{"id":132240,"date":"2020-12-13T02:41:17","date_gmt":"2020-12-12T23:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/nypd-launches-probe-after-emts-robbed-at-gunpoint-twice-in-a-week\/"},"modified":"2020-12-13T02:41:17","modified_gmt":"2020-12-12T23:41:17","slug":"nypd-launches-probe-after-emts-robbed-at-gunpoint-twice-in-a-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nypd-launches-probe-after-emts-robbed-at-gunpoint-twice-in-a-week\/","title":{"rendered":"#NYPD launches probe after EMTs robbed at gunpoint twice in a week"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#NYPD launches probe after EMTs robbed at gunpoint twice in a week<\/strong>”
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The NYPD is probing a possible connection between two EMT robberies in the same week.<\/p>\n

Two young FDNY emergency medical technicians were held up at\u00a0 gunpoint inside NYCHA\u2019s Cooper Park Houses early Saturday in East Williamsburg after responding to a\u00a0bogus call at 2:18 am about a patient having seizures, police said.<\/p>\n

When the two got out of an elevator on the 7th floor, a man dressed in black and with a black mask\u00a0pulled out a gun, commanding them to \u201cgive me your radios and bags,\u201d which held medical equipment, said NYPD spokeswoman Sophia Mason.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The gunman then pushed all the buttons on the elevator and sent the two shaken EMTs, ages 25 and 23, back down. The medics, who each have just a year on the job, are stationed in Greenpoint.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were shocked that this happ<\/a>ened,\u201d said Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY EMS Local 2507, the EMS union. \u201cThey came to help a victim, and became victims.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

In a Dec. 7 incident, a gunman robbed two EMTs, a 28-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man, working for Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center.<\/p>\n

They were lured to a Brownsville apartment on a 911 call of someone \u201chaving difficulty breathing,\u201c police said.<\/p>\n

\u00a0When they arrived, there was no patient to treat. The robber pointed a gun, took their equipment bags, and fled.<\/p>\n

EMS can be a tough and dangerous job. Workers go alone into crime-ridden areas \u2014 unarmed, and often not accompanied by cops. Besides carrying radios worth several thousands of dollars, EMTs carry only baby aspirin as a blood thinner for chest pains, Ventolin for asthma attacks, and Epinephrine for allergic reactions, and Narcan to reverse an opioid overdose. Paramedics, who perform advanced life support, typically carry Morphine, Ketamine, Versed, and Diazepam<\/p>\n

But such drugs would be \u201cvaluable only to a drug addict,\u201d Barzilay said.<\/p>\n

The union president blamed the political climate: \u201cThis is the result of Mayor de Blasio defunding the police, and the state\u2019s bail reform allowing criminals on a daily basis to commit crimes and face no consequences,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cRather than having police respond to calls with EMS as they normally did, they go on fewer medical calls. Now, they want to send a social<\/a> worker instead of a police officer on calls. How is that going to help our situation?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Police Benevolent Association tweeted outrage and support for their EMT brothers and sisters. <\/p>\n

\u201cAGAIN?! Another EMS unit was robbed at gunpoint. Our POs have been shot, our Federal partners have been shot, NYers have been shot, and our EMS units are getting robbed. @NYCMayor<\/a> and @NYCCouncil<\/a> needs to change their public safety priorities now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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AGAIN?! Another EMS unit was robbed at gunpoint. Our POs have been shot, our Federal partners have been shot, NYers have been shot, and our EMS units are getting robbed. @NYCMayor<\/a> and @NYCCouncil<\/a> needs to change their public safety priorities now.https:\/\/t.co\/JxngVeZrjP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) December 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

No arrests have been made in either case. Police could not say immediately whether the incidents are linked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too early in the investigation to determine if they are connected. But we are looking into the possibility,\u201d an NYPD spokesman told the Post.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro fumed, \u201cIt\u2019s despicable that anyone would use 911 for a fake medical call, threaten the lives of EMTs, and steal the tools they use to save lives,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cEMTs and paramedics have one mission \u2013 respond to help New Yorkers in need of emergency medical care. They are essential to our city. When apprehended, those responsible for these crimes should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

An FDNY insider said the robberies are a sign of \u201cdesperate times\u201d amid the pandemic.<\/p>\n

But EMS pay is so low, a veteran said, \u201cThe perpetrator was lucky they didn\u2019t rob him.\u201d\n <\/p><\/div>\n