NORTH BABYLON, N.Y. — The North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company will revise its policies and require sensitivity training after a video showed Fire Chief Peter Alt cursing at a minor during an Aug. 4 call, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said.
Newsday reported that Schaffer said in a letter to the Rev. Saba Mchunguzi, president of the Central Long Island NAACP branch, that the town’s investigation is complete and called Alt’s conduct “disturbing and unacceptable” and below “the standard of professionalism of a volunteer fireman.”
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Schaffer said the town will add new requirements to the fire company’s contract when it renews in December. These new requirements are mandatory sensitivity training for all members with proof of completion, updated policies and procedures for interacting with minors, and a formal code of conduct that every member must follow.
“While the town finds this incident to be deplorable, we will administratively do what we can to ensure that the fire departments we contract with and serve our residents, must do so with respect and compassion,” Schaffer wrote. “I have asked the town attorney and commissioner of public safety to enumerate additional safeguards in our contracts to prevent this behavior in the future. This type of behavior will not be tolerated.”
A neighbor’s video showed Chief Peter Alt shouting expletives at a crying child while loading her onto a gurney during a West Babylon call. Police alerted supervisors and Internal Affairs, and the fire company relieved Alt of all duties pending the investigation.
NAACP Regional Director Tracey Edwards reviewed police bodycam and said the officers and the EMT acted professionally and empathetically. She said Alt, who wasn’t part of the initial interaction, had no justification to intervene.
We want your perspective: Did the town get it right? Should sensitivity training be mandatory for all fire/EMS members?
What FireRescue1 readers said:
“They got it partially right. The chief should be terminated or at least demoted. Sensitivity training should be mandatory along with a yearly refresher, considering today’s political climate. In all of my 47 years. of service, no matter how a person acted or how many times we received a call for service to a particular address, people were treated with empathy and respect. We are public servants, paid by those we are sworn to protect and serve.”
“This is disgusting, abusive behaviour to a seemingly scared child. The Chief abused his power and should be fired. He is a disgrace to your honourable profession. I am a UK resident and feel so strongly about this, I had to comment all the way from the UK. I hope action is taken against him, and I will follow the story. Thank you to all others who put lives on the line and treat people with respect.”
“NO! The ‘shogun’ approach is demeaning to all who didn’t participate in the interaction in question and causes more animosity than it ‘cures.’”
“What, if any, inquiries were made to determine/validate if this is a systemic organizational problem or isolated to just one person? If there is no evidence of a pervasive issue within the organization, then the peanut butter spread application of sensitivity training as an attempt to placate unsubstantiated opinion about an isolated problem will not be well received by other employees. In fact, it is likely to create an adverse negative impact on employee morale and create more problems. Don’t use a carpet bombing solution where a laser-guided missile is warranted!”
