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Families testify against D.C. emergency response ‘blunders’

The hearing centered on the death of Cecil Mills, who died of cardiac arrest when firefighters at a station across the street refused to help him

USA Today

WASHINGTON — Almost a month ago, Medric Cecil Mills Jr. collapsed and died just feet away from a firehouse, while firefighters and other emergency responders failed to help.

On Monday afternoon, Mills’ family members met with District of Columbia lawmakers during a council committee hearing called to address a series of high-profile public safety failures by the city.

One after another, those whose loved ones died after similar circumstances spoke at the public hearing, including Medric Cecil Mills, III, who called the response by firefighters the day his father died “outrageous” and “indefensible.”

“What happened to my father is unacceptable on any level procedurally, morally or legally,” he said.

Read full story: Family calls D.C. emergency response ‘indefensible’