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| Michelle Tuccitto, Register Staff | July 18, 2002 |
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| Emergency workers probed in alleged ambulance misuse | ||||||||
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| BRANFORD — Two members of the Branford Fire Department, each a paramedic and firefighter, are under investigation after allegedly taking a local ambulance to Seymour to respond to a family emergency. |
| Acting Fire Chief Jack Ahern said he has launched an investigation into the Sunday incident, which involved firefighter/paramedics Jason Karpovich and Timothy Judd. Frank Marcucio, executive director of the Seymour Ambulance Association, said he also has filed a complaint with the state Department of Public Health. Seymour emergency personnel responded to Karpovich's residence in Seymour because his young child was having a seizure, according to Marcucio. Marcucio said he arrived within six minutes, and the seizure was over and the child was awake and alert. "We notified our ambulance that it was a priority 2, so they wouldn't rush," Marcucio said. "The child wasn't seizing when I got there, and our treatment and response was appropriate. It was a case of a panicked father." Marcucio said Seymour emergency personnel notified Karpovich that they'd meet the family at the hospital. Instead, Marcucio alleges that the two Branford paramedics drove the ambulance to Seymour and met up with the Seymour ambulance on its way to the hospital. Ahern said Wednesday he has just started investigating the incident and hasn't had a chance to interview Karpovich, who has been out of work while his child undergoes medical testing to determine the cause of the problem. The Fire Department has three ambulances, said Ahern, and the paramedics' alleged actions would have left one less ambulance in town to cover local emergencies. Robert Massey Jr., chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, said ambulances are only allowed to go to other towns with permission from a supervisor or if they are dispatched to a specific out-of-town call. Most of the time, local ambulances respond to calls in town and transport people from Branford to area hospitals. Ahern, who took over as acting chief on Monday, said he needs to study the department rules which govern when and how staff may attend to family emergencies. He estimated that the administration's investigation will take about two weeks, then he'll determine if any disciplinary action is warranted. Both Judd and the Karpovich family declined to comment Wednesday. "I will back the decision and recommendation which Chief Ahern brings to the board," Massey said. Michael Purcaro, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health, said Wednesday the department has launched an investigation into a complaint against Branford's emergency medical service, but he declined to comment until the investigation is complete. Michelle Tuccitto can be reached at mtuccitto@nhregister.com or at 789-5615. |
| İNew Haven Register 2002 |