The suspension of a New York fire chief caught on video cursing at a 10-year-old patient has divided EMS1 readers. Some demanded immediate termination, calling the chief’s behavior “absolutely disgraceful” and a breach of community trust. Others turned their criticism toward fellow responders on scene, asking why no one intervened. A smaller but vocal group defended the chief, suggesting the incident was overblown and reflective of the pressures responders face.
| MORE: Fire chief on leave after video shows him cursing at patient
Abigail Tucker, PsyD, ABPP, a licensed psychologist and cofounder of Heroes Active Bystandership Trainer for Emergency Responders, emphasized the broader lesson: “A duty to intervene is a rule; active bystandership is a skill — and skills save lives.”
“First responders are human,” Dr. Tucker noted, “but the trust we hold demands we rise to a higher standard.”
Calls for discipline: ‘No room for this behavior’
Many EMS1 readers said the chief’s conduct was unacceptable under any circumstance. They argued there should be no investigation or suspension period — only termination or demotion, with some calling the incident a form of child abuse.
“He needs to be fired. There is nothing to investigate. If he would talk to a young child like that in public with so many onlookers, he should never be trusted to be alone with any child. That was child abuse from someone who is employed to provide professional service for the community.”
“He should be fired. There is no room for a first responder to act or talk to any member of the public, especially a minor. If you can’t do your job respectfully, then quit and get the hell out. Very disgusting behavior.”
“He should be demoted and forced to take classes on how to talk to people in general.”
“Suspended??? You’re a whole grown man cursing at a child that way; you should be stripped of your duties permanently. A restraining order to keep you away from all children. You have no shame at all.”
“Absolutely disgraceful. At the very least, this person should be demoted to the lowest level of service. Additionally, he should be required to undergo psychiatric evaluations as a condition of his continued association with the department. In my 34 years of service, I never witnessed anyone address a patient in this manner.”
The bystander problem: ‘Not one intervention’
Beyond the chief’s language, several readers pointed to the silence of the other responders on scene. Commenters questioned why no one stepped in, highlighting what they saw as a deeper cultural problem: bystanders failing to intervene when a colleague crosses the line.
“Absolutely disgusting! All those men should be fired!!! How dare you treat anyone, at the very least a 10-year-old girl and we heard him use the N word towards her at the end! Fire every single person involved.”
“About to start another TikTok to raise awareness to those men who stood there silent while he cursed out a little 10-year-old ... not one intervention .. not one! You know what that says? It happens often! He just got caught this time ... but none of them were surprised.”
“All those other first responders, the cops, EMTs, FFs ... not one of them said a word. They just stood there … and didn’t do or say a thing in protest. They should all be suspended for just as long as it takes to fire them. As for that chief, he should be in jail, where all child abusers belong ...”
Defending the chief: ‘Get over this’
Not all readers condemned the chief. A few defended his actions, suggesting the child’s behavior or the nature of the call contributed to the outburst. They argued that frustration and harsh words, while unprofessional, did not warrant such strong public reaction.
“People are way too disproportionately angry at this … Was he wrong? Yeah. Clearly the kid is uncontrollable if mom needed to call 911. Kid acting like this over a phone? There every week? There’s a bigger issue at hand. He didn’t physically assault the kid. Everyone needs to get over this and stop acting like they’re perfect and never lashed out on someone.”
“I did not see anything about the nature of the emergency? Was it medical? Trauma? Fire related? Hazardous condition? Please tell me it was not an emergency because a 10-year-old lost her cell phone. If that was it — how about a violation for falsely reporting an incident? There was a callout the other night 11:40 PM for a 12 y/o fell and a leg injury. Parents/guardian wanted an EMS evaluation assessment. Translation: they did not want to get out and take the child to the ER 12 miles away. Instead, they wanted to get as many volunteer first responders out that would come and also divert a paid ambulance crew from any other true emergency calls that might come in. The chief was upset because he was doing the work civil/government authorities should handle. A violation for a false call.”
“I’m willing to bet this patient, underage or not, was being a pain in the a**.”
“Until you have been put in a position of constant negativity from unruly and combative patients, you never understand the pressure our first responders face every day.
It wasn’t physical, it was verbal and sometimes strong words are used to get someone’s attention ... In my much younger days, a slap across the face was a good attention-getter and helped settled thing down so you could attend to important duties. Respect and obedience aren’t taught at home much anymore, there is too much unruliness shown on TV that gives people the idea they can just act out what ever way they want. There comes a time through all this misguided nonsense when people are faced with having to get their acts together and be civil.”
