It was a 9 mile trip that is making local headlines in Revere, Massachusetts. It happened in the middle of October when Revere’s Ladder 2 was used to take one of the department’s lieutenants to the chapel. It apparently took 90-minutes on a day when Engine 4 from the same station was out of service due to lack of staffing.
“The engine company was out that day for manpower shortage so I took a crew from the ladder truck at the same station and moved them over and used the ladder truck for that period of time,” said Chief Gene Doherty, of the Revere Fire Department.
Two volunteers drove the groom and the truck to Nahant. It took just about an hour and a half to get the job done.
“I look at it with a jaundiced eye. We do things for other situations whether its parades and he does a lot of volunteer work. It was my way of rewarding him for the great work that he does,” Doherty said.
Mayor Thomas Ambrosio does not seem to agree.
Chief Gene Doherty from Revere Fire Department website.
After learning about it from 7News he issued a statement saying, “The chief showed very poor judgment in this incident. I will be weighing disciplinary action.”
He said whatever the action, it will be minor.
The firefighter paid for the gas for the truck out of his own pocket.
When asked if he would allow this to happen again, the chief said it would depend on the individual and if the stars are aligned properly, but he would probably talk to the mayor first.
