Stephen Sawyer
When EMT and squad leader, Sawyer, received a call on December 11 around 11 a.m. at the Webster Street headquarters about a 4-year-old having seizures, a paramedic was dispatched and a call for an ambulance placed, reports Times Herald-Record. Finding an available ambulance proved difficult and after 15 minutes, Sawyer decided he could not wait any longer.
Squad rules state an ambulance driver must be over the age of 21. Sawyer is 20, with experience driving ambulances for Mobile Life. He ignored the squad rule and drove nearly 5 miles, picked up the child, his mother, and the paramedic and got them to Ellenville Regional Hospital without any problems occurring.
That is, until he was awakened later that night by his squad captain asking about the incident.
"I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night or go to school knowing there's a 4-year-old suffering," Sawyer said to Times Herald-Record.
Sawyer was shortly after called to appear before Ellenville squad's seven-member board of directors. The board's decision was 4-3 against Sawyer resulting in a 60 day suspension, revoking of his title on the communications committee and his title as advisor from the Youth Squad.
Shocked by the decision, Sawyer grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and immediately tendered his resignation.
Comments are pouring in about the incident on social media channels and they show support for Sawyer while criticizing the board's actions, according to Newsday.
For what it's worth, the decision was reportedly not only dictated by this one incident. It was a "culmination of different incidents" in which he violated policies and bylaws as well as other aspects of the call on Dec. 11, John Gavaris, a captain and board member for Ellenville First Aid and Rescue Squad said. Gavaris would not elaborate further.
Showing compassion, concern for others, common sense and street smarts is an obvious sign that he doesn't belong on that force full of those who behave in the opposite manner. At least Ellenville can now sleep at night knowing their emergency personnel are of a like mind and won't respond to any call for help. Isn't that satisfying to know? At least now the citizens need not bother to call, as they know it'll be a total waste of time.