Former Tri-Village, NY, Fire Chief Charged after Groping Medic

Aug. 14—GALLATIN — A Columbia County fire chief charged with misdemeanors for allegedly groping a paramedic during an emergency overdose call will have his case heard at a different court after the judges at the first venue recused themselves from the case.

Ricardo DeGroff Jr. was charged with forcible touching and official misconduct by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office about six weeks after the alleged incident. The arrest was never announced, and the agency only confirmed it when contacted by the Times Union after the newspaper spoke to the alleged victim. DeGroff was a former employee of the sheriff's office, serving as a communications specialist, Sheriff Don Krapf later confirmed.

DeGroff was dismissed from the Tri-Village Fire Department after an internal investigation by the department's board.

He appeared in Chatham Town Court last week, but both town judges — Michael A. Hart and Michael E. Rosen — recused themselves from the case due to conflicts of interest, since both had served alongside DeGroff while volunteer firefighters, according to Chatham Court Clerk Arthur Proper.

Rosen volunteered with DeGroff at the Tri-Village Fire Department, and Hart volunteered with DeGroff at the East Chatham Fire Department, according to the Daily Gazette.

Columbia County District Attorney spokeswoman Ann Pazera said DeGroff would appear in Gallatin Town Court, another local court in the county. Pazera did not yet have a court date for the appearance, and the Gallatin court clerks were not immediately available for information on the case.

DeGroff is being represented by James Kleinbaum, a Chatham-area attorney. When contacted Thursday, Kleinbaum declined to discuss what kind of defense he would mount but said his client, whom he is representing privately, had yet to enter a plea because of the change of venue.

Carolyn Fleming, a paramedic with the Chatham Rescue Squad, told the Times Union she was responding to an overdose call on June 5 when the incident allegedly occurred. The Tri-Village Fire Department and DeGroff also responded, as did State Police. Fleming said she was in the home of the patient, checking what medications they had taken, when DeGroff, who had also stayed behind, tried to squeeze between her and the wall of the home.

Thinking he was simply trying to get by, Fleming apologized, but then DeGroff allegedly placed his hand on her hip near her groin and pushed his crotch into her butt. He then caressed her, saying, "It's OK, baby, you don't need to apologize, you know I love you," according to Fleming.

Fleming said she decided to continue with her duty as a paramedic instead of immediately addressing the incident. She said DeGroff — who is 16 years older than her — later called her "kiddo" and "baby" outside the patient's home. A fellow member of the Chatham Rescue Squad also told the Times Union he heard DeGroff call Fleming "baby."

Both charges the former fire chief faces carry up to a year in jail.