Posted on 02/05/2014 10:49:54 AM PST by South40
CHULA VISTA — A Highway Patrol officer handcuffed and briefly detained a firefighter in a disagreement over a fire engine being in a freeway traffic lane after an accident Tuesday night.
Top officers from the Chula Vista and San Diego fire departments are meeting with a counterpart from the the Highway Patrol today to determine just what led the officer to take such an unusual step.
“We’ll try to come to an understanding of what happened,” Chula Vista fire Chief Dave Henneman said.
The fire crews were helping victims from a crash on southbound I-805 between Telegraph Canyon Road and East Naples Drive, officials said. A sedan overturned about 9:20 p.m. and a second vehicle was reported down an embankment.
Henneman said the firefighters positioned a fire engine behind the ambulance to protect the people as they were being loaded inside.
"Our firefighters are trained to use the engine to protect the scene," Henneman said. He also said, "Our No. 1 priority is the safety of our firefighters and patients.”
When the CHP officer told the firefighter to move the engine, the firefighter said he would have to check with his captain, Henneman said.
“We work on a chain of command,” the chief said. “The officer said, ‘No, you need to move now or you’ll be arrested.’ ”
A CBS8 news video shows the firefighter jumping over a low concrete freeway divider, putting his hands behind his back and being cuffed. The CHP officer led him to a patrol car, put him in the back seat and detained him there for several minutes.
After supervisors from both agencies were called in, the firefighter was released, Henneman said.
The dispute raises the question of who has greater authority to control an emergency scene along a freeway — the CHP or fire personnel.
Henneman said the CHP also ordered a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department engine crew to leave the crash site, so San Diego Fire Chief Javier Mainar also joined the Wednesday morning meeting with the CHP at Chula Vista fire headquarters.
CHP Officer Jake Sanchez, a spokesman for the agency, said he was still gathering information about the incident and had no comment. He said he believed acting Cmdr. Karyn Mentink would be attending the meeting.
“Right now, everything is under review,” Sanchez said.
Henneman said he didn’t know of any similar incidents like this between fire and CHP personnel in San Diego County, but that he had heard of some disputes elsewhere in the state.
“I know clearing the freeway is a priority for the CHP,” Henneman said. “(But) we’re all there to help people."
Two of the crash victims were first reported as being critically injured. Only one was taken to a hospital.
The Highway Patrol's website noted at 9:41 p.m. that a fire unit was parallel parking in the left lane. A few minutes later there was a note that fire units were blocking the left two lanes. All lanes were reported open by 10:32 p.m.
The fireman should have turned on the police officer!
This isn't "law enforcement." Germany of the late 30's and early 40's had a term for it -- Gestapo.
Meant turn the firehose on the police officer....
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