Video: Civilian fire chief caught drinking on duty
A Los Angeles reporter used a hidden camera to catch a chief having beer on his lunch break
By EMS1 Staff
LOS ANGELES — An LA investigative reporter using a hidden camera caught a LA County Fire assistant fire chief drinking while he was on the clock. The chief is a civilian employee.
CBSLA reporter David Goldstein captured Information Technology Manager Vic Mesrobian drinking a beer while he was on duty during his lunch break.
Asst. Chief Mesrobian has been with LA County Fire for 29 years.
Goldstein alleges that he watched Asst. Chief Mesrobian drink for more than an hour and confronted him after he left the restaurant.
"You had two beers didn’t you? And then you’re driving the county car? Is that the responsible thing to do?” Goldstein asked. "What do you say to taxpayers who are paying your salary? And you’re going out and doing this at lunch?”
Asst. Chief Mesrobian only said that he "had nothing to say" about the matter.
Goldestein said that it is against LA County Fire policy for any employee to drink while on duty.
County Fire says Asst. Chief Mesrobian is now under internal investigation.
