PENSACOLA, Fla. — County officials announced the firing of three EMTs for alleged inappropriate behavior while on duty.
Five Okaloosa County EMS employees were under internal and criminal investigation for unspecified behaviors, reported WEAR TV.
The terminations were announced on Monday by John Hofstad, County Administrator.
“They were terminated with cause,” Hofstad said. “I think it’s fair to say it was a violation of policy.”
A fourth EMT resigned and the county ended its relationship with the fifth EMT, who was a relief EMT.
“We sent a letter to the relief employee stating their services would no longer be needed,” Hofstad said.
Okaloosa County hasn’t released the names of the employees, due to the ongoing criminal investigation. The inappropriate activities under investigation were brought to the county’s attention “through the self-policing efforts of individuals that work within the EMS division.”
Hofstad said the potential criminal charges pertain to a single individual and the activity being investigated seems to be isolated to a group of employees.
The investigation has affected morale within the division and Hofstad expects the results of the investigation to lead to policy changes.
“Any time you have issues of inappropriate behavior, it prompts us to look at policies and procedures,” Hofstad said.