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Sanctions loom for paramedics

By John Rudolf
Sunday, June 1, 2008 2:51 PM MST

Administrative sanctions loom for five fire department personnel accused of misconduct in in an investigator’s report to the city manager’s office.

Three paramedics, a battalion chief and Fire Chief Dennis Mueller are charged with dereliction of duty and the falsification of official documents.

All five men remain on active duty.

The report alleges that three fire department paramedics improperly handled two medical emergency calls in October 2007, and altered or destroyed medical records to obscure errors in treatment. In both cases, the patients died.

The report alleges that Chief Mueller and battalion chief Rick Felish failed to properly investigate the incidents.

“There is going to be some major revamping of paramedic procedures and policies,” said City manager Richard Kaffenberger.

However, Fire Chief Dennis Mueller defended the overall competency of the department’s emergency medical response. “The people of Lake Havasu should not be afraid to call 911,” said Mueller. “We have a very high quality EMS system and very high quality people.”

Clint Nelson, president of the Lake Havasu Professional Firefighters Association, the union which represents accused paramedics Mike Partain, Joe Tobin, Nick Hovdal and battalion chief Rick Felish, called the report riddled with errors.

“We believe there are a lot of errors in that report, and we’re having our attorney look into those,” Nelson said.

Through Nelson, the four fire personnel declined to comment on the report.

The report also contains allegations that that an employee of private ambulance company River Medical Inc. aided in the destruction of a report documenting the alleged falsification of medical records.

A spokesperson for American Medical Response, a subsidiary of Emergency Medical Services Corp., which acquired River Medical Inc. earlier this year, disputed those findings.

“Contrary to allegations by the investigator, no River Medical patient records were destroyed, and River Medical has complete patient care records on file for the care that was provided to these patients,” wrote company spokesman Douglas Moore in a statement released Friday.

City Manager Kaffenberger stood by the report’s conclusions, which were based in part on conversations taped by a River Medical employee.

“I will be happy to share the complete four-volume file with anybody from AMR corporate that would like to see or hear taped conversations regarding their personnel,” Kaffenberger said.

According to Capt. Joe Fiumara of the Lake Havasu City Police Department, the investigation began in early December 2007, after an employee with the city’s sole private ambulance company, River Medical Inc., approached a city police officer with allegations of improper actions by fire department paramedics in the care of a 45-year-old woman who had suffered a stroke, and who died shortly after treatment. The employee further charged that records detailing mistakes in treatment had been destroyed or altered by city paramedics.

Due to concerns regarding a potential conflict of interest, the Kingman Police Department was asked to conduct a criminal investigation into the potential destruction or alteration of public records, Fiumara said.

Kingman police finished their investigation and screened their findings with the Mohave County Attorney’s office, which declined to press criminal charges.

City Manager Richard Kaffenberger decided to then pursue an administrative investigation of the allegations, which resulted in the 29-page summary report delivered late Thursday to the City Council. Kaffenberger has yet to act against the fire department personnel named in the report, but said that action would be forthcoming.

City Manager Kaffenberger called the investigation and report the proper response to allegations of tampering with official documents and other misconduct. “I do not feel that I am being unreasonable in having the expectation that records that are generated or created by city employees be accurate and truthful,” he said.

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Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of havasunews.com.

Reader Comments

bud wrote on Nov 4, 2008 7:21 PM:

" i agree they did the best they could one of the fireman acussed is my brother. i think it is messed up after all the hard work and trainning they do for the city and you. one thing looks wrong and you jump to the worst conclusion and wanna give them a hard time for doing there job. i support lake havasu city fire fighters 100% keep up the good work. "

EVERYONEHASATIME wrote on Jun 8, 2008 1:22 AM:

" AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, WE ALL HAVE "OUR" TIME. REGARDLESS, HOW IT HAPPENS. IF THE PARAMEDICS WERE AT FAULT, IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL. ALTHOUGH SAD, IT WAS THEIR "TIME TO GO". I WORK IN THE ER & I SEE THE PARAMEDICS BRINGING PATIENTS IN, THEY ARE WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF, TRYING TO SAVE A LIFE. SOME DAY IT MIGHT BE YOUR LIFE THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE. STOP YOUR DRAMA & LET THE INVESTIGATION SPEAK FOR ITSELF. "

read the full court doucument wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:48 PM:

