Prayers for the families!

Prayers for the families.

Why reject???

Why does the Orland Fire Protection District need to cooperate in an investigation? It has nothing to do with it. He wasn't on duty and in his own vehicle.

I agree with Karen!

Does Illinois State Law require an automatic blood- alchohol test to be preformed in the event of a death in a vehicular accident? Wonder why he was charged with reckless homicide?

What is OPFDs policy regarding employees covicted of DUI?

If this guy wasn't tested, someone's head should roll!

If they got to the point of charging the guy with reckless homicide in what should have been a simple, safe driving environment, how could this guy be trusted to drive an emergency vehicle safely, or, for that matter, perform any hazardous duty?

OPFD is one of the most desirable jobs out there. They're flooded with qualifed applicants because of their disproportionately high salaries and benefits and primarily low risk firefighting activites. It's not like the Englewood district of Chicago where paramedics are called to set them up for a drug robbery or firemen have to worry about breaking into a burning crack house where they may be greeted with a hail of 9mm "greetings" from the crack heads inside.

THEY'RE the ones who should be getting the princely salaries and bene's given to OPFD.

It'd be interesting to find out who his political "sponsor" was to get that great OPFD job!

Bob - You may try and get your facts straight before opening you mouth.... ANYONE involved in a PI or fatal accident gets their blood taken. At what point was he convicted? hope that rock doesn't come to that glass house you seem to be living in!

Tammy- hope a rock doesn't come through that glass house you seem to be living in!!! What about the OPFD Chief with the inaproppriative material on his work computer? He wasn't "convicted" of anything, he just resigned and will collect a great pension. And what about the OPFD Lieutenant accused of trying to meet up with that teenage girl online? He resigned also. Usually they go on paid medical leave, for a year or more. Fortunately, the Lieutenant will be prosecuted. Sounds to me, like the deal with the OPFD Chief, was conveniently swept under the rug!!!

Wow Keith - bitter much? What does the fire chief which by the way was a complete witch hunt because your "Grand" fire district president wanted him out and his own people in... What do any of your examples have to do with this particular incident? He has not been convicted of ANYTHING. Really - I think you and Bob reside in the same glass house - hmmm what is that saying... Oh yeah "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone"...

Instead if alcohol at 1:40 pm and being on prescription drugs, texting a possibility??

Tammy- Bob's just asking a question and stating his opinion. I was just stating a fact on how OPFD takes care of it's own, "thin blue line". I didn't say I was without sin, you were the one that said" You may try and get your facts straight before opening 'you' mouth". The update to this story, clearly states," he was on a prescription medication, was driving about 25 mph over the posted limit and was weaving out of traffic lanes at the time of the accident. Sounds like DUI to me! What's the glass house kick? You a window washer or something? ( bible pounder)

Nope - no connection to theOFPD , not a bible thumper - Just a resident who is sick of people passing judgement when all the facts are not in. OFPD is one of the best departments around and that "code of silence" and "thin blue line" give me a break - they can't cover anything up in this case - it was handled by CCSP. Again my reference to the glass house is unless you NEVER do any of the things that is put out there you should really reserve judgement... It could happen to any of us.

This proves my point you have idea what your are talking about let me clear this up for you.... I never said anything about the Oak Forest Fire Department or Oak Forest Police Department. I did reference OFPD which is Orland Fire Protection District. I did mention CCSP which is Cook County Sheriff Police which by the way is the one who is listed in all news media as handling this accident. Again maybe you should read a little more than the headline .. And I will say it AGAIN for you NOT related, NOT associated with anyone in the OFPD, NOT a bible thumper. AGAIN I am a resident that is tired of everyone thinking they are so above what has happened. If you have EVER driven after taking a prescription or even non prescription in your system, ANY amount of alcohol in your system or even speed above the posted limit ANYWHERE - this could happen to you or your family... Think about that before giving your uneducated opinion

Once again you show how uneducated YOU are on this subject. Over the years I've had to pain killers after REAL injuries, not just those used to get workman's comp or get a lengthy leave from work. Every time I took the meds my Doctor told me about the dangers of mixing the meds with alcohol, and my wife's an RN who certainly wouldn't let me do anything that would put me, or others, in harm's way due to my actions.
I don't pretend to be as knowledgeable as Mr Bruce concerning meds. He's a professional who has to have some qualtification as an EMT.

Reports say he was weaving between traffic and speeding at 25 mph. A PROFESSIONAL like him would never have gone behind the wheel if he was diminshed due to the meds. A PREOFESSIONAL like him would've pulled over if he was "surprised" to find himself losing control, NOT speeding up.

You are right about one thing. When the blood test results are out we'll know the TRUTH about his condition. It's likely the Court and prosecutor know this already, which is why he was charged and had the high bail.

Teh facts about his speed and erratic driving are out there, as is the fact that and INNOCENT PERSON WAS KILLED BY HIS ACTIONS.

Sorry, but I've known a number of people who've had family members tragically killed because of jerks driving while impaired.

