He blames injuries on hazing; 5 department members are suspended
By ERNST LAMONTHE JR.
Staff writer
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (New York)
CHILI, N.Y. — In the past few years, Scott Cleere has felt a deeper need to help others.
He responded to that by joining the U.S. military.
But after being injured during training, he returned to Chili last year and decided to join the Chili Fire Department.
“I figured, how can I ask someone to go into a burning building to help my family if I won’t do it myself?” said Cleere, who also said that watching the movie Ladder 49 about firefighters was a catalyst to his decision.
But the 21-year-old’s dream has temporarily been halted after an alleged July 24 hazing incident at the Chili Fire Department that led to Cleere having two broken front teeth, fractured facial bones and scrapes on his knuckles.
Cleere claims that he had been strapped to an ambulance board by Chili firefighters and left on the side of the Fire Department building.
Full Story: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051205/NEWS01/512050314/1002/NEWS