WASHINGTON — A D.C. firefighter may be on track for retirement and escape punishment after failing to respond and help 77-year-old Cecil Mills, who was having a heart attack across the street from their fire station.
WUSA9 reported that D.C. firefighter Lt. Davis was placed on desk duty while a trial board of firefighters considered whether she should face punishment for not responding to Mills.
Lt. Davis has since submitted a new request for retirement, one that may be on track for approval and may allow her to skirt any possible punishment if the trial board ultimately decides to hand one down, according to the report.
“We are angry and frustrated that the trial board has allowed the lieutenant who did not do her job and whose inaction prevented a life from being saved is allowed to retire with no adverse action being taken,” Cecil Mills’ family said to reporters.
Fire officials said that since Lt. Davis submitted her second request in a timely manner, and since she is eligible for retirement, Chief Ken Ellerbe is required to accept it, according to the report.
If the trial board issues a penalty before the retirement process is complete, Lt. Davis could still face disciplinary action. However, if the trial board moves slower than the retirement process, then she won’t be.
“Justice was not served. The system did not work. This is disgraceful,” Mills’ family said.
Lt. Davis, the ranking officer at the time of the incident, faces six counts of various levels of neglect including failing to respond to Mills and making a false statement, according to the report.