. The firemen them grabbed their Captain, who was drunk, and fled the scene. A beat car was called and a battery case report was prepared.
After tracking the drunken hero to his fire house, he was taken to A/3 where our Capon bosses were attempting to talk our battered officer out of signing a complaint. I don't know the outcome of this caper, but this drunken fire captain can't be allowed to get away with this.
We've gotten two slightly differing versions of which officer was actually thrown to the ground by the CFD captain. But despite the victim officer's willingness to move forward with charges, and the presence of numerous witnesses, CPD exempts refused to allow an arrest report to be completed and allegedly, the States Attorney office followed their cowardly lead.
So congratulations McPutz - not only are we undermanned beyond belief, not only have we lost the ability to control events on the street (all of which happened before you got here), now we've lost the ability to defend our own from attack by fellow city workers. It might not all be your fault, but you're the one in the big chair and you're allowing it to continue. This department is done.
UPDATE: Tape exists. Supposedly, the Department found the video footage and is in the process of looking for any more, but (surprise!) not to support the officer. More worrying to the CPD exempts is the audio tape of a high ranking patrol division supervisor on scene "encouraging" the officer not to proceed with charges lest he lose his spot. That might cost someone big time.
UPDATE: From a firefighter on the scene:
So congratulations McPutz - not only are we undermanned beyond belief, not only have we lost the ability to control events on the street (all of which happened before you got here), now we've lost the ability to defend our own from attack by fellow city workers. It might not all be your fault, but you're the one in the big chair and you're allowing it to continue. This department is done.
UPDATE: Tape exists. Supposedly, the Department found the video footage and is in the process of looking for any more, but (surprise!) not to support the officer. More worrying to the CPD exempts is the audio tape of a high ranking patrol division supervisor on scene "encouraging" the officer not to proceed with charges lest he lose his spot. That might cost someone big time.
UPDATE: From a firefighter on the scene:
- I'm a firefighter who was at this incident and can attest to the original posts accuracy. But it's even worse. After the incident with the police officer the CFD Captain in question advanced on a CFD Lieutenant, grabbed him by his floatation device and inches from his face screamed "Don't ever tell me to STFU! Your not a commander your a Lieutenat"! A blatent violation of our Physical Violance order #00-001.This was wittnessed by at least a dozen cops, another dozen firefighters of differant ranks and no less then 2 CFD battalion Chiefs. Battalion 3 and 515. There was also what appeared to be a news camera nearby. We returned to quarters expecting an order would soon come down to fill out Form #2's stating for the record what we wittnessed. The fact that this hasn't happened suggests that the highest levels of both our departments and the 5th floor are attempting to cover this up. This CFD Captain is not liked or respected by his peers. But he's obviously well connected. Please don't let this incident tarnish what I always believed was a good working relationship between our departments.