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2 Ohio firefighters suspended for using dept. vehicle as ‘party bus’

The firefighters used the life squad to take nurses from their firehouse to a Christmas party

By EMS1 Staff

TOLDEO, Ohio — Two Ohio firefighters have been suspended after they allegedly used a life squad as a party bus.

The firefighters were suspended in late February for reportedly using the life squad in January to take three nurses from a firehouse to a Christmas party at a pub, according to the Toledo Blade.

Firefighters Joseph Zuber and Brandon Walton were on duty at the time. Firefighter Zuber was suspended for 16 hours for conduct unbecoming of a firefighter and transporting a civilian in an emergency vehicle without permission while Firefighter Walton was suspended for eight hours for the transportation charge.

Both firefighters allowed the nurses to pose for pictures in the fire truck and one nurse slid down the station’s fire pole, Fire Chief Luis Santiago said.

“Transporting civilians to and from a bar is unacceptable,” a departmental document reads. “Your conduct was far below the standard expected of a Toledo firefighter and has caused great embarrassment to the department.”

Firefighters Zuber and Walton both originally had 48 and 24 hour suspensions respectively, but had them reduced as Chief Santiago said they were upfront with what they did and had no prior incidents.