firemedicmatt
12-11-08, 10:25
Goldstein: Firehouse Sounds More Like Animal House
Reporting
David Goldstein LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― You won't continue this interview?
"There's nothing else to say, David. I've covered the issues."
LA County Fire Chief Michael Freeman abruptly ended our interview...
After we uncovered an 85-page confidential investigation -- detailing serious abuses at one of his firehouses -- including firefighters accused of lighting fires.
The chief refused to say what action he's taken.
You won't tell the taxpayers if anyone was disciplined? Anyone fired? Don't you think you have a right to tell the taxpayers?
But this veteran firefighter -- who would only talk if we concealed his identity for fear of retaliation -- says the findings are a black eye.
"I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed that these things were allowed to go on. I'm embarrassed that it is my fire department."
The abuses occured at LA County Fire Station 170 in Inglewood in 2005 and 2006.
According to the confidential investigation which was conducted by an outside firm, firefighters lit the station's recreation room on fire.
They also set fire to the station's bathroom...torched several abandoned vehicles...set a Christmas tree on fire. Even had food fights -- alcohol in the station. And women late at night.
"I've never seen a fire station this out-of-control in my 20-something years on the job."
The veteran firefighter was called to help put out the fire in the recreation room.
"I saw smoke coming out of the front of the station."
Heavy smoke?
"Heavy smoke. Which would represent some kind of combustible material on fire."
The investigation determined the ceiling and light fixture in the recreation room was damaged. Taxpayer money. And it was painted over in an effort to conceal the evidence.
Are there pranks at firestations?
"Certainly there are pranks at the fire stations, but what went on at FS 170 was totally beyond the realm of what is reasonable."
What's even more startling is that the investigators found some of these things went on for more than a year. Without anyone ever reporting it. Until one of the captains finally blew the whistle.
"Per our department policies, I can't make any comments."
Captain Thomas Encinas won't talk about it now, but he wrote this memo to Chief Freeman in October 2006 -- outlining violations of department policy.
But instead of being hailed the hero, Encinas claims a lawsuit against the county -- he faced retaliation and intimidation.
The word "rat" was drawn on these photos of firefighters allegedly cooperating in the investigation. And displayed at the station. And Encinas's attorney says his client's 20-year career at LA County Fire is now facing a dead end.
"We've alleged there's something called the Code of Silence in the department. It's a little like the Vegas thing. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
And his career is ruined -- his reputation ruined because he broke the Code of Silence.
But what happened to the firefighters named in the report? Those who lit fires? First of all, the requested requested the report sealed because of Encina's lawsuit. No one can talk about it.
(NAT SOT)
Including the chief who did, at first, agree to sit down for an interview.
He admitted he's troubled by what went on at the fire station.
"Anytime that I'm aware of any activity that's a violation of our rules and regulations that does trouble me."
But he refused to say what happened to those firefighters named in the report.
"Based on the conclusions of that report, we took appropriate action."
What action?
"Appropriate action."
What's appropriate? Give me a number. How many firefighters were disciplined or fired?
"A handful of firefighters were disciplined."
A handful doesn't tell me anything. Give me a number. Don't you think the taxpayers deserve to know how many?
He said he couldn't do it.
You won't continue the interview?
At that point, the interview was over.
A few days later, the chief called and admitted the interview didn't go well. He asked for another interview and we agreed to conduct one in the future.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Reporting
David Goldstein LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― You won't continue this interview?
"There's nothing else to say, David. I've covered the issues."
LA County Fire Chief Michael Freeman abruptly ended our interview...
After we uncovered an 85-page confidential investigation -- detailing serious abuses at one of his firehouses -- including firefighters accused of lighting fires.
The chief refused to say what action he's taken.
You won't tell the taxpayers if anyone was disciplined? Anyone fired? Don't you think you have a right to tell the taxpayers?
But this veteran firefighter -- who would only talk if we concealed his identity for fear of retaliation -- says the findings are a black eye.
"I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed that these things were allowed to go on. I'm embarrassed that it is my fire department."
The abuses occured at LA County Fire Station 170 in Inglewood in 2005 and 2006.
According to the confidential investigation which was conducted by an outside firm, firefighters lit the station's recreation room on fire.
They also set fire to the station's bathroom...torched several abandoned vehicles...set a Christmas tree on fire. Even had food fights -- alcohol in the station. And women late at night.
"I've never seen a fire station this out-of-control in my 20-something years on the job."
The veteran firefighter was called to help put out the fire in the recreation room.
"I saw smoke coming out of the front of the station."
Heavy smoke?
"Heavy smoke. Which would represent some kind of combustible material on fire."
The investigation determined the ceiling and light fixture in the recreation room was damaged. Taxpayer money. And it was painted over in an effort to conceal the evidence.
Are there pranks at firestations?
"Certainly there are pranks at the fire stations, but what went on at FS 170 was totally beyond the realm of what is reasonable."
What's even more startling is that the investigators found some of these things went on for more than a year. Without anyone ever reporting it. Until one of the captains finally blew the whistle.
"Per our department policies, I can't make any comments."
Captain Thomas Encinas won't talk about it now, but he wrote this memo to Chief Freeman in October 2006 -- outlining violations of department policy.
But instead of being hailed the hero, Encinas claims a lawsuit against the county -- he faced retaliation and intimidation.
The word "rat" was drawn on these photos of firefighters allegedly cooperating in the investigation. And displayed at the station. And Encinas's attorney says his client's 20-year career at LA County Fire is now facing a dead end.
"We've alleged there's something called the Code of Silence in the department. It's a little like the Vegas thing. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
And his career is ruined -- his reputation ruined because he broke the Code of Silence.
But what happened to the firefighters named in the report? Those who lit fires? First of all, the requested requested the report sealed because of Encina's lawsuit. No one can talk about it.
(NAT SOT)
Including the chief who did, at first, agree to sit down for an interview.
He admitted he's troubled by what went on at the fire station.
"Anytime that I'm aware of any activity that's a violation of our rules and regulations that does trouble me."
But he refused to say what happened to those firefighters named in the report.
"Based on the conclusions of that report, we took appropriate action."
What action?
"Appropriate action."
What's appropriate? Give me a number. How many firefighters were disciplined or fired?
"A handful of firefighters were disciplined."
A handful doesn't tell me anything. Give me a number. Don't you think the taxpayers deserve to know how many?
He said he couldn't do it.
You won't continue the interview?
At that point, the interview was over.
A few days later, the chief called and admitted the interview didn't go well. He asked for another interview and we agreed to conduct one in the future.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)