" ...Kaffenberger then instructed the police chief to brief selected council members about the discrepancy. The secret briefings took place on September 10 and 11, 1987. In addition, on the evening of September 10, 1987, Kaffenberger, the police chief and other individuals searched Avilla's office without a search warrant. Kaffenberger insisted that they were searching for the deed of trust. Nonetheless, they removed cassettes from Avilla's brief case, which were unrelated to the deed of trust.1 Kaffenberger told an individual to copy the tapes. Others items were also seized.

http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/978/978.F2d.715.91-16368.html "

how far we have fallen wrote on Jun 7, 2008 7:24 AM:

" It is so sad that thous type of an attack is happening to the last group of public servants anyone can believe in here in Lake Havasu. The fire deparptment was the lone unsullied departmart within the city that was unmarred by controversy. How far Lake Havasu has fallen in the last two years show real lack of leadership. "

POLITICS AT ITS BEST wrote on Jun 5, 2008 10:45 AM:

" WOW.....as soon as Kaffenburger started feeling some heat as a result of cutting sweetheart deals with developers, he turns the spotlight off of himself by attacking his own staff on the front page of the newspaper.

What is motivating this guy?

Regardless of the outcome of the Paramedic issue, Kaffenburger has proven his inability to act as a responsible, discrete, and professional city manager.

He should be managing this issue internally to protect the reputation of the city and its staff. Instead, he is running his circus show through the local papers.

Any instability within city government affects the City's bond rating. The bond rating is what determines how much interest we pay when we borrow money as a city.

Considering we are in the middle of borrowing half a billion dollars, you think the guy would be concerned with public displays of instability.

I guess this is one way to get the heat off of yourself if you are a City Manager under scrutiny.....turn it on someone else......PUBLICLY.

BAD SHOW RICHARD......BAD SHOW. "

Get A Life....fast wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:06 AM:

" Small town politics rears it's ugly head! Seriously folks, these men are good men who do amazingly heroic acts on a daily basis. Putting them down and making these accusations may help you make your pointless life better, but realize that these good men have families and hearts like you once had. I personally know 2 of these men, and they are the most incredibly honest and good hearted Christinas I know! If we can't trust them to do their job then who can we trust anymore? I mean c'mon, they are firemen! A job that little kids dream of being some day...for a reason! Why doesn't the city manager stop worrying about showing face and worry about a REAL problem in Havasu....the awful education system!! "

someone had to sat it wrote on Jun 3, 2008 1:26 PM:

" well, it seems my last opinion won't get posted. I guess people can rip the local Firemen but saying anything about the accusers,source, victims, Colorado medics or whatever you may want to call them is off limits. That's ok. I guess one side of the story is always best. That way the uninformed can keep taking your side(oops) I mean the published side to heart. "

LiterateIrishGal wrote on Jun 3, 2008 6:01 AM:

" To LHCCAC: Get your dictionary out - you incorrectly used the term "irreprehensible". The word "reprehensible" means "deserving rebuke or censure; blameworthy". Putting the prefix "irr" in front of the word serves to reverse the meaning. Therefore "irreprehensible" turns into an adjective, meaning "beyond reproach: blameless, exemplary, good, irreproachable, lily-white, blameless". "

Scott Heine wrote on Jun 2, 2008 7:42 PM:

" As a professional firefighter myself, I have no doubts that my fellow brothers at Lake Havasu Fire Department acted with up most professionalism and outstanding patient care that each and every citizen deserves. I ask the citizens of Lake Havasu City to put yourself in these mens shoes and now the worries that they must carry around there everyday lives at home, and yes, now responding to your 911 emergencies. Unfortunatly I think there is a false idea at times that the public thinks we are a cure for all and that is just not the case sometimes. Believe me when I say that we don't do this for money nor fame. We could make more money elsewhere knowing that we have a better chance of going home to see our family later that night. Instead we go to work with a big question mark on what seems to be an avaerage day for most. We are no better than anyone else but the truth is people do die unfortunantly and it is our job to put our excellence into action and sometimes thats just not good enough. Please take a step back away from the media and rumors and ask yourself this one question, could I have done a better job than our city's bravest? Thank you. "

Lake Havasu City Citizens Against Corruption wrote on Jun 2, 2008 2:50 PM:

" We have information from reliable sources that the Lake Havasu City Fire Dept. is indeed guilty of doing what is being claimed, and in retaliation some members of our illustrious Fire Dept. have instructed their children or at the very least refused to stop their children from bulling and harassing the children of those who made the accusations while they attend Lake Havasu City Schools. Having been a resident of Lake Havasu City for over 20 years and also having my own children in Lake Havasu Schools, I have found this type of activity to be the “norm” for both our police and fire dept. employees. People have literally been run out of town for blowing the whistle in fear of their children’s safety. This is wrong, immoral, and irreprehensible. I am ashamed of our city officials and their back door dealings both past and present, not to mention the official’s failure to address these issues involving the children of the employees of Lake Havasu City.
We hereby put all Lake Havasu City officials and employees on notice. We are watching you like a hawk and waiting to pounce on you like a cat!
Clean up your act or else!

