Eyewitness News is learning new details about the hijinks at a Kissimmee firehouse. The juvenile jokes have led to suspensions and a demotion.
Channel 9 first reported two weeks ago about four firefighters under investigation for breaking into an Osceola County deputy's car as a prank. Tuesday, Channel 9 obtained the fire department's internal report that shows the firefighters were told to lie if they were asked about it. It cost one lieutenant his rank.
The deputy's car was left in the parking lot of the fire station. He, presumably, chose the spot so it would be safe. But in the fire department's own investigation, one firefighter admitted he broke into the car. Now he and three others are suspended without pay.
"They realize they did a quote-unquote stupid thing. They all realized that this jeopardized their careers," said Chief Robert King, Kissimmee Fire Department.
It all started with a tiny tool called a jiffy jack and a prank that's become no joke for four firefighters. They wedged the device in the door of a sheriff's patrol car, unlocked it and helped themselves to the ticket book.
One parking ticket was made out to one of the firefighters, with profanity as his middle name and address. His car is described as "tampon red" with the offense listed as a sex-act. The officer signature is a phony name with another sexual term.
"It was some young firefighters being young," Chief King said.
Then the investigation uncovered more. A stack of interviews, including drawings and statements, showed Lt. Alan Taylor got the four together and told the crew to lie. They said they were training with the jiffy jack with permission.
"One of the things we pride ourselves on is having a high level of honesty and trust and anything like that is a little discouraging," Chief King said.
Taylor lost his lieutenant rank and, along with engineer Eric Gentry and firefighters Michael Kane and Seth Campbell, suspensions without pay
"I do not believe their intent was malicious in any manner. Our investigation shows that," Chief King said.
But one firefighter's statement reads, "I broke back into the sheriff's car." Others admitted taking tickets. The sheriff's office is investigating whether that is burglary and petty theft.
"They're all very remorseful. They want to get this beyond them," Chief King said.
The sheriff's office has not seen the fire department's internal investigation, because they don't want it to compromise their own criminal investigation into the actions of the four firefighters. That should be finished by the end of the week.
The suspensions for the firefighters range from one week to more than three weeks. They're also on disciplinary probation. Chief King believes it was the first time a lieutenant faced demotion in the history of the fire department.
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