DETROIT — Less than a week after the story of a Detroit paramedic being punished for giving an elderly man a city-owned blanket went viral, the city officials are now saying the entire story is untrue.
FOX 2 reporter Charlie LeDuff broke the story of paramedic Jeff Gaglio giving an elderly man a blanket at a house fire last week.
The man was disabled and wearing very little clothes after being evacuated from his burning home.
Detroit EMS Chief Jerald James reportedly said at the time that Gaglio was facing departmental punishments because he gave away city property without prior permission.
However, a statement from City Hall released Monday said the entire story is “blatantly false” and was “totally blown out of proportion because the reporter took portions of his interview with Detroit EMS Chief Jerald James out of context.”
The statement, which cites Detroit Fire Commissioner Don Austin, said that Gaglio was asked to write a report after he was found to have a missing blanket from his ambulance. This is standard procedure, according to Commissioner Austin.
Commissioner Austin also said that there are no plans to suspend Gaglio and that he will be meeting with his union representative to address work performance issues unrelated to the blanket incident.
The full statement:
“A recent Fox2 Detroit report that a Detroit paramedic, Jeff Gaglio, was suspended for giving an elderly fire victim a blanket is blatantly false, Detroit Fire Commissioner Don Austin said today.
“This story was totally blown out of proportion because the reporter took portions of his interview with Detroit EMS Chief Jerald James out of context,” Commissioner Austin said.
When a Detroit EMS crew reported one blanket missing from an ambulance during a routine equipment check, Mr. Gaglio was identified as giving the blanket to a fire victim. EMS officials encourage staff paramedics to provide blankets, medical aid and comfort to emergency victims as needed. However, Mr. Gaglio expressed resentment over being asked to write a report on his action, although that is standard procedure. The only reprimand Mr. Gaglio has received involves his failure to inform his supervisor after the fact.
Jeff Gaglio has been ordered to attend an administrative hearing with his union representative to address work performance issues that are totally unrelated to giving a blanket to an elderly man. Mr. Gaglio has not been suspended, and at this time, there are no plans to suspend him.”