Monday, December 21, 2009

Greenville firefighter accused of assault

WHIO identifies the firefighter as Michael King, now on administrative leave. You can read all the other details here.

UPDATE: Kathryn Burcham now has a video update.


37 comments:

  1. Maybe now you all will listen to the people who had comments eariler this year. They said the GFD was out of control.

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  2. Maybe we should just hold on to our comments till everything comes out.

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  3. One persons actions do not represent the entire department in this incident.

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  4. So, one drunk guy-that happens to be a firefighter-represents the entire department? Just like one crazy cop, one bad teacher, one bad doctor, one bad lawyer, etc. represents everyone else in the profession? Probably not.

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  5. He will get a slap on the wrist just like all the others

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  6. One bad firefighter certainly does not represent the entire fire department… however he being a firefighter does reflect on the department… Like someone said lets sit back and see how the department handles it… Should he be let go? You bet he should. Drunk, sober, it doesn’t matter, he reportedly broke the arm of a Nurse, get rid of him period. If he feels he is being wronged, let him sue to get his job back. There is absolutely no excuse for his behavior.

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  7. He also runs into burning buildings on a regular basis to save the lives of strangers. Should he go unpunished? No. But he deserves some leeway.

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  8. He should be LET GO because of something he did while off duty? So when you got drunk and hit a guy in a bar once (even if you haven't done that exactly, everyone has done something foolish, so insert that here), that means that you should be fired? You want to reward 11 years of service and one bad night with termination? Good lord, that's brutal, and I'm glad that you aren't holding me to that standard.

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  9. I think assaulting a medical worker is a fifth degree felony

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  10. considering a slap on the wrist??? he chose this profession just like everyone else whom decides to serve the public, yes you do have an image to uphold, drunk, sexual carousing, fighting, domestic violence doesn't matter, you become a public servant and children look up to you as a role model, whom will be your next possible firefighter, ems or law enforcement...people need to be accountable for their actions regardless

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  11. Public servants are and should be held to a higher standard 24-7-365. Those that talk of the other events of this year and "nothing happening" or a "slap on the wrist" do not no all the facts. In this instance I think we need to wait and see how the GFD handles this, maybe all the nay-sayers will have to eat their words. Those that are ready to bash ALL the Firefighters in the GFD don't know how dedicated of public servants these guys are. They are role models and take that along with everything else their job entails very serious. I know most of these guys and they fit this profile exactly (role models), so lets not be so fast to judge ALL, and wait to see what the outcome of this is.

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  12. You people need to get your facts straight. There was NO report of the nurse's ARM being broken. Come on people! Stop gossiping and just go get a copy of the police report!

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  13. You are right it's was not an arm. It was a finger which makes it no less of a CRIME!!

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  14. It was a THUMB actually, according to the report. Not that it matters ... I think any broken bone counts as a serious injury.

    On another note, there are unconfirmed, unverified allegations that: 1) a couple firefighters may or may not have broken into the mayor's office at some point in the past, and 2) another firefighter may or may not have committed some sort of sexual "transgression" in another state out east. Are you all satisfied now?

    These allegations have been made many, many times in the comments on this website. It has been covered! Nobody needs to repeat this. And comments on this topic will be summarily rejected. When somebody brings me some real evidence, it will be considered. Otherwise, move on.

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  15. To 10:47am - Let him assault someone you care about and then tell us he is deserving of some leeway.

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  16. Concerned citizen,
    Well what you do in your own time is totally up to you but breaking some ones thumb come on was that really necessary I agree with and I qoute(Being a public servant you should be held to the Highest standard 24-7-365) this gentlemen should've have been placed on administrative leave with out pay come on I'm a taxpayer the man committed an assault on a E R person threatened to kill himself and his girlfriend 11years or not he should be treated no differently than a none public servant you ask me I think the city would save alot of money going to a part-time dept sure hope you aren't afraid to publish this even though we have freedom of speech.

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  17. Thank you Darke Journal

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  18. well i hate to inform you, you ALL are wrong, however how nice of you to try to get the facts straight. DISLOCATED is different then a BROKEN arm or finger or w.e. he "sup." did! this website is nothing but a freakin gossip mill along with your gossiping little town!!!! PATHETIC. 1 time in 11 years, yeah a little harsh!! this website should be terminated. Or at least the posting and chat. I realize I am posting something, however I will not sit here and read all of this B.S. without saying something. Is there nothing better to do in your town?!?! get a life!

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  19. Anonymous December 22, 2009 7:54 PM, The news and Chief Butts both said "broken". It doesn't matter, he assaulted an nurse. That is a crime!!!!! If you don't like our town, then get the hell out of it. Move and live somewhere else, we don't want you here anyways. You must be a city FF.
    To Anonymous December 22, 2009 10:47 AM
    He also runs into burning buildings on a regular basis to save the lives of strangers. Should he go unpunished? No. But he deserves some leeway. How can you say he does this when they have less than 10 fires a year. Thats not on a regular basis.

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  20. Obviously, there's nothing better to do in your town either “preachy”. So practice what you preach…..”get a life.”

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  21. Well "mr. hate to inform you" If the victim of the offense is a peace officer, a firefighter, or a person performing emergency medical service, while in the performance of their official duties, assault is a felony of the fourth degree. It does not matter that her finger was "dislocated", the fact is he assaulted her causing injury. And obviously you love our little gossip town or else you wouldnt be reading this and posting. Merry Christmas!