The fact that you're defending this guy DESPITE the facts presented isa pretty clear indication you don't understand the pain caused by knowingly driving while impaired.

REALLY Bob? I guess we all can't be that lucky great a human being as you are that follows all the directions in life or have a wife as an RN that makes us follow all the rules... What a very lucky Man you are to have NEVER broken a law... I never said I was defending him - just withholding judgement until all the fact are in - which clearly you are unable to. BTW - His injury was fake? You know this how? What information do you have to support this accusation? And why are you such a hater? Did the OFPD reject you - if they did my guess it was the psych evaluation... I will not waste any more of my time responding to your ridiculous statements. Hope you continue your perfect life with your RN wife making sure you do.

Bob, I would like to add my “two” cents in here. First off, I am a little bias. I have used the services of the Orland Fire department a couple of times. Whether you believe this or not it is a fact. They are some of the highest trained and best-qualified paramedics in the entire SouthsideI. They are equipped better then any department around. This is a fact.
I use to be a critic of them. I was very vocal of the taxes I paid. I went to the main office and attended a few meetings. I was invited to ride along with the crew at station 1. There job is not as cushy as you think.

They are crossed trained as firefighter paramedics. You keep comparing them to Chicago most Chicago firemen are not paramedics. Chicago firefighters also work 20-30 fewer days per year then Orland guys work. These are all facts.
I would like to tell you a little story. Back in the mid 1990’s I was choosen for a jury involving a police officer charged with a crime. The media tried and convicted him. When the lawyers presented there evidence it was evident this was over zealous prosecutors. The police officer was found not guilty. The states attorney was trying to make an example of this guy.
My grandson is a police officer. He told me it is not illegal to drive on prescription drugs unless you are under the influence. He said the key here is if the fireman was under the influence he would have been charged with aggravated driving under the influence which he was not.
I would ask you to keep an open mind and wait until all the evidence is presented in court to make an educated decision.

Bob, Let's wait and see if he was even under the influence or evne on anything. Either he has passed the tests or they are awaiting the results.

I knew Anasis Knox personally and I can tell you her death has left a void that most cannot understand unless you've lived through it. She honestly lit up a room when she entered and was beloved at her workplace. I will remember the moment when I heard of the accident and her demise for the rest of my life. It shook my faith and part of my heart went with her. She just lost her mother 4 months ago.

April 10,2002 The Date I was Taken to Palos Hospital By Trace Ambulance, First To Help Me Was Pat Bruce and The Crestwood Fire Department.Thank You To All

He can kiss his job and career good by.

Looks like he is positioning himself up for a lawsuit against the drug company. "The drugs made me do it!" Then he can sue them and collect permanent disability from Orland Fire Protection District so he won't have to work again. That is if you consider lifting weights, exchanging firehouse chili recipes, and occasionally being called to resuce a cat in a tree or put out a Weber grill fire work. For $100,000 + a year. Poor guy.

If he gets a disability pension, it's based at 50% of his base salary and it's taxable at the State and Federal level and he has to pay his own health insurance. Plus no law suit. He was trained in the medical field being a firemen and he knew what the drugs adverse reactions are. He's screwed.

A fun read but I think everyone can agree the media is horrible when they see an easy target. What im missing is who clicked him doing 25 over the speed limit and was there a witness. All I've seen was it said according to the report .

And one last comment OPFD is the best having used them

No one said anything funny about somebody dieing. To read what someone writes withauch passion is fun or maybe i should of said its great to see someone stand up for someone that hasn't been tried in court. Stop reading into something that's not there.

Bad jounalism at it's best!

Guys lets not forget a young women lost her life here. Can we try and keep it clean and debate the issue.

As i posted before if he was under the influence he would have been charged with aggravated driving under the influence. Something is not adding up here. We do not have all of the actual facts. Let us all wait and see when all of the real fact known and discovered by the investigators before we pass judgement. I was on a case years ago where they tried to make an example of a police officer. When the real facts were presented it was very obvious the police officer was being made an example of by over zealous prosecutors. His lawyer shots holes through the prosecutors case so large you could have driven a truck through them,i am not saying this is the case here but i learned a very valuable lesson. The press loves to sensationalize certain cases and twists facts to sell their version of the story. Lets wait and see.

Bob

You can't predict that he did any of these things just because they set his bail high. If you really knew anything of the courts they set his bail high because 1. he was in an accident that resulted in a death and 2. he was as first responder which if he is guilty or innocent they must put him at a higher standard. So your comment about I believe in innocent until proven guilty is bull. Your previous comments you kept saying they wouldn't have set the bail so high and so on if the judge and prosecutors didn't know something. You don't know what your talking about and you completely judge this person off of what you think is what happened. I hope you never serve on any jury. This was a horrible accident and none of us know what has truly happened we will all find out soon enough.

dude is a loser. Don't hero worship him 'cuz he was a firefighter. High-as-a-kite killer.

Lincoln Navigator is pretty posh for a public servant. Bye bye pension.