Three (3) Memphis firefighters Terminated re: Nicols case 1/30/23

Capttomo · Jan 30, 2023

Three Memphis Fire Department personnel fired for not providing aid to Tyre Nichols

The two emergency medical technicians and driver were initially called to provide medical aid for Nichols being pepper sprayed.

www.commercialappeal.com

CFDMarshal · Jan 30, 2023

The Lt cannot be the driver. In Memphis, the Lt is the company officer. She likely stayed with the rig as the chauffeur and firefighter left the rig to check the patient. I would really like to know why they didn't initiate care?

Capttomo · Jan 30, 2023

According to MFD official statement (below) the Engine boss, the Lieutenant never left the cab of the engine to be with her crew. Wow! Great leadership !

STATEMENT FROM FIRE CHIEF GINA SWEAT - City of Memphis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Qwanesha Ward Public Information Officer P: 901-636-5478 Email: MFDPIO@memphistn.gov January 30th, 2023 On January 7th, 2023, at 8:31 p.m., Memphis Fire Dispatch (MFD) received a call from the Memphis Police Department to respond to a person pepper sprayed at...

www.memphistn.gov

CFDMarshal · Jan 30, 2023

That clears it up! Chief Sweat is a good boss from what I've been told. sad all the way around

Capttomo · Jan 30, 2023

CFDMarshal said:
The Lt cannot be the driver. In Memphis, the Lt is the company officer. She likely stayed with the rig as the chauffeur and firefighter left the rig to check the patient. I would really like to know why they didn't initiate care?

It appears that it was a four person crew. The two jumpseat firefighters apparently went to the patient. The chauffeur stayed and rightly so stayed with the apparatus. The apparently lazy Lieutenant failed to be a leader and failed to leave the cab at all. Pulling up to the scene with all those cops present and a request for EMS, the company officer should at the bare minimum go with the crew to ensure their safety, watch their back, laision with PD, that’s what leaders do.

CFDMarshal · Jan 30, 2023

Capttomo said:
It appears that it was a four person crew. The two jumpseat firefighters apparently went to the patient. The chauffeur stayed and rightly so stayed with the apparatus. The apparently lazy Lieutenant failed to be a leader and failed to leave the cab at all. Pulling up to the scene with all those cops present and a request for EMS, the company officer should at the bare minimum go with the crew to ensure their safety, watch their back, laision with PD, that’s what leaders do.

That was exactly my thought regarding the company officer.

mack · Jan 31, 2023

Seems like MFD dispatch system did not work well.

8:31 MPD call for medical assistance (for a pepper spray victim)
8:32 E 55 dispatched
8:41 E 55 at incident scene (after discussion and redirect from MPD)
8:46 EMS unit dispatched
8:55 EMS unit arrived

In addition to alleged duty failures, why did it take 15 minutes for an EMS unit (BLS or ALS?) to be dispatched, arriving 24 minutes after initial request from police? Seems like there should have been more medical assets for treatment and transport.

mack · Jan 31, 2023

Capttomo said:
According to MFD official statement (below) the Engine boss, the Lieutenant never left the cab of the engine to be with her crew. Wow! Great leadership !

STATEMENT FROM FIRE CHIEF GINA SWEAT - City of Memphis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Qwanesha Ward Public Information Officer P: 901-636-5478 Email: MFDPIO@memphistn.gov January 30th, 2023 On January 7th, 2023, at 8:31 p.m., Memphis Fire Dispatch (MFD) received a call from the Memphis Police Department to respond to a person pepper sprayed at...

www.memphistn.gov

Basic leadership principle - "You can't lead from the rear."

entropychaser · Jan 31, 2023

MFD dispatch probably working as designed.

1) MFD may have an EMS dispatch protocol that sends an engine to a call where transport is not expected.
example: patient fell out of bed; patient pepper sprayed by police and in custody

2) As a fallback step during peak demand and/or where an available ambulance is a long distance away,

At 1309 hours CST Houston FD Engines 46 and 27, Ladder 75 on EMS events by themselves.

mack · Jan 31, 2023

MFD dispatched only one BLS engine crew with limited EMS capability and no transport capability to a very serious incident. The dispatch system for this incident, did not work - either per design or not per design.

Dispatch systems typically sort out if an incident is BLS or ALS, but cannot determine in advance if transport is "expected" or "not expected" - whatever that means. A fall out of bed, or any fall, can be ALS or BLS. Same with taser or pepper spray - ALS or BLS. Additional injuries to suspect and POs, requiring assessment, treatment and possible transport should have been part of dispatching decision process. This was a very serious incident - more than a BLS engine company's capability.

DaveReinstein · Jan 31, 2023

This entire situation from Pd to FD is a complete mess

Capttomo · Jan 31, 2023

Actually, the entire city government in Memphis is a mess.

mack · Feb 1, 2023

‘Remember what you witnessed’: Memphis is a wake-up call for the entire fire service

I know Memphis Fire, and while the inactions of three members should not reflect on the entire FD, we must learn from these fatal errors