By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Imagine going home after a day's work saving lives, turning on the evening news and finding out that you've been fired!

That's what happened to probationary Paramedic Keith Wilken on January 28, 2000. His partner, nine-year veteran Paramedic Douglas Vincent, was suspended for 30 days. "Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen actually went on television and said that we endangered a person's life," said Mr. Vincent.
Their troubles began when the two members of Local 2507 responded to an emergency 911 call from a Bronx woman with asthma.

According to Mr. Vincent, Paramedics from another shift had told him that the emergency room at St. Barnabas Hospital was full and suggested he go to nearby Jacobi Hospital. "The woman had an ID card from Jacobi," he said. "She never said anything about not going there."

But without getting employee statements from the Paramedics, Mr. Von Essen accused Wilken and Vincent of steering patients away from St. Barnabas. Supposedly, EMS workers were angry that St. Barnabas had begun using a for-profit ambulance company.

"One would think that if you were going to deprive someone of their livelihood, the first thing you'd do is to speak to them about what happened," said Pat Bahnken, president of EMTs and Paramedics Local 2507. "Instead, these brave members were sacrificed as scapegoats on the political altar to draw attention away from the privatization of the Fire Dept."

Wilken and Vincent were charged with violating the State Public Health Law and other regulations. With the backing of Local 2507 President Pat Bahnken and legal representation by DC 37 Assistant General Counsel Leonard Polletta, the Paramedics fought to win back their jobs and clear their reputations.

All charges withdrawn
After hearings in June and July at the New York State Dept. of Health, which certifies Paramedics and EMTs, the state charges were dropped. On June 17, the Fire Dept. withdrew all its charges surrounding the incident and agreed to reimburse Mr. Vincent for the wages he lost during his suspension.

"The facts simply did not substantiate the claims of the Fire Department," said Mr. Polletta. "No charges should ever have been filed."