Fireman made fake 911 call

[VentMedic]

Florida has had more than its share of idiots making the news.

http://www.keysnews.com/333066563140311.bsp.htm

Report: Fireman made fake 911 call

BY ADAM LINHARDT

Citizen Staff

A Monroe County firefighter was placed on paid leave Friday while officials investigate whether he made a false 911 call to cover the fact he was arriving to work late.

Fire Rescue Chief James Callahan on Tuesday said county officials will review whether Gabe Pacheco should be disciplined internally or charged criminally after he allegedly made a 911 call around 8 a.m. July 14.

The caller said a person at the Key Haven boat ramp had a broken leg and needed medical assistance, according to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office report. Responding firefighters from Station 8 on Stock Island, including Lt. Andy McBroom, found no one needing emergency medical help at the ramp, reports say.

According to the report, McBroom told deputies that Pacheco has a history of being late for shift changes. McBroom decided to check with the Sheriff's Office dispatch to determine what number was used to make the call, reports say. McBroom told deputies the number came back as Pacheco's cell phone number, reports say. A deputy found the same number on the station commander's call-out sheet, reports say.

When a deputy asked Pacheco if he knew anything about the call, Pacheco allegedly admitted to making the false 911 call to cover the fact he was late for shift change, reports say. Pacheco declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday.

"Right now, Pacheco is on paid administrative leave and we sent the Sheriff's Office report to Human Resources," Callahan said. "We're moving forward with a disciplinary hearing and we'll see where it goes from there. This is very serious charge. Calling a false alarm, as far as I'm concerned, there is no excuse for that."

Pacheco has not been charged with a crime, said Sheriff Rick Roth.

"We're waiting for the chief to tell us if he wants to go criminally or handle it administratively — discipline him internally if that's what they decide needs to be done," Roth said.

"Things are at the county level because we don't want to violate any of his rights and that's very important," Callahan said. "To my knowledge, this is the only instance."

Pacheco will be on leave until the Human Resources Department has made a determination, Callahan said.

"He made a very bad judgment call and he's been very remorseful and admitted he screwed up," Callahan said. "It's a tough situation giving advice to a young man, because of the severity of the offense. We can't have firefighters making false calls, endangering other firefighters' lives and [those of] potential citizens who may have needed help at the time."

[letmesleep]

IDIOT!!!!!!

[Laura Anne]

Wow, not too bright. :shock:

This situation makes me wary of his skills; if he's willing to do something so reckless to cover his lack of promptness at work, then it makes you wonder what else he covers up by making such poor choices.

The other thing that bothers me about this is the fact that he is going to be punished for making the false call and how the Chief commented on that 'there is no excuse for that', 'this is a very serious charge'. We all have dealt with people in the public who have made false calls, so why can't we charge them with the same degree of severity that this individual is going to get?

[Just Plain Ruff]

the reason is that many citizens are not smart enough to know what a false call is versus one that has merit.

This MORON does.

Fire him and give the job to someone who wants to work and be on time.

It's more serious when a fireman or emt or medic does it because we are supposed to know better.

But please, this idiot uses his own phone to call it in? Damn, even I know not to do that. Find a freaking payphone if you are going to do this. he'd have never gotten caught if he didn't use his personal cell phone.

He will make some village really happy.

[Richard B the EMT]

He will make some village really happy.

Is that the village that called to ask if we knew where their missing idiot was?

[firedoc5]

Criminal charges should be made. They would if it was a civilian. Pretty stupid reason for doing it too. For one, don't be late. Second, if you are then call and tell them about it. And don't make a habit of it.

At least he wasn't doing it for kicks & giggles, or to be a first on the scene "hero".

[Richard B the EMT]

Munchausan's syndrome (spelling?), where a fire fighter actually sets a fire, so his department can respond and put the fire out?

Over the years, I have heard many versions of that one.