A Rochester, New York, police officer roughed up an EMT who was in an ambulance bay with a patient, cuffed her, and dragged her away after she allegedly dinged his car while opening the ambulance door.
According to CBS reporter Jennifer Lewke, an investigator with the Rochester Police Department parked his car in the ambulance bay of Strong Memorial Hospital on July 11. He arrested an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) after she reportedly opened the door of the ambulance to unload a patient for treatment at the hospital and inadvertently hit his personal vehicle with it.
“A @RochesterNYPD investigator parked his car in the ambulance bay at Strong, an EMT from @MonroeAmbNY hit the door while unloading a patient,” Lewke tweeted.
She then shared a video of the officer aggressively approaching the EMT at the hospital. “The investigator insisted on ID, the EMT insisted on bringing the patient inside. This is exclusive video of what happened next.”
A @RochesterNYPD investigator parked his car in the ambulance bay at Strong, an EMT from @MonroeAmbNY hit the door while unloading a patient.
The investigator insisted on ID, the EMT insisted on bringing the patient inside. This is exclusive video of what happened next ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2gPVvrokRF— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) July 15, 2022
The video disturbingly shows the officer yanking the EMT around and slamming her against a desk. He then proceeded to cuff her and dragged the EMT out of the bay. It certainly appeared to many to be excessive force and unwarranted in the first place.
Lewke reported that the EMT was released after a supervisor came to the police department to address the incident. The officer who arrested the EMT is now on desk duty pending an internal investigation into the matter.
“Regarding the video in prior tweets: The officer has been placed on desk duty while RPD conducts an internal investigation. The EMT was released from the handcuffs when a supervisor arrived and was not charged or ticketed,” she tweeted.
Regarding the video in prior tweets: The officer has been placed on desk duty while RPD conducts an internal investigation. The EMT was released from the handcuffs when a supervisor arrived and was not charged or ticketed.
— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) July 15, 2022
Rochester Police Chief David M. Smith released a statement addressing the incident.
“I have high expectations for all members of the Rochester Police Department. Obviously, this incident is deeply concerning to me. As a result of this interaction at Strong Hospital, I have directed our Professional Standards Section to initiate an internal investigation,” he said in his statement.
The police chief confirmed that the officer was reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of that investigation.
“As chief, I demand the members of the Rochester Police Department perform their duties in a professional manner. And as such, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard of accountability,” Smith proclaimed.
Updated statement from the @RochesterNYPD Chief of Police in response to EMT arrest. In case you missed our original story:https://t.co/CHv3kEOYsu pic.twitter.com/NoWi0xubeH
— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) July 15, 2022
Monroe Ambulance released a statement on the incident as well. They stood behind the EMT and asserted that the officer’s over-the-top actions had endangered both the EMT and her patient.
“Our employee demonstrated sound decision making by prioritizing the care of the patient and it is the expectation of all our care providers to do the same,” the statement declared. “Furthermore, we do not believe the behavior of the officer aligns with the values of RPD leadership and should in no way condemn the rest of the brave brothers and sisters in blue. We are eager to learn of the outcome of RPD’s official investigation.”
NEW: Here is a new statement from @MonroeAmbNY: pic.twitter.com/0QN2IUO45j
— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) July 15, 2022
Lewke attempted to speak with Rochester Mayor Malik Evans who was obviously not thrilled over the altercation.
After a public event, I tried to talk with #ROC mayor @realmalikevans about the RPD/EMT video. Here's what he had to say:@news10nbc pic.twitter.com/ul4u3GUvYx
— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) July 15, 2022
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