MOBILE, Ala. — Police and firefighters have received threats after a fatal police shooting last week.
Mobile’s Public Safety Director Richard Landolt was tight-lipped regarding the situation, but did tell FOX10 that two officers have been given extra security. Over the weekend, a deputy fire chief received a tip that firefighters could also be targeted.
This tip led to what officials call an “internal miscommunication” about how fire units would respond. The miscommunication involved fire unit staging until police cleared every scene. However, response to nonviolent incidents did not change.
“When there is a shooting or a stabbing, police are there first anyways,” Landolt said. “So, MFRD is not going to go in until the scene is clear. And nine times out of ten the police are already there and they will clear the scene to allow MFRD to go in there. But we are not pre-staging, that policy has not changed.”
The department’s official statement said that: “On Saturday, June 18, a deputy chief received a tip that Mobile Fire-Rescue department could potentially be targeted. After communicating this to MPD, there was no evidence found to support this tip. MFRD will not be staging prior to every response. This was an internal miscommunication. MFRD will continue to respond to emergencies as promptly and professionally as possible. Our mission is to serve our citizens to the best of our ability.”
Landolt said there have been no changes in policy related to staging, and knows of no other calls targeting first responders.