By Alexi Howk
Sun-Sentinel
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A St. Lucie County firefighter who trains cadaver dogs is under investigation for allegedly taking a man’s severed foot from the scene of a traffic accident, Fire Chief Ron Parrish announced Thursday.
Parrish said the incident calls into question “the public’s trust in our responsibility and commitment to provide emergency care to our citizens. It’s an extremely serious matter and one I find personally disturbing.”
Parrish said he would not answer questions until the investigation is complete. Both the fire department and the Florida Highway Patrol are investigating.
Officials would not release the name of the firefighter, a woman, who also is a trained paramedic. They did say she is not a rookie and remains on the job during the investigation.
“It may reach the magnitude of a criminal matter. In 27 years, this is the first time I have ever heard of these accusations. It’s highly unusual,” FHP spokesman Lt. Tim Frith said.
The accident victim, Karl Lambert, 46, of Melbourne, was at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
“I am in excruciating pain right now,” he said by phone from his hospital room. “I have a long road to recovery.”
Lambert referred questions to the West Palm Beach law firm of Raymond Christian. A paralegal at Christian’s office said the lawyer was not available to comment.
Fire District spokeswoman Catherine Chaney said the firefighter trains cadaver dogs, which are used to follow the scent of decomposing human flesh. Asked if the firefighter might have used the foot to train cadaver dogs, Chaney said, “What she was going to use this specific foot for, I can’t confirm.”
It’s the Fire District’s policy to take a severed body part with the patient to the hospital if there is any chance of reattachment, or the body part goes to the medical examiner’s office, Chaney said.
“It’s not normal for remains or pieces or parts to be removed from an accident scene other than by the appropriate authority,” Fire District Deputy Chief Buddy Emerson said.
An FHP investigator took the foot to the hospital Wednesday afternoon, Frith said. He did not know who gave the foot to the investigator or where it had been kept until Wednesday.
The crash happened last Friday on southbound Interstate 95 near the Tradition exit in Port St. Lucie. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Lambert’s truck veered onto the emergency lane and when he overcorrected to get back on the road, he hit a pickup. Lambert hit a tree, and the crash severed a foot. He was flown by trauma helicopter to the hospital.
Officials said they learned of the incident after rumors from other firefighters talking about the incident echoed up through the chain of command.