Investigation Concludes Fire Medics Failed To Follow Procedures

TAMPA, FL -- A 10-week investigation into the actions of four Hillsborough County Fire Rescue medics has resulted in one being fired and three others suspended.

Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill launched the investigation following the death of 30-year-old Tampa mother Crystle Galloway after fire medics were called to her condominium on July 4.

Galloway’s mother, Nicole Black, said she dialed 911 when Galloway’s 7-year-old daughter called to tell her that something was wrong with her mother.

Black, who lives in the same condominium complex, rushed over and found her daughter passed out in the bathroom. Galloway had just undergone a Caesarean section for the birth of her son six days before.

What occurred next remains unclear.

Black said she begged the fire medics to take her daughter to the hospital, but she said the fire medics told her she couldn’t afford the $600 charge to transport her daughter to the hospital by ambulance. She said they advised her to drive her daughter to the hospital herself.

The fire medics claim it was Black who insisted on driving her daughter to the hospital. They said she only wanted them to help her carry Galloway down the condominium stairs and place her in Black’s car.

Black ended up driving her daughter to a Brandon Regional Hospital emergency facility in Temple Terrace about three blocks from their home. There, doctors discovered that Galloway had a stroke and was bleeding in her brain. Due to the seriousness of her condition, doctors had her airlifted to Tampa General Hospital. Galloway fell into a coma and died five days later from a stroke.

Merrill said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Galloway’s death revealed several errors by the fire medics.

He said they failed to follow protocol by not taking Galloway’s vital signs at the scene and by not having Black sign a formal refusal for transport by ambulance.

The investigation also uncovered a third, more egregious error, Merrill said.

He said the medics falsified case documents by reporting that the patient couldn’t be found when they recorded the call in the logging system.

"To the family, I do sincerely apologize and give my heartfelt apologies for our lack of care and service," Merrill during a news conference Wednesday, Sept. 27. "I hope, and I had hoped, that these four fire medics would have been more forthcoming and owned this. At some point I think it would be good for them to apologize themselves instead of me.''

Lt. John "Mike" Morris, 36, a Hillsborough County paramedic for six years, was fired for his failure to provide adequate care that night.

Merrill said acting Lt. Cortney Barton, 38, a nine-year employee with Hillsborough Fire Rescue, will serve a 30-day suspension without pay and will not be permitted to serve as an acting lieutenant for one year.

Fire Medic Justin Sweeney,36, a five-year employee, was demoted to firefighter/EMT. He and fire medic Andrew J. Martin, 28, also a five-year employee, were suspended for 30 days without pay as well.

More disconcerting than their actions that night were the four fire medics’ attitudes about what occurred, said Merrill. The county administrator didn’t mince words when he described their reactions.

"Other than Martin, none of the others had a shred of remorse, showed a shred of regret, had a second thought about their actions," Merrill said.

He called Morris “extremely arrogant.”

“In fact, he said he would do everything again in the same way and that he can tell just by looking at a patient what they need,” said Merrill. “I think that's horrendous.”

He said it was that attitude that led him to fire Morris.

The fire medics, who had no previous disciplinary actions, have 30 days to take their cases to arbitration under their contracts with the International Association of Firefighters Local 2294 union.

All four have declined requests to comment about the case.

Image via Nicole Black

(For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)