PGFD career firefighter claims gear was tampered with at Riverdale firehouse. Union president cites hostile work environment behind transfer of firefighters.
Image from Riverdale FD website.
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Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady tells the Washington Times’ Andrea Noble that the removal of four career firefighters from the Riverdale firehouse (Station 807) last Friday was to allow “some cooling-off time.” While PGFD and Riverdale Fire Department, Inc have not officially said what everyone is cooling off from, other than Brady’s Saturday press release citing “ongoing conflicts” and “several on-going internal investigations”, the president of IAFF Local 1619 has provided some details for Noble’s article published today:
“One of our female members made allegations including having her personal protective gear tampered with,” fire union President Andrew Pantelis said. “We’ve been aware of a tense and sometimes hostile work environment for several months now.”
Volunteer firefighters will be responsible for staffing the station 24 hours a day until further notice, county department officials said.
Volunteer leadership declined to comment.
“All I can say is that Chief Bashoor made his decision so that outstanding issues can be resolved,” said Stephen Lamphier, president of the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department.
The four career firefighters who had been assigned to Riverdale on day work are now working out of Station 813 in Riverdale Heights a little more than a mile away leaving Station 807 as an all-volunteer firehouse.
Read entire Washington Times article
