JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Video shows police speeding to help two Jacksonville firefighters attacked by a patient being transported to UF Health.
The president of the Jacksonville Firefighters Association, Randy Wyse said, “This is just an incident that really no one could explain. This was a normal, average, go-to-the-hospital call and in the middle of that transport it was an attack.”
This is Capt. Latorrence Norris, one of the two firefighters attacked by a patient they were transporting Tuesday night. https://t.co/ZKjQEJuOIx
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) October 9, 2019
Wyse said violent patients are common, but a stabbing is rare.
When asked if there is protocol in place for when patients become violent, he responded, “Yes, absolutely. We have restraint protocol.”
Action News Jax reported in January when the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department put bullet-resistant vests in all of its units.
The recent attack had viewers on the Action News Jax Facebook page asking if the first responders should be carrying stun guns or guns for protection.
Wyse explained, “That’s not what we do. Firefighters are there to respond to people hurt, or injured or in house fires.”
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JFRD Chief Keith Powers said firefighters are not allowed to check patients for weapons.
According to Wyse, rescue surveillance and body-worn cameras would be a violation of privacy laws.
The veteran firefighter said, “In situations like this you know it’d be very difficult to protect a firefighter in the situation that occurred.”
Once JSO finishes the criminal investigation, JFRD leaders will review the attack and response.
Wyse said based on his knowledge of Tuesday’s attack he doesn’t believe it would prompt any changes in JFRD procedures.
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