草莓影视

Trending Topics

Investigation of Chicago EMS chief asleep at the wheel highlights professional courtesies, shift work

An assistant deputy paramedic chief retired and an EMS captain was suspended after an investigation found falsified reports

US-NEWS-CHICAGO-FIRE-DEPARTMENT-REPORT-TB

The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department logos on the outside of Chicago Public Safety Headquarters in 2023.

Talia Sprague/Chicago Tribune/TNS

By Sam Charles
Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO 鈥 Several members of the Chicago Fire Department falsified reports and misled investigators after a high-ranking department member was found slumped over the steering wheel over a vehicle in 2022, according to a new report from the city鈥檚 Office of Inspector General.

In late May 2022, a civilian called 911 to report a motorist was asleep in a vehicle at a stoplight. The five responding CFD members found the unconscious driver to be an off-duty CFD assistant deputy paramedic chief, the report said.

Allegations of a coverup lead to disciplinary action within the fire department

Responding Chicago Police officers were waved off, and one of the CFD members, an EMS captain, drove the assistant deputy paramedic chief to a nearby firehouse, according to the office. The deputy chief then fell asleep for about 90 minutes, according to the OIG.

The deputy chief鈥檚 spouse also worked as a CFD deputy chief, and they were assigned to the firehouse where the recently discovered deputy chief was brought.

鈥淪everal CFD members stated that the assistant deputy chief paramedic fell asleep while driving because of a long work shift and was driven back as a 鈥榩rofessional courtesy鈥 shown toward certain employees; CFD members also acknowledged that CFD policy may not allow such 鈥榩rofessional courtesy,鈥欌 the report, released Wednesday, said.

OIG said it 鈥渞eceived information that the assistant deputy chief paramedic was intoxicated at the time of the incident,鈥 but 鈥渨as unable to determine whether the assistant deputy chief paramedic was in fact intoxicated or whether they had operated the vehicle in which they were found while intoxicated.鈥

The deputy chief retired amid the OIG investigation and CFD declined to refer them to the city鈥檚 鈥渋neligible for rehire鈥 list. The CFD captain who drove the deputy chief to the firehouse was suspended for six days, while the other CFD members on scene received reprimands, according to OIG.

The allegations were reminiscent of the treatment afforded to former CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson. In 2019, Johnson was found slumped over the wheel of his vehicle near his Bridgeport home. He was not subjected to field sobriety tests, and CPD officers escorted him home.

漏2025 Chicago Tribune.
Visit at .
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trending
Up to 10,000 employees face layoffs as part of a major overhaul led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., following President Trump鈥檚 move to end their collective bargaining rights
Thousands of first responders and survivors rely on the WTC Health Program to get treatment related to injuries and illnesses caused by the toxins at Ground Zero
Boston EMS reported that four people were transported to the hospital鈥攖wo of them in critical condition鈥攚hile two others received treatment at the scene
Firefighters, police officers and teachers will see higher Social Security payments starting in April after the repeal of WEP and GPO under the new Social Security Fairness Act