Duty Death: Joseph Deltergo - [West Palm Beach]
End of Service: 12/07/2021
By Jessie Forand
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Florida firefighter-paramedic with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue died by suicide while on duty Monday.
Firefighter-Paramedic Joseph “Joey” Deltergo, 45, served for 16 years with the PBCFR.
A source from the PBCFR shared a message sent department-wide after the incident: “The Department activated the Incident Command Team and was on-site at both the station and the hospital. PBCFR and Local 2928 are working diligently to provide emotional and logistical support to help everyone during this difficult time. ... The IAFF Peer Support Teams will be arriving on Wednesday, July 14th, to visit all fire stations on all three shifts, including the Alarm Office, starting on July 15th. In the meantime, PBCFR and Local 2928 have activated EAP, the Chaplaincy, and our local peer support members to assist our personnel in this challenging time. The Department established a HOTLINE, 561-233-2006, which will be staffed by Local 2928 to answer questions and provide support.”
In a Facebook post, the South Florida Corps wrote, “We send our condolences to the family, friends, his crew mates at station 26, and the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue for the untimely loss of Firefighter/Paramedic Joseph “Joey” Deltergo. Please reach out if you see someone struggling and get them help and please if you are struggling, reach out and get the help you need,” the post continued. “We lose too many first responders and those in the military needlessly. It’s ok to not be ok, but let’s do something about the wounds people are suffering through that we can’t see from the outside.”
Suicide is preventable, and if you are feeling suicidal, you must get help. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately 1-800-273-8255. Or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org to chat with a counselor.