Video: N.Y. officer on desk duty after handcuffing EMT in hospital

By Leila Merrill

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester police officer is on administrative assignment after he was involved in an incident with a Monroe Ambulance employee, WHEC reported Thursday.

The investigator’s car was parked in the ambulance bay in front of the Strong Memorial Hospital emergency department when an EMT hit it as she opened her door to unload a patient.  

Sources told the news outlet that the investigator insisted on getting her identification, and she insisted on bringing the patient into the hospital first.

A video shows him handcuffing her inside the hospital and leading her to a police vehicle.

Monroe Ambulance issued a statement Friday stating that “while the incident is still under internal investigation, our review of the video footage of the event indicates the safety of both our employee and that of her patient were jeopardized by the action of the officer.  Our employee demonstrated sound decision making by prioritizing the care of her patient and it is the expectation of all our care providers to do the same. Furthermore, we do not believe the behavior of the officer aligns with the values of RPD leadership and should in no way condemn the rest of the brave brothers and sisters in blue.  We are eager to learn of the outcome of RPD’s official investigation.”