Pittsburgh EMS Worker Fired In Hazelwood Snowstorm Death

PITTSBURGH,None — Pittsburgh has fired a paramedic as part of a disciplinary action following the death of a Hazelwood man who waited 30 hours for an ambulance during a powerful snowstorm in February.

Last month, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Michael Huss held a news conference Tuesday, where he announced the suspensions of Kim Long, Norman Auvil, Josie Dimon and Rob Curry.

Dimon has now been fired.

The disciplinary action stems from the Feb. 7 death of Curtis Mitchell, 50, who died after he and his girlfriend placed 10 calls to 911 in a 30-hour period seeking help for his abdominal pain during a winter storm that dropped 20 inches of snow on the city.

During a news conference last month, Huss played a recorded conversation between the paramedics, in which they are heard saying, "What do they think, this is a taxi service?" right after the call came from Curtis's family.

"That type of attitude and demeanor is not acceptable and the message needs to be sent that we are public servants paid by the public. We have a responsibility to keep people safe and each year we send a budget to city council that has a $100 million in safety costs. I expect better than this," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said last month.

A report released last month from the Pennsylvania Department of Health found EMS workers did not violate state law in Mitchell's death.

Paramedics union President Anthony Weinmann has said three ambulances aborted calls to Mitchell's Chaplain Way home, but did so at the direction of dispatchers or EMS chiefs. The dispatchers' union said no members are facing punishment.

"There was no snow protocol. There was no plan. It was a snow disaster and no one knew what the rules and regulations were at that time," Weinmann said.

Mitchell's widow, Sharon Edge, said she's anxious to learn the results of the city's investigation, but has contacted an attorney and said she may file a civil lawsuit against the city.

Pittsburgh city council is set to hold a public hearing about the snow removal response April 5. Many residents were upset about how long it to crews to remove snow from their streets after last month's snow storm.

Previous Stories: March 23, 2010: Victim's Widow Reacts To Dispatch Calls In Snowstorm Death March 19, 2010: State Clears EMS Workers In Hazelwood Snow Death March 1, 2010: New 911 Changes Go Into Effect Following Hazelwood Man's Death February 17, 2010: Pittsburgh Changes 911 Call Handling After Hazelwood Man's Death

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