Austin FD lieutenant terminated

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AFD lieutenant terminated...

-Wes Ogilvie

Firefighter fired for delaying emergency response to get food

Actions showed 'shocking neglect of duty,' acting chief says.

By Tony Plohetski

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Acting Austin Fire Chief Jim has fired a firefighter who delayed the

response to a respiratory distress call for two minutes while he went to a

restaurant to get something to eat, according to a disciplinary memo.

The actions of Lt. Pooler demonstrated " a shocking neglect of duty, "

said in the memo.

" Immediate response to 911 calls is the very essence of what it means to be an

Austin firefighter. . . . Because of his selfish and highly unprofessional

actions, he has no right to remain an Austin firefighter, " the memo said.

Fire department spokeswoman DeCrane said paramedics from County

Emergency Medical Services reached the patient before firefighters and canceled

the firefighters' response.

The patient's condition is not known.

According to the three-page document, Pooler was assigned to the department's

Station 21 on Spicewood Springs Road in Northwest Austin when its crew was

dispatched to the Jan. 4 call.

Pooler, who was the on-duty supervisor, then walked away from the fire station

to place an order at an adjacent restaurant, the memo said.

wrote that for a person in respiratory distress, two minutes can mean the

difference between life and death or permanent brain injury.

Pooler could not immediately be reached for comment.

tplohetski@...; 445-3605