By ALFREDO ALVARADO
Imagine going home after a day's work saving lives, turning on the
evening news and finding out that you've been fired!
That's what happened to probationary Paramedic Keith Wilken on January
28, 2000. His partner, nine-year veteran Paramedic Douglas Vincent,
was suspended for 30 days. "Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen
actually went on television and said that we endangered a person's
life," said Mr. Vincent.
Their troubles began when the two members of Local 2507 responded
to an emergency 911 call from a Bronx woman with asthma.
According to Mr. Vincent, Paramedics from another shift had told him
that the emergency room at St. Barnabas Hospital was full and suggested
he go to nearby Jacobi Hospital. "The woman had an ID card from
Jacobi," he said. "She never said anything about not going
there."
But without getting employee statements from the Paramedics, Mr. Von
Essen accused Wilken and Vincent of steering patients away from St.
Barnabas. Supposedly, EMS workers were angry that St. Barnabas had
begun using a for-profit ambulance company.
"One would think that if you were going to deprive someone of
their livelihood, the first thing you'd do is to speak to them about
what happened," said Pat Bahnken, president of EMTs and Paramedics
Local 2507. "Instead, these brave members were sacrificed as
scapegoats on the political altar to draw attention away from the
privatization of the Fire Dept."
Wilken and Vincent were charged with violating the State Public Health
Law and other regulations. With the backing of Local 2507 President
Pat Bahnken and legal representation by DC 37 Assistant General Counsel
Leonard Polletta, the Paramedics fought to win back their jobs and
clear their reputations.
All charges withdrawn
After hearings in June and July at the New York State Dept. of Health,
which certifies Paramedics and EMTs, the state charges were dropped.
On June 17, the Fire Dept. withdrew all its charges surrounding the
incident and agreed to reimburse Mr. Vincent for the wages he lost
during his suspension.
"The facts simply did not substantiate the claims of the Fire
Department," said Mr. Polletta. "No charges should ever
have been filed."