By Eden Laikin
Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
OCEANSIDE, N.Y. — Eight volunteer firefighters from the Oceanside fire department’s Salamander Company were suspended last night pending administrative hearings for their alleged involvement in an alcohol-related incident at a block party in August.
Minutes before the suspensions were announced, the Board of Fire Commissioners amended its bylaws to keep private all future disciplinary hearings — including those of the eight men.
“The firefighters involved have been suspended pending the hearing and determination of the charges,” said Tony Iovino, attorney for the board. “In accordance with the bylaws of the Oceanside Fire Department and applicable law, neither the names of the firefighters charged nor any further details of the charges will be made public.”
Iovino said that a hearing must be held within 30 days and the firefighters have right to private counsel. They may also appeal any negative finding to the Board of Commissioners. Iovino, who will be the prosecutor at the hearings, said witnesses to the incident that occurred on Oceanside Parkway will be called to testify.
The hearings will be before a committee of veteran firefighters, Iovino said.
The firefighters allegedly violated department policy on protocol and conduct when they drove a fire truck from a parade down a cordoned-off street with the truck’s lights and sirens on. Three block party guests ended up in a fight with some of the firefighters, who numbered more than 15, and one guest suffered a broken hand. Several witnesses told Newsday that many of the firefighters held beer bottles as they got off the truck.
The board of commissioners directed the chief’s office to investigate the incident and those findings were presented at their Sept 25 meeting.
Meanwhile, an attorney for the man whose hand was broken filed a notice of claim on behalf of his client, signaling their intention to sue the Oceanside department, the fire district, board of commissioners, the Salamander Hook, Ladder & Bucket Company, Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead.
Iovino said the department would not comment on pending litigation.
The notice claims that Oceanside resident Doug McKee “was assaulted, attacked and beaten by several members of the Salamander company” at the block party and that the chief of the department was present.
Witnesses said Chief Tommy McDermott followed the fire truck in a pickup truck that night and told the group of young volunteers to leave after the fight started. Iovino wouldn’t say whether McDermott was suspended.
Attorney Jordan Stern of Mineola, who represents McKee, said, “The fact that they had beer on a fire truck and they were using the fire truck, took down tape and went down a public block with sirens on and the kids on the street is enough to suspend them.”
Copyright 2007 Newsday