Jerry Engle is operationally suspended by the Prince George’s County Fire Department. Criminal complaint of theft at Riverdale firehouse names Engle.
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STATter911.com has learned that Firefighter Jerry Engle has been suspended from emergency operations following a criminal complaint of a theft at the Riverdale firehouse (PGFD Station 807). Engle most recently has been a member of the Riverdale Heights VFD (PGFD Station 813), but had previously been a member at Riverdale and two other volunteer companies in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
From his book Probie Days, looking at what Engle called the “glory days” of the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department (PGFD Station 833), to a video that showed another side of Jerry Engle, the veteran firefighter has been one of the most recognizable and controversial figures in the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.
Sources familiar with an incident that occurred Sunday morning identify Engle as the person under investigation and named in a criminal complaint. Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady is not naming names in his confirmation that an investigation is underway. Here is Brady’s description of what happened in an email sent earlier today:
On Sunday, March 29, 2009, just before 5AM, Fire/EMS units responded to a vacant house fire in the 4500 block of Madison Street. As a result of the fire, an engine was transferred from a neighboring station to fill-in at the first due station, Riverdale. While the neighboring engine was at the Riverdale station it is alleged that a member of the fill-in engine was observed removing property from Riverdale and placing the items onto the fill-in engine.
The member in question was confronted by the person observing the actions and the City of Riverdale Park Police Department were notified and reported to the scene. A “Criminal Complaint” was completed and forwarded to the States Attorneys Office for review.
The career Duty Major and the Volunteer Operations Major were summoned to the Riverdale station as well. Interviews of everyone involved were conducted and an internal investigation, in addition to the Criminal Complaint, into the matter has been initiated. While this investigation is on-going, the member in question has been removed from emergency operations.
Sources familiar with the investigation confirm the theft involved a nozzle and a nozzle bale. According to the criminal complaint, Engle was in the Riverdale Heights engine with the items when police arrived at the Riverdale firehouse. The complaint says that Riverdale Deputy Chief Brian Carpio discovered the theft and confronted Engle.
Since last August Engle has been a live-in member at Riverdale Heights. STATter911.com attempted to contact Engle at the Riverdale Heights fire station today and was told he was not there and would not be coming back.
Jerry Engle made the news last July when controversial videos surfaced from his time as a member of the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department. The videos showed a firefighter being hazed by others. Engle was seen in one video showing firefighters shooting illegal fireworks inside the station. In one of the more memorable moments, Engle’s naked backside was used as a launching pad for a bottle rocket.
By the time the videos made news Jerry Engle was a probationary member with the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department (PGFD Station 809) after a stint at Riverdale. In an interview with STATter911.com, Engle said he was prepared to be disciplined by PGFD for his role in the videos.
A day after our interview at Bladensburg Engle was involved in another unusual incident where a firehouse neighbor filed assault charges against Engle.
Jerry Engle’s appearance was also controversial. Engle would often respond on calls without a shirt and had a Mohawk haircut and many piercings. Bladensburg officials ordered Engle to make some adjustment in his appearance last July.
By August of last year Engle had parted ways with the crew at Bladensburg. Chief Matt Fowler told STATter911.com at the time, “It came to the point he was causing more problems in the organization and we had enough of it”.
Engle claimed he left Bladensburg after he confronted a member for urinating on food and drinks belonging to Engle and others. Chief Fowler denied that such an incident occurred.
Engle then began riding at the Riverdale Heights station.
