You're Under Arrest for Refusing to Move Your Fire Truck!!

[Joe Guy]

Police Officer Arrests Firefighter At Accident Scene In California

February 05, 2014 7:27 PM

How do we explain the arrest of a firefighter by a police officer at the scene of an accident — after an argument over where a fire truck should park? The authorities are still discussing the incident, which took place Tuesday night on California's I-805, where a car had rolled over at the center road barrier.

As San Diego's , an argument broke out between a California Highway Patrol officer and a firefighter from Chula Vista, as they clashed over where the Chula Vista crew's fire engine should be stationed. Firefighters had placed their vehicle along the center road divider, close to where a car had flipped over, and behind an ambulance. Emergency personnel tended to the car's two occupants as the conflict went on around them.

CBS 8's cameras captured the incident, which ended with the firefighter being handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser.

The firefighter, Jacob Gregoire, 36, was held in the police car for about 30 minutes before being released, CBS 8 says. The station posted video showing Gregoire talking to the news crew to be sure they knew what was taking place.

"Hey, I just want to let you know, he's arresting me for not moving the fire truck," Gregoire can be heard yelling.

And with that, he was handcuffed. Despite the unusual situation and the disagreement it followed, the firefighter and police officer aren't seen exhibiting much aggression toward one another in the video, which shows them talking as Gregoire is led away.

The fire department's chief tells CBS 8 that while the CHP would have jurisdiction over a scene on the interstate, it wasn't yet clear whether the police had claimed control when the dispute escalated. The fire truck was reportedly the first to arrive at the scene.

Members of the CHP and the Chula Vista fire department held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the conflict. A praises the fire department's members for not escalating the tension:

"In an emergency, the Chula Vista Fire Department is responsible for the safety and care of the injured victims and for the safety of the crew. Our goal at an emergency is to secure the scene and begin emergency care and transport victims to the hospital as soon as possible. Last night, there were two injured passengers our crew needed to reach and treat in a rollover vehicle accident on Interstate 805. One of our firefighters on the scene was detained by the California Highway Patrol. I am very proud of how Engineer Jacob Gregoire and the other firefighters on the scene handled the situation. While we work very well together with the CHP 99% of the time, we need to find out what happened last night and how we can improve training and communication to prevent something like this from happening in the future."

The CHP hasn't released a statement about the incident.

Video is included at the source

[Long Run]

I thought that police-fire conflict only happened in tv shows. Life imitating art?

[Big RR]

I'm a bit confused; there was an ambulance (presumably with trained paramedics) on the scene, although the news report says the firefighters were"treating" the injured. Is this common in California. I can see it if no ambulance were present, but when those personnel are on the scene, why would the firefighters even be involved?

[Joe Guy]

Usually the fire dept is the first to be on the scene. Some firefighters are trained paramedics. All are trained for emergency first aid. It's likely they were assisting the paramedics. They also could have been dealing with any potential fire hazards caused by the crash.

[Jarlaxle]

Could have been as simple as, "Dude, I need you to hold this IV bag!"

[rubato]

Boy they are STRICT about parking in San Diego!

[Joe Guy]

The CHP dude should never have done that. He is not the Firefighter's boss at an accident scene. I'd like to know the reason he wanted the truck moved.

[rubato]

The CHP dude should never have done that. He is not the Firefighter's boss at an accident scene. I'd like to know the reason he wanted the truck moved.

Aw shit, dude it was just a bad example of dick-waving gone wrong. I think it's pretty obvious. Bullshit petty authority goes to some people's heads.


yrs,
rubato

[Big RR]

The CHP dude should never have done that. He is not the Firefighter's boss at an accident scene. I'd like to know the reason he wanted the truck moved.

According to the article, it appears the CHP members are the "boss" at the accident scene. But the spokesman for the firefighters appears to think that they can't take charge unless they say some magic words to declare they're in charge.

[Rick]

Big RR

Magic words HAVE to be spoken as part of any incident chain of command.

As with many FDs paramedics are attached, if this is the case it would be a very rare instance that one vehicle would leave on it's own SOP. Especially since the "Jaws" would be on the pumper and not with the paramedics.

I think CHIPS just had a chip on his shoulder, what was he actually gonna do once the truck was moved? Why was he requesting it's removal? I'm the hog with the big nuts!!!

[MajGenl.Meade]

Fire truck? Wasn't that a character from "Robin Hood" read by Norm Crosby?


ETA: Stanley Unwin was my first thought but my second wasn't any better. Crosby was an exponent of malapropism when I really mean spoonerism. I should have said Archie Campbell .

[Gob]

Ouch!!!!

ETA for our American chums..

[Big RR]

Big RR

Magic words HAVE to be spoken as part of any incident chain of command.

As with many FDs paramedics are attached, if this is the case it would be a very rare instance that one vehicle would leave on it's own SOP. Especially since the "Jaws" would be on the pumper and not with the paramedics.

I think CHIPS just had a chip on his shoulder, what was he actually gonna do once the truck was moved? Why was he requesting it's removal? I'm the hog with the big nuts!!!

rick--I have no idea who had a chip on his shoulder, or who was right or wrong. From the story and attached videos, it appears that the paramedics were doing fine even after the firefighter was taken into custody (and FWIW, I was on two different first aid squads and we always had the jaws of life in the ambulance). It looks to me like the fire truck was parked against the median and the CHIPS officer aid to move it; why the firefighter refused (or just ignored him) is just a matter of speculation, but if it were there for any reason related to the rescue, I imagine the firefighter spokesman would have said so.

As for magic words, telling the firefighter to move the truck appears to be sufficient to show the police officer was claiming that right. If there was a reason for the truck to remain where it was, it's not apparent. But again, someone has to be in charge, and on the California freeway it appears to be the CHIPs officers.

[oldr_n_wsr]

It could be that the truck was being a crash barrier for the ambulance. Many times people just drive along and run into the back of cars/trucks/police cruisers/fire trucks when they are stopped on the side of the road.

Also, if a leak of fluids was present, the firetruck would be available for a washdown. And if one of those fluids happened to be gasoline, that truck really would be needed.

And when the ambulance finally left with the injured, better to keep the truck in that position until the towtruck came to take the car away.

I was a volly (engine company) and we always stayed on scene and were usually in a position between oncoming traffic and the disabled vehicle. We stayed there until the car was taken away. Usualy there is some kind of fluid left over when we would put "dry-up" on it then clean that up then wash down the road. Lot of slippery stuff comes out of a wrecked car.

[Big RR]

I agree oldr, there might have been many valid reasons why the truck was there, and many valid reasons for why it should have been moved; bt based on the account in the OP, we just don't know. I've known many cops to act like dictatorial jerks, and plenty of firefighters (volunteer and paid) to act like garden variety jerks, so I can't say who was right or wrong.

[oldr_n_wsr]

agreed.
Can't make a call on the few facts presented.