WOODRIDGE, N.Y. — Members of a volunteer EMS agency were illegally ticketed while responding to an emergency call, it’s been claimed.
Police Chief John Calvello cited two Catskills Hatzolah EMS members for “unlawful use of red lights” despite state law, according to the Yeshiva World.
Members of the group were responding to the scene of a diabetic who had passed out in front of a municipal building.
Calvello allegedly told the members while he knew they were legally allowed to use red lights when responding, he was forced to write the tickets by Isaac Kantrowitz, a village trustee who is also one of the town’s police commissioners.
Eyewitnesses allege that Kantrowitz was on the scene “screaming in a highly unprofessional manner” to have them all ticketed, according to the report.
Hatzolah is a volunteer EMS organization serving mostly Jewish communities around the world. New York state law authorizes the use of “colored and flashing lights” on authorized emergency vehicles.
The incident has angered Hatzolah coordinators following years of cooperation between all emergency personnel.
“We stand behind our members 100 percent, as they did nothing wrong. They were dispatched to a serious emergency in front of the municipal building, and we are surprised at the actions of the police,” Rabbi David Cohen, the CEO of Chevra Hatzolah, told the newspaper.
“It should be noted that Hatzolah members are authorized by law to utilize red lights and sirens while responding to emergencies, and we will do everything in our legal power to ensure that the law is respected by the Woodridge Police department.”