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CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members DATE: OCT 17 001 FILE
Of the City Commission
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION ITEM
FROM: Carlos A. GImeneZ REFERENCES:
City Manager
ENCLOSURES:
Pursuant to the directive issued at the September 25, 2001 City Commission meeting, a
discussion item regarding Ms. Hattie Willis concerns reference the Fire -Rescue Department.
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WILLIAM W. BRYSON
Fire Chief
October 10, 2001
Ms. Hattie Willis, President
Communities United
5510 N.W. ill Avenue
Miami, Floridag13127
Dear Ms. Willis:
CARLOS A. CIMENEZ
City Manager
As per your request dated October 1, 2001, I have enclosed a copy of a memo
dated September 29, 2001 regarding a recommendation for discipline to Lt. M.
Hosmer; a memo dated October 3, 2001 regarding the investigation of Alarm
#47101 and a memo dated October 10, 2001 regarding the discipline for Lt. M.
Hosmer.
If you have any further, please do not hesitate to contact Deputy Fire Chief
Maurice L. Kemp at 305-416-1503.
Sincerely,
L'W' i liam W. Bryson
Fire Chief
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DEPARTMENT OF FIRE-RESCUE/444 S.W. 2rnd Averue!Miami, FL 331304305 416-1600
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 330706 Miami, FL 33'_33-07013
OCT -10-01 10435 FROMsFiRB RBST=may •"
C"ry OF
INTER•OFFiCE MEMORANDUM
W.W. Bryson, Fire Chief
Department of Fre-Rescue
September 29, 2001 7
Discipline
Fire Lt. M. Hosmer
JTJacckson
ant Fire Chief
Communications/ Management Services
On August 18, 2001, it. M. Hosmer refused to properly supply his name and
badge number upon request of a patient. This was substantiated by Hosmees
own admission.
This constitutes a violation in the PROCEDURE category.
He is eligible for good behavior credit,
The recommended discipline for this infraction is Formal Counseling, reduced to
an ENTRY due to good behavior credit.
,t
s /Approved Date:,_
William W. Bryson, Fire Chief
TL AIj
Mosmer, Mike Lt. Coinselinq Auy^^L4st 13 2001
0 CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA 0
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
iJ
W.W. Bryson, Fire Chief DATE : October 3, 2001 FILE
Department of Fire -Rescue ,SIBJECT
Investigation:
Hattie Willis Incident -August 18
Alarm # 47101 R913
EEFERENCES
- . Jackson
sistant Fire Chief
Communications/Management Services
Allegations:
1. Rude„ unprofessional behavior by R9.
2. R9 transported patient to JMH instead of Coral Gables Hospital.
3. Crew refused to give Lt. Hosmer's name and badge number.
4. Lt Hosmer referred to patient using vulgarity and profanity.
Initiator: Hattie Willis
Interviewed:
1. Lieutenant M. Hosmer
2. Firefighter Jose Fuentes
3. Firefighter Eudaido Benevente
4. Hattie Willis
5. Kenneth Lewis (Willis' son)
6. Brandy Johnson (Willis' daughter)
7. Lucretia Joy (Willis' daughter)
8. Officer Luis Fernandez (Miami Dade Police Department)
9. Nurse Myrna Eldridge (JMH ER)
Memoranda reviewed:
10. Hattie Willis (letter of complaint)
11. Brandy Johnson (statement)
12. Lieutenant M. Hosmer (statement)
13. Jose Fuentes (statement)
14. Eudaldo Benevente (statement)
15. Captain Alan Joyce (email)
16. Alarm Report # 47101
10/05/01
Tu/tlj
Willis recomm-2
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Findings:
Allegation 1. Unsubstantiated.
Interviews conducted with R9 members were consistent that the behavior and
the crew remained professional. Interviews with other witnesses failed to
substantiate Mrs. Willis's allegation of rudeness and unprofessional behavior.
Allegation 2. Substantiated.
The Lt's testimony indicates that he was concerned as to the patient's well being
and felt she should be transported to the closest hospital. He was able to
convince the pt. (along with the daughter's help) to be transported to ]MH.
Allegation 3. Substantiated,
Lt. Hosmer did not give this information directly when asked. Instead he
referred Mrs. Vylillis to his written report. This is a violation of Fire Department
Rules of conduct, which states "Members shall give their name, badge number
and rank/functional title upon request." The crew members were not asked for
their personal numbers, just Lt Hosmer's.
Allegation 4. Unsubstantiated.
There was no confirmation of this allegation by any witness.
Conclusion:
Miami Fire Rescue 9 was dispatched to Mrs. Willis because she woke up in a
"pool of blood". This was certainly a cause for great anxiety, and when she,
mistakenly believed her son was assaulted, it understandably increased her
anxiety, caused her great concern, and fear. This was a contributing factor to the
miscommunication and increased tension that ensued. The crew of Rescue 9,
although they acted within their ability, was hampered by the uncooperative
state of the patient. When the patient asked to be transported to Coral Gables
Hospital and was told that due to her condition, she would be transported to the
closest hospital her anxiety increased. This made the remainder of the alarm
difficult for all involved.
Recommendation:
Appropriate discipline for violation of Rules and
above.
Reviewed','/.. Date:
W.W. Brysdh, Fire Chief
5 -Oct -01
TLJ/tij
Willis recomm 2
Regulations in allegation 3,
9 CITY OF MIANII. FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE IbIEIVIORANDIR
Chief J.A. Guadarrama October 10, 2001
Assistant Fire Chief -_ -_ -
Emergency Response Division Discipline
Lt. Hosmer
ackson
istant Chief
gmt Services/ Communications _^T _—^_ - _ _�--.__.^.-._-.----._.._�_ ___..__-•_ .
