(Washington, DC) At a news conference today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty reassured District residents that a complete and thorough investigation is being conducted into allegations of employee misconduct within the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS) Department. “The Fire and EMS Internal Affairs Unit is working with Metropolitan Police to make certain that no stone is left unturned,” Mayor Fenty said.

Today’s cews conference was held at Engine 27, where some of the employee misconduct is alleged to have occurred. “The doors of this Fire Station are wide open and so is this investigation,” Chief Rubin said. “I will share as much information with the general public as I can, but we ask everyone to keep in mind that this Department must protect the integrity of the investigations and the rights of the accused,” he said.

On Monday, August 27, Chief Rubin announced that a partnership between DCFEMS and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) had been reached to create an Internal Investigations Unit to explore allegations of unethical and/or criminal activity by Fire and Emergency Medical Services employees.

At the time, Chief Rubin said, “I could not in good conscience allow recent allegations of employee misconduct to continue without taking swift and decisive action. We are not going to jeopardize these investigations and we will not infringe upon the civil rights of those individuals who are alleged to be involved,” Rubin said. Chief Rubin requested assistance from MPD Chief Cathy Lanier after becoming aware of a number of apparently unrelated but disturbing incidents involving employees.

“My Department is conducting a full investigation into the criminal allegations being made against DC Fire and EMS employees. Just as any investigation, it will take time. We do not want to act hastily–particularly when livelihoods are at stake,” said Chief Lanier.