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A New York fire chief has been removed from duty after he was caught on video berating a 10-year-old girl as she was being placed in an ambulance.
In the now-viral video, North Babylon Fire Chief Peter Alt appeared to shout expletives at a distressed child who was strapped to a stretcher.
“Shut the f–k up! It’s like this with you every f–king week!” Alt said.
“I don’t want to go! I want to go home!” the 10-year-old girl responded, to which the fire chief replied, “Shut your mouth!” before the ambulance doors closed.
Warning: Explicit
@chanzillaaa This is how North Babylon Fire Department talks to a 10-year-old little girl in crisis. She was scared, having a mental health emergency—and instead of compassion, she was berated, told shut the f*ck up you little b*tch by a grown man in uniform. Suffolk County Police stood by and did nothing. What you don’t see on video was even worse. The verbal abuse went on and on. This child was treated like she didn’t matter. This is beyond unacceptable. This is trauma. Children in crisis need care, not cruelty. We will not be silent. This cannot keep happening. #NorthBabylonFD #justice #MentalHealthMatters #ProtectChildren #TraumaIsReal ♬ original sound – Chanzillaaa
According to reports, the incident unfolded on Monday (August 4) after the girl’s family called for help during an emotional outburst. The child’s grandmother said the girl became distressed after her phone was taken away.
“Maybe it was a blessing I wasn’t there because I would have jumped all over this guy,” the grandmother said. “They’re supposed to help you. Not treat you like garbage. And curse at a child at that.”
On Tuesday (August 5), the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company announced that Alt was stripped of his duties amid an investigation into the incident.
“The fire company does not condone this behavior and deems it unacceptable,” the company said in a statement.
The Town of Babylon also condemned Alt’s actions as “appalling,” adding, “There is no place in our town for behavior that disrespects or harms the public — especially when it involves a young person or child.”
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