LHCCAC

Lake Havasu City Citizens Against Corruption "

Concerned wrote on Jun 2, 2008 1:23 PM:

" I think this whole mess is a hugh slap to the city and it's lack of Leadership when it comes down to city's
suppose higher ups!!!!!!!!

Fair is fair and right is right!!!!
This is a teribble thing that your suppose leaders are let happening! "

proud wrote on Jun 2, 2008 11:42 AM:

" I think if we would all take into considertation all the lifes these fireman save not just every day but every hour it puts a different perspective into what is happening in the tragety of the fire dept. right now. These brave men leave their families everyday not really sure what there going to face or will they come home to their love ones! But they do this and they do what every it takes to aid the sick or save a persons life or to think fighting a flaming fire sometimes wondering this could be the end. But they do this because they are
trained and they wear that badge with great pride and honor because that what it takes to be a excellent fireman.
I believe the truth will prevail!!!
It's professionalsyissv like you that we
need in such life's emergency's!!! "

oh my wrote on Jun 2, 2008 8:48 AM:

" Oh my, people who were in medical distressed happened to pass away on the way to the hospital in a medical emergancy!! tragic for the family but is it unheard of? "

Whazzup wrote on Jun 2, 2008 8:25 AM:

" Remember that in the good old USA anybody can sue anybody for anything, and the courts always protect the plaintif. Sometimes I am surprised that the city emergency personnel does anything. If a patient dies, they will be scrutinized for every thing they did, and their reports will be gone over by attorneys and the courts. It is possible that reports can be erroneously written up by a tired employee and "cleaned up" by his supervisors. Perhaps there was nothing seriously done here. Don't place blame. That is the courts' job. "

in the black ink wrote on Jun 2, 2008 8:12 AM:

" If the fire department was out writing unwarrented tickets to the unsuspecting tourists this would never have happened. All the fire department does is save lives and cost money. "

sickntired wrote on Jun 2, 2008 6:55 AM:

" Why don't we (the taxpayers) hire a private detective to find out why Mr Kaffenberger's assistant suddenly resigned right after a firefighter was fired. Sounds like just another case of terrirorial dog fighting. I think Mr. Kaffenberger is using his position (and our tax dollars) for a personal vendetta against the fire dept. "

Bonhomme Richard wrote on Jun 1, 2008 8:56 PM:

" I wish we would see the same level of intrest in our DO NOTHING POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Why is there not a cop on London Bridge just checking boat trailer tail-lights for working?????? "

unreal please read the entire court document wrote on Jun 1, 2008 8:39 PM:

" An inspector discovered a copy of Kruetzberg's letter, dated August 27, 1987, indicating that the addendum contained a mistake. Kaffenberger then instructed the police chief to brief selected council members about the discrepancy. The secret briefings took place on September 10 and 11, 1987. In addition, on the evening of September 10, 1987, Kaffenberger, the police chief and other individuals searched Avilla's office without a search warrant. Kaffenberger insisted that they were searching for the deed of trust. Nonetheless, they removed cassettes from Avilla's brief case, which were unrelated to the deed of trust.1 Kaffenberger told an individual to copy the tapes. Others items were also seized.

http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/978/978.F2d.715.91-16368.html "

take note wrote on Jun 1, 2008 4:44 PM:

" This is the article that was taken down and has now been put back up by the paper on 06/01/08. Someone at the paper must be reading the posts!!! Imagine that. "

not a rocket scientist wrote on Jun 1, 2008 4:35 PM:

" I'm not a rocket scientist but, why did this article magically re-post?Why, when posting a "Reader Comment", the rules state do not post "Potentionally libelous statements or damaging innuendos" yet this article with the Firemen's names was magically reposted? Why is the name of the individual who went to the Police, who started these accusations, not listed so credit can be given where credit is due? This whole ordeal seams shady. Things that make you go hmmm... "

timechange wrote on Jun 1, 2008 3:06 PM:

" Sanctions?
If in fact the fire chief, battalion chief, and 3 fire fighters did alter or delete offical reports or documents they should be terminated. they have lost the trust and respect of the citizens of lake havasu. there is no excuse for their actions. "

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