News Cameras Catch Cop Handcuff On-Duty Fireman Over a Parking Dispute

[PeaceNikki]

A California highway patrol officer handcuffed and detained a firefighter who was treating car crash victims last night after he refused to stop the rescue to move his truck.

The men had both responded to a car crash where a sedan had flipped over a concrete divider on the I-805. When Jacob Gregoir, a firefighter for more than 12 years, arrived at the scene, he parked his firetruck behind the ambulance to provide protection for the emergency responders — something the Chula Vista fire chief said fire crews are trained to do.

But the cop, apparently trying to clear the highway's fast lane, asked firefighters to move their trucks.

Instead, directly in front of CBS news cameras, the cop decided to handcuff Gregoire and detained him in the back of a squad car for approximately half an hour.

The CHP officer, whose name has not been released, told firefighter/engineer Jacob Gregoire to move the engine out of the traffic lane or he would be arrested, Hanneman said. He said Gregoire, who was checking the overturned car for any additional victims, answered that he'd have to check with his captain.

In 2008, a police officer was fined $18,000 after he arrested a firefighter who also refused to move his firetruck during a highway rescue.

http://gawker.com/news-cameras-catch-cop-handcuff-on-duty-fireman-over-pa-1517076544?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Unreal.

[1000words]

1. "Respect my Authori-taaah ..."

[PeaceNikki]

13. This was my very first thought as well.

[Mr Dixon]

15. LOL

[jsr]

2. They should release the cop's identity for future reference by firefighters and EMTs

[mythology]

6. The cop should also be released from any further responsibilities of his job

To me this is an obvious abuse of power and should be grounds for dismissal without pension.

[dhill926]

11. Absolutely...

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. Yay cops!

[PeaceNikki]

14. I suppose we should give him props for not shooting the fireman.

[Egalitarian Thug]

17. Thanks for noticing the sarcasm without the smiley.

I forgot.

[PeaceNikki]

18. lol

I assume most things on the internet (ok, in life) are sarcasm.

[lpbk2713]

4. The Ultimate Authoritarian

Mental evaluations are obviously not a part of the CHP recruit training program.

[freshwest]

5. Competing versions of protecting public safety. Fireman doing his job; my concern is for the already

injured peeps from the wreck. He was not allowed to finish his job for half a hour.

Cop likely new, only thought about how any obstruction on a busy highway, particularly at night, causes more injury from more accidents by gawking.

And Gawker waits 6 years to post this story. Kinda funny, that, but interesting the way it all turned out. That $18K fine is a good bit of money.

[M0rpheus]

9. There's 2 similar stories here.

One that occurred in 2003, which resulted in that 18K judgement.

And the one that occurred the other day. 2 different issues similar stupidity.

[freshwest]

10. I stand corrected. Story really the same, different names. Thanks. /t

[Rex]

7. The authoritarians will love this story

this is right up their alley.

[KeepItReal]

8. I got rear ended on the 405 in SoCal

All the CHP officer cared about was if our cars were driveable and able to get off the interstate to not block rush hour traffic.

Not even an "are you hurt?" from that cop (which I was).

The fire department then showed up and actually cared for me and recommended that I go to a hospital.

[tomm2thumbs]

12. Fire. His. Ass. -- dumbass officers need to be put out to pasture

I'd gladly accept a shoeshine from him however... if he is up to the task and hard work.

[Mr Dixon]

16. SMH