California EMS Agency Probes Paramedic`s Conduct

Apr. 18--The state Emergency Medical Services Authority says it has opened an investigation into sexual misconduct by a paramedic captain at the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

But already, the EMSA's newly hired enforcement chief said he is encountering resistance from the fire district.

EMSA enforcement chief Charles Teddington said that on Monday he asked a Metro Fire official for copies of district documents that were described in an April 5 Bee story. That story detailed the agency's record $550,000 legal settlement with a former female employee who alleged more than a dozen firefighters had sexually harassed her and that two had assaulted her.

Seven firefighters were disciplined and others left the district, The Bee found, but no police probe ever was launched.

Teddington said he contacted Metro Fire general counsel Richard Margarita to ask for copies of the internal investigative documents related to the case because paramedic Capt. David W. Riggs was involved. Teddington's Sacramento-based state agency licenses and disciplines paramedics.

Margarita refused to cooperate, Teddington said. After written questions were submitted to Metro Fire on Tuesday by The Bee at its request, spokesman Jeff Lynch responded: "We have been in communication with the EMSA regarding this issue and we have nothing more to add at this time."

Teddington said that despite a 2-year-old state law requiring employers to report paramedic disciplinary cases to his agency, Metro Fire never reported that it had disciplined Riggs last fall.

EMSA, as a state oversight agency, has the power of subpoena for records, and Teddington said he might resort to issuing one to the district. He said he also might use the state Public Records Act.

"It's going to be a fight," he said.

Metro Fire's failure to report the disciplinary case may be a symptom of a larger statewide problem.

On Feb. 13, EMSA Director Dr. Cesar Aristeiguietta issued a notice to all of California's paramedic employers -- including private ambulance companies and fire departments -- saying he had learned that some employers were not aware of the reporting requirement in effect since 2005 and asking them to comply.

However, EMSA spokeswoman Shirley Tsagris said there is no penalty or sanction for failing to report a disciplinary action.

The Bee's April 5 story reported that Riggs was among the seven Metro fire employees disciplined last fall for on-duty sexual misconduct or harassment involving the former female employee between 2000 and 2003.

Riggs was given 280 hours of unpaid leave, which he was allowed to debit from his annual vacation leave, internal Metro Fire documents show.

Riggs told Metro Fire's internal investigator he had participated in 15 or more sexual encounters with the woman while on duty, according to interview transcripts.

Riggs portrayed the woman as the sexual aggressor, while she said he was the aggressor.

Reached by The Bee, Riggs declined to comment, calling it a personnel matter.

The settlement with the woman showed that Metro Fire agreed to pay her and her husband $550,000 on condition that they keep the compensation and reasons for it secret and that she also not assist current or former Metro Fire employees with claims against the district. The Bee is not naming the woman because of her sexual assault allegations.

The district admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement but stated the compensation was for sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

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