Drinking on the job is never a good thing. Drinking on the job when you have to drive on the job is even worse. Drinking and driving a fire truck on the job may be the worst (except maybe an ambulance).
A volunteer firefighter in Toledo, Ohio was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) – while behind the wheel of the million-dollar rig. Drunk behind the wheel of a fire truck, I have to admit, I have never heard of that one before. As reported in www.newslincolncounty.com.
The arresting officer noticed the fire truck driving extremely slowly down the middle of the street. It had its lights on, but the officer had not heard any 911 calls come through. The fire truck continue to move like it was lost so the officer turned on his lights.
The driver of the fire truck parked in the middle of the street. As soon as the officer neared the vehicle he knew the driver had had contact with alcohol. The driver of the fire truck, 38-year-old Robert Learn, had been consuming alcoholic beverages prior to driving.
The officer said he tried to get Learn to perform a sobriety test but was met with verbal abuse and that Learn became combative. Learn was transported to jail where he was booked for Drunk Driving and Resisting Arrest and given a citation for Refusing a Breath Test. Jail officials did manage to obtain a blood draw.
How can a firefighter betray his community like that? It is obvious Learn needs to learn how to cope with his alcohol problems. An Ohio DUI and alcohol class is a good place to start.