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  22. To December 22, 2009 6:45 PM
    You must be a family member of the person who was assaulted, huh? Let me first say that im sorry this happened to your family member, ok, but im not sorry that this person chose to be an ER nurse. As with any other public profession when you come in contact with hostile individuals who have been drinking there is always a chance of being injured. Its a thumb!!! Ooooooooo big freakin deal!!! Yes the fireman should be disciplined, public service professional or not, and i use professional loosely, hes no different than any one else. If I were him i would expect to lose my job, simple as that. And i personally think that this is just a bunch off BS, i bet my next years income that the nurse injured and her family is seeing bunches of dollar signs, let it go its a thumb for gods sake. Hasnt the poor Fire guy been punished enough allready, how embarassing to be put all over the news.....

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  23. i couldn 't agree with the comment about its a thumb. shes an ER nurse, that has to be expected that they will get those kind of patients. and i KNOW that this isn't the first drunk violent patient Wayne ER has had!!! so why such a HUGE deal about this one. .he's no different then the average joe. yes, he is held to a higher standard because of his job, but a little leeway would be nice!! and a hyper-extended thumb, oh my!!! yeah i think that nurse was seeing $$ signs. if you can't handle a violent person in the ER, GET OUT! i'm sure while he's going into a burning building, trying to save someone and they are freaked out and knock his mask off or anything else, would he press charges?? because he was doing his job?

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  24. love your little town.. yep, you got me! NO, not at all! everything that happens in your town you guys feel it needs to be made public!!! you guys just LOVE all the latest news and love to twist it around!!!

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  25. i think its funny how the POLICE CHIEF can't even get the story straight!!!!!!!!!! you would think that he would have read the police report. some police CHIEF he is!

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  26. HAHA you all believe what you hear on the media? why don't instead of ASSUMING they are right, (media and chief) go look yourself! you might be surprised they don't know what they are talking about!!! go to the source, not everyone else who has only HEARD about it. and if they wouldn't have come up with the TWP fire maybe greenville would be more busy!! let me just say, GLAD I LIVE IN CITY LIMITS! nothing against the firefighters themselves, because they stepped up and are volunteering. i think alot of that. but i'd rather have a manned station and firefighters of 15 or 11 years to come save me

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  27. MERRY CHRISTMAS And love one another!!!!!

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  28. WOW, yes it's a THUMB, and if you needed your THUMB to be able to do the job you are required to do then it IS a big freakin deal. The only thing embarassing is your comment, I bet you wouldn't be sorry if the ER Nurse that chose her profession saved your ass someday now would you? The nerve of some people.

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  29. Does anyone know what really happened? The news story indicates the fireman was intoxicated, trying to leave, and hospital security was trying to stop him. The nurse may have joined in these attempts to subdue him. Obviously a drunk isn't thinking rationally and could feel he was being attacked. Perhaps in his thrashing about the nurse was accidentally injured.

    Even accidental, the behavior is unacceptable and he shouldn't go unpunished. Don't get me wrong, I'm not excusing it. I'm just saying that I'm not quick to believe this "big fireman viciously attacks sweet defenseless nurse" story that this is turning into. Let's just take a step back and keep in mind this may just be some poor decision making that resulted in an unfortunate accident.

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  30. FF Michael King resigns from GFD...

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  31. I would venture to say that if this wasn't a Greenville FF that did this, there would not be as much commenting. I remember several years ago somebody from the rescue being involved in an accident that killed an individual, did no jail time, Another subject from a nearby station was involved in a accident while transporting a patient and killed a young girl and did no jail time, both of these accidents were do to poor judgements. This FF alledgedly used poor judgement and you want to hang him. I guess it's all in how much money you have to beat the system.

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  32. There’s a difference in poor judgment on the job and poor judgment under the influence of alcohol. We are all human and make mistake. But if you are that out of control that you can’t or don’t control you alcohol intake and you go and assault someone, that is a conscious choice. I’m sure the people involved in these accidents didn’t set out to intentionally injure someone.

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  33. You're assuming it was only alcohol related, the news did state that he went to the ER for some sort of medical condition. Poor judgement sober isn't any different than a poor judgement drunk, no matter how you look at it. Atleast nobody lost a loved from this incident.

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  34. well did she go back to work? with her thumb all wrapped up? maybe she DOESNT need it like you think. and the media AND poice CHIEF are wrong. he didn't do his homework before he was SO quick to jump on camera!!! and i don't know about the "conscious choice" comment. there are some things you CAN'T control when you are so drunk! have you ever been this way? not EVERYBODY can be perfect. and yeah, wheres all the oter justice to those people if that is the case. someone was out for the FD or him. anyway you look at it, lost a good firefighter. sad.

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  35. it WAS alcohol related. and who are you to want to get into his business? and when you are drunk, your judgement isn't like what it would be sober. MUCH different. you must have never been drunk?

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  36. Maybe if people would stop "just getting drunk", stupid things wouldn't happen!!!

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  37. To Anonymous December 26, 2009 7:23 AM, What you are saying is as long as you are drunk, you should face no consequences for your actions. So if I am drunk ( and my judgement isn't like what it would be sober) and I am driving and kill someone in your family, its okay cause i was drunk. I should face no consequences for my actions. Hey, i was drunk and not thinking like if i was sober. Sounds pretty screwed up, but thats your logic. You should think before posting something so stupid.

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