By Damien Fisher
Sentinel & Enterprise
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All Rights Reserved

LEOMINSTER, Mass. — Fire Chief Ronald Pierce says a city firefighter has been suspended while officials look into a complaint that he assaulted a patient while on an ambulance call.

"It's all under investigation right now," Pierce said. "I really don't know where this is going," he added.

Mayor Dean Mazzarella said the human resources department and Pierce are handling the investigation. They will report their findings to Mazzarella once the investigation is finished, he said.

"All I really know at this point is there was a complaint made and an investigation began," Mazzarella said.

The investigation is expected to be completed today, Pierce said.

The accusations surfaced a few days ago, Mazzarella said. Pierce is not releasing any details about the accusations or the identity of the suspended firefighter.

"That's out of respect for everyone involved," Pierce said.

There are approximately 80 firefighters on the department and all of them are trained as emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, according to the department's Web site.

The department typically runs one ambulance truck manned by two firefighters and the department serves as the first responders for medical emergencies.