Firefighter arrested for speeding to fire call in NC screams the headline on FireRescue1 at http://www.firerescue1.com/volunteer/articles/602445-Firefighter-ar...

GIBSONVILLE, N.C. — A Gibsonville firefighter arrested last month on his way to an apartment fire no longer faces felony charges, but the district attorney's office won't say whether the traffic offenses he racked up that day will stick.

Gibsonville Fire Assistant Chief Joseph Loy was charged by Elon University campus police on Oct. 9 with flee/elude arrest, which is a felony, as well as speeding, failing to stop at a red light, reckless driving, failing to heed to a light or siren and unsafe passing yellow line.



The case is another interesting point in the history of the fire service- again, this has some huge outcomes for FD's the country wide. Imagine if every member faced the risk of charges for responding to the scene? Interesting food for thought.

What about the whole debate on lights on POV? Let's not go there again.... ;-)

Now the point that prompted me to tap away at the keyboard wasn't actually the article itself- it was one of the responses to the article, which begins with, "This moron cop..."

Now there's no doubt that there's more to this story- there's always two sides to every story, but the charges handed down include flee/elude arrest, which is a felony, as well as speeding, failing to stop at a red light, reckless driving, failing to heed to a light or siren and unsafe passing yellow line.

So I ask, if these charges are true and accurate, who's the moron? The cop for enforcing the law (let's not forget that even as firefighters, we're NOT above the law), or the firefighter (At Assistant Chief level mind you!) for allegedly breaking these laws?