Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Date:         Sat, 10 Oct 1992 08:04:00 GMT
From:         Daniel Burstein <0001964967@MCIMAIL.COM>
Subject:      more NYC-EMS probs

More coverage by channel 4 (wnbc-tv, NYC) news on EMS problems.
This is a quickie transcript of Fri 18:00.
---------------------------
Anchor Sue Simmons: Tonight the City is considering cracking down
on officials who don't live here anymore.

Anchor Chuck Scarborough: A top EMS official, several of them in
fact, are under investigation this evening - the City wants to
know why the top bosses of the ambulance service are breaking the
rules by living too far away from their jobs.

Chuck: News4 broke the the story, and (reporter) Dave Browde
continues with this exclusive report.

Dave Browde: After our investigation revealed that fewer than
half the top managers of the Emergency Medical Service lived
inside the City limits as they were supposed to, Mayor Dinkins
ordered an investigation.  Health and Hospitals Corporation
(which runs EMS) officials insist that probe will be completed
within two weeks.  But tonight, we learned that the investigation
into the top uniformed official in the Emergency Medical Service
goes a lot farther than where he lives.

Dave Browde: MacNeil Cross, we've learned, is the target of an
internal investigation by the EMS Inspector General, which, among
other things, (is looking at documents, copies of which have
been) obtained by channel four news which show that Cross was
absent from a conference on radio requireements for emergency
services, but EMS records indicate he was paid to attend the
conference.  Also, Cross's timecards [shown on screen] indicate
he signed out for jury duty, but court records show that at least
on two of the days indicated by a (code) "J" for jury duty, Cross
was not in court.

Dave Browde: But our story has shaken more than one office at EMS
headquarters in Maspeth, Queens.  Several of the top supervisors
live in New Jersey, and fewer than half live in New York City as
they are officially required to.  That outraged the union that
represents the captains and lts. in the agency who also fall
under the "live in the City" regulation.  (transcriber's
addition: There is a general WAIVER for LOWER level personnel,
namely EMTs, medics, Lts., and Captains.  Higher ranking
officials are required to get individual waivers).

William Smith (spokesperson for Local 3621): Our stand is that
they should live within the City limits, or at least within a
fifteen minute drive to the City... so that if there is an MCI -
a multiple casualty incident, they can be on hand and respond.
(transcriber's addition:  Mr. Smith was, he advises, making these
comments referring to high level officials who are supposed to be
on frequent call, and was NOT endorsing residency requirements
for the rank and file).

Dave Browde: (The City's failure) to enforce the rule for the EMS
has led to questions as to whether the Dinkins administration
should be seeking a similar rule for New York City police
officers, if they're not enforcing the law here.

City Council Pres. Andrew Stein:  My message to Mayor Dinkins
is to get your own house in order so that you can set an example
for the police department.  All these essential and vital
service people should live in New York.

Dave Browde: The Mayor's chief spokesman says Police residency
requirements have nothing to do with EMS.  According to Lee
Jones, there's a big difference between the agencies. He says it
is very hard to find people to work in teh Emergency Medical
Service; it is quite easy to get applicants for police work.
Dave Browde, News4, New York.

Chuck Scarborough: EMS officials insist that despite the fact
that many of their top managers live outside the City limits,
department performance has never been compromised.
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<dburstein@mcimail.com>