WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) -- Four Wilmington firefighters have been disciplined for a nearly 2-yearold hazing incident involving a rookie firefighter.
Three of the firefighters -- Capt. Gene Powell, engineer Mark Roseman and Major Kevin Padgett -- were each suspended for about a month without pay. A fourth, Capt. Mark Williamson, was given a written reprimand, said city Human Resources Director Al McKenzie.
The incident happened in November 2002 at Station 5, according to a five-page written statement by the victim, Paul Casieri, but it was just reported last month.
Casieri, who has been with the fire department since July 2001, declined to discuss the incident.
Casieri was taking a shower in the evening when someone threw two packages of firecrackers into the shower stall with him, according to the statement. When he looked to his left, Casieri said, the shower curtain was open, and Padgett, Roseman and Powell, who was a lieutenant at the time, were laughing at him, according to the statement.
He said a pan of cold water was thrown on him, followed by two boxes of baking soda. The statement does not identify the firefighters who threw the cold water and baking soda.
Powell took pictures of the incident with a disposable camera, the statement said. Casieri said he grabbed a towel to cover himself when he realized he was being photographed.
As he tried to wipe his eyes, Casieri said Roseman took the towel from him. He said he then slipped and fell to the floor and Roseman grabbed his ankles and dragged him, naked and on his back, about 25 feet through the bedroom, according to the statement.
When Casieri reported the incident to Williamson, the captain replied, ``What, you never joked around?'' according to the statement.
Powell apologized the next day after he was confronted by Williamson, but Roseman refused to apologize, and Padgett has never mentioned the hazing, the statement says.
On another occasion, a co-worker drove up next to Casieri, tapped on the window and pointed a handgun in his face and then placed the gun on the passengers seat, the statement said.
Eventually, Hill was informed of some, but not all, of the incidents, the statement says.
City Manager Sterling Cheatham said Monday that Hill disciplined the firefighters for behavior unbecoming an officer.
Powell and Padgett could not be reached for comment, and Williamson did not return a message left on his cell phone. A woman who answered the phone at Roseman's home declined comment.
Information from: The Star-News