After review by Chief W.W. Bryson, Director, the following action is to be taken.
For failing to provide his name and badge number to a patient, Lt. Michael
Hosmer is to receive an entry in his Personnel Entry Form in the following
manner:
n Entry
"On this date Lt. Michael information rmationu eon the received quest of a patient
to properly supply P
on alarm # 47101." See Item #.-
Enclosed are the original and two copies of the memorandum initiating this
disciplinary action. Please have Lt. Hosmer sign all three. Lt. Hosmer is to
retain the original and a copy is to be placed in his Station file .
The remaining copy is to be returned to my office along with a copy of his
FEF reflecting the entry.
TLJ / pja
cc: Lt. Hosmer
-I "x
Qct 01 01 10220a
Hattie Willis
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October 1, 2001
City of Miami Fire Deparbnent
Chief Bryson
444 SW nave.
Miami, Fla. 3U28
305-758-5457 p.I
0
Dear Chief,
I requesting a copy of all documents pertaining to my complaint I want copy of your final
rep&ipfinding5, and out tome. A as well as any other documents I have not received, per
my request.
Sincerely,
5516NW I" Ave..
Ummi M 33127
rY ; r
Phe (365) 754-3993
Vz=(365)756-5467
1 + k L
Dear Chief,
I requesting a copy of all documents pertaining to my complaint I want copy of your final
rep&ipfinding5, and out tome. A as well as any other documents I have not received, per
my request.
Sincerely,
A%isAst 15, 2001
• 5510NW IaAve.
Maori, M 33127
Thane: 305-754-3993
Fax 305-756-5467
email: hwiZ25%Jbellaatth net
Coi=wiffiesl) United
Ch?ef-WIDEM— W.. "Shbooy" P•rvc_ln_, MWIVr
Fire -Rescue Department
Avenue
Mei, FWuh 1221
Dear Chief Bryson,
Unfortunately, I pen this letter to inform you of an incident that occurred in my
home on Monday, August 13, 2001 at approximately 1:45am. To may dismay, I was
awakened because I felt that I was wet. When I woke up, I realized that I lying in a
puddle of blood. I panicked!... and yelled for my son! I called rescue. When the
rescue team arrived, I had moved to the bathroom to rest on the commode. My son
let them in and immediately they starting asking me the preliminary questions.
Meanwhile Kenneth, my son attempted to hand me some fresh clothing. So he
touched one of the men (a Caucasian) on the back and said, "excuse me." The roan
violently and quickly turned around and replied, get your hands off me ... don'ttouch
me! My son moved back from him. By this time, I was even more upset because
1 'ttt watt k r- his --nd �`a this -prof ori
1.1,—,ked the teem to take mo� w CrYal Cables Hevxital s•, I had just begn trsated
fbFr a 1: .L They rePH4 leaazly «e can't take you there... it has to W the cl,3- IA
h^ isa1 which is, V%jrK if yv4 d:tri't Sn;here ,, wg %ill hgve #.n I -,-e vnu here!
F1; pie, i d ughtcr perR�ded � to 00 On- W a> d that she wtm met
thc_re ;md thcn twsport me to Ovral Gablcs.
There is a wind blaHjug, It & Sfeepdag Tfiough the streets of
Littfe I-Iarti. It's name is "Comaum . aired"
September S, 2001
Page 2
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In all of this, I was in pain and terrified for my life because of how the
attendant treated me and my son in my home. Although I decided to go with the
team, I was terribly disappointed with their actions because we were not rude to
them. We gave them no reasons to read that way! Can you imagine being treated
this way by someone who is supposedly to be giving you medical attention. I was
really frightened by this incident. Moreover, they refused to give me their names and
badge numbers. All I know at this point is that they are from RESCUE 9.
. Now we are at the hospital. They removed me from the ambulance and a
Metro -Dade officer was in the lot. I called for him to give me assistance in recording
an assault report due to the actions of the rescue attendant at my homeO. The officer
never approached me; however, he went directly to the rescue team members and
began to converse with them. They were laughing and the officer Frank Castillo.
The same attendant that was rude and nasty to me and my son told the officer that I
was a stupid bitch and that I could kiss his ass! My back was turned to them, but
after hearing those vulgar words, I looked around and said to officer Castillo, did
you hear that.pnd I ask you to come to me to help and you refused to. I asked him
for his name and badge number as well. He replied, I'm one in five million. He
turned laughing and walked out of the emergency room
I am requesting a formal investigation to be launch by the City of Miami Fire
Rescue Department, as well as a formal Investigation to be launch by the Dade
County Police Department.
I would like to inform the City Manager Carlos A. Gimenez up front that I have
informed by members of the community that you may show favoritism to the City of
Miami Fire department, because you are former Fire Chief.
I have personally work with you in several community projects and I saw you as a
fare and compassionate man that has a great deal of respect for your job.
I expect you as the New City Manager to now perform your job and be full aware
that the eyes of the community are onyou. . I hope that I can continue to respect
you in this same measure as you do your job and address the issue that has been
brought to your attention.
In short, I am expecting a response to this matter very soon, and I am demanding
that the Caucasian matt be removed from our community. If he is going to have this
type of attitude while working, he really should not be working.
regi �r a�1�1!
Page 3
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I -341y, please we the attached liters of another indent that nc4turr�& j.-Ve Ivjag,
dta
a�`tI� ac.:, �'�,�r�ls �I,:a i� .� � �tati�., fir. '�►�iilia.��;, #a`a 3�
receive any follow-up information. We want a response!
I r �. l l44114
�11
C/c Mayor J Carollo
Mayor Alex Penelas
Commissioner Barbara Carey
Commissioner Art Teele
NAACP " • •
Civil Rights Commission
PULSE
City Manager ,Carlos A. Gimenez