Another D.C. Lt. Resigns Amid Neglect Charges, Probe

The D.C. fire lieutenant, charged by the department for failing to respond to a choking toddler, will not be disciplined and will retire with a full pension.

The 18-month-old, who was choking on a grape, waited 11 minutes for help to arrive. He was placed on life support, but later died.

Lt. Guy Valentine was in a fire house three blocks from the boy's house, and heard the call but didn't respond to assist saying his unit wasn't dispatched, according to WTTG. 

Valentine was charged in July with neglect of duty, incompetence and failure to provide assistance. In December, he turned in his retirement papers.

The child's father told reporters: “I want Mr. Valentine to know that I think of him every single day because he could have saved my son just doing his job,” said Cuesta. “He was three blocks away from my home. Three blocks away. He heard the alarm or the emergency and he decided not to leave. That contributed to the death of my son, so I think of him every single day.”

After a fire officer retired after she was charged for not assisting a cardiac arrest victim across the street from a fire house, the D.C. council passed the Disciplinary Investigation Act, aimed to prevent retirements as offenses are pending. 

But, the department has yet to adopt it.

A spokesperson sent the following explanation to reporters Monday:  

“On March 11, 2015, the “Firefighter Retirement While Under Disciplinary Investigation Amendment Act of 2014” became law which stipulated that members who retire or resign are still subject to actions by the agency until disciplinary investigations are complete and factual findings are made.

“At this time, the Department cannot take action against a member who resigns or retires while under disciplinary investigation because the regulations have not been adopted.  Implementation of the law was contingent on adoption of regulations and the law required the regulations to be adopted by May 11, 2015.  The Department has failed to adopt the required regulations.

“The regulations currently are being drafted and will be published in the DC Register within the next 30 days.  After a period of public comment, the Department will adopt the regulations and implement the law.”