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Previous coverage of this story
A statement from Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says WJBK-TV’s story we first brought to you last Wednesday about a paramedic on charges for giving an elderly fire victim a blanket is “blatantly false”. Reporter Charlie LeDuff, in the video above, says he stands by his story and that the city is blurring the facts.
The Detroit News’ Sebastian Hofer wrote this morning how the story has gone viral:
Outrage over a Detroit EMS paramedic Jeff Gaglio being charged by his department after providing a fire victim with a blanket has gone viral.
“We are getting sent blankets from all over the country, even from overseas,” said Detroit EMS medic Robert Shelton. “It is amazing what is going on here.”
After a number of online news outlets such as Yahoo! News posted the story, the Detroit blanket case went viral on the Web and started to draw nationwide attention. As of Sunday evening, the Yahoo article had drawn more than 5,300 user comments.
Here’s the opening and conclusion to LeDuff’s latest story:
You might have caught a little story we did last week about a paramedic who has been brought up on charges after giving an old man a blanket. Well after days and days, city hall finally issued a statement to everybody in the media but me calling the story “blatantly false”.
Well, there’s only two things to say here. One, we stand by our story. Two, fire headquarters and city hall ought to concentrate on the broken down rigs, 911 that doesn’t work, response times that are deadly and fraud and mismanagement in the fire department.
And here’s the statement from the office of Mayor Dave Bing:
A recent Fox2 Detroit report that a Detroit paramedic, Jeff Gaglio, was suspended for giving an elderly fire victim a blanket is blatantly false, Detroit Fire Commissioner Don Austin said today.
“This story was totally blown out of proportion because the reporter took portions of his interview with Detroit EMS Chief Jerald James out of context,” Commissioner Austin said.
When a Detroit EMS crew reported one blanket missing from an ambulance during a routine equipment check, Mr. Gaglio was identified as giving the blanket to a fire victim. EMS officials encourage staff paramedics to provide blankets, medical aid and comfort to emergency victims as needed. However, Mr. Gaglio expressed resentment over being asked to write a report on his action, although that is standard procedure. The only reprimand Mr. Gaglio has received involves his failure to inform his supervisor after the fact.
Jeff Gaglio has been ordered to attend an administrative hearing with his union representative to address work performance issues that are totally unrelated to giving a blanket to an elderly man. Mr. Gaglio has not been suspended, and at this time, there are no plans to suspend him.
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Also on STATter911 …
- Detroit commissioner now admits TV reporter’s blanket story isn’t ‘blatantly false’. Dave explains why Donald Austin should have gotten into bed with LeDuff & medic on Day 1. – October 22, 2012
- TV’s LeDuff says Detroit medic punished for giving blanket to homeless man. Reporter thinks it’s time to clean out headquarters. – October 11, 2012
- Burning out of control: Detroit leaders fail to respond to a major fire. Commissioner Austin’s explanation is too little, too late to extinguish EMS blanket story engulfing the Internet. – October 17, 2012
- These boots are made for walking. But Charlie LeDuff asks Detroit officials if they are made for firefighting. – December 5, 2012
Comments
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Go Charlie, GO.!!!
THANK YOU for being concerned enough to continue to report these situations.!!
YOU are probably one of the few who are making ANY improvements in
the Detroit City government.
As a 40-year career Fireman, I SALUTE YOU.!!!
Wished I lived closer so I could buy ya a beer or a cup of coffee.
Stay Safe and Keep Smiling.!!!
I have come to like Charlie because he asks the questions no one will. Keep up the good work!!
Charlie never give up you are doing a great job channel 2 is damn lucky to have you.In your job you need a lot of balls to fight the local government and you have them hope that you read this web site.
I got wrote up for giving sunscreen to a burning tourist…just kidding
we should all send a blanket to the mayor or chief’s office to show our support for this guy. you know he’s being tagged for speaking out in his defense over a BS charge that has to be connected to (something else that they trump up on this guy)sometime in the future.
he stood up for himself and charlie helped him. GOOD JOB and great recovery from the ride along for pay story…I think the chief is redy for that taliban chief’s job now
OK, we know Detroit and it’s FD and EMS are a mess. But this seems more like a story about the reporter than a medic. So the medic wasn’t fired after all, he’s scheduled for a hearing. And not for giving out a blanket but for refusing to comply with a supervisor’s request. Maybe this is the city covering up. Or maybe it’s a medic trying to cover for his own issues. Or maybe it’s just about the reporter being a jerk. (Oh, and why was the reporter interviewing the medic IN BED????)
Where did you read he was fired?
because he was home sick, and it is the city covering up because management are all jerks. you must be one of them
Sent my blanket today, pruchased with my own money, NOT department owned blanket:
Jerald James, EMS Chief
c/o Mayor David Bing
2 Woodward Ave. – Suite 1126
Detroit, MI 48226
Me 3.. I lettered it “A GIFT FOR THE PEOPLE OF DETROIT”. Bought a case of Cold War Surplus blankets, it’s not like they’re expensive, and they are really nice after a wash cycle. I use one at home. It’s just common courtesy to give the cold a blanket, like giving a kid with a skinned knee a fricken band-aid.
I’d love to see Charlie post here.
And did I hear the Madam Representative from Michigan say…….
Re-dic-a-liss??? LoL
That’s what I heard haha