GLENDALE, Ariz. — An internal investigation determined a pair of firefighters used excessive force and violated city and department policies when they punched and cursed at a patient during a medical call in October.
The report, compiled by city officials, did not propose any penalties for a decade-long captain with the Glendale Fire Department and a firefighter who was an acting captain during the Oct. 26 incident.
They were both placed on administrative leave and then reassigned to different divisions after the incident.
The viral YouTube video of the incident showed two firefighters cursing at a man strapped to a gurney that had overturned and was on the ground. The patient, 30-year-old James Murillo, was being wheeled from his home on a gurney when he “threw a back-handed punch and ‘cold-cocked,’” according to one of the firefighters.
Murillo admitted that he was looking for a fight and wanted to harm the firefighters so they wouldn’t take him to the hospital, AZ Family reported. However, city officials concluded the firefighters’ response violated policies including workplace harassment, employee conduct and the fire department’s general orders.
Glendale Fire Chief Mark Burdick said he could not comment on the findings because the disciplinary process is ongoing, according to the report.
“Every firefighter and paramedic in Glendale is looking forward to getting back to what we do so well, and that is serving the residents of Glendale and keeping them safe,” said Joe Hester, president of the Glendale Fire Fighters.
The investigation determined that other two crew members did not violate city or fire department policy. They also spent time on leave before being reassigned.