On Monday night, a North Babylon Fire Company crew arrived on North Westchester Avenue to assist a distressed 10-year-old girl. Her family had called for help after she became emotionally distressed when her parents took away her phone.
In a video circulating on social media, North Babylon Fire Chief Peter Alt is heard yelling aggressively as the girl is being loaded into an ambulance. He curses at her, saying, “Shut the f–k up! It’s like this with you every f–king week!” The frightened child responds, “I don’t want to go! I want to go home!” Chief Alt snaps back, “Shut your mouth!” as the ambulance doors are closed.
“My granddaughter was having a hard time. We’ve called for help before, first responders have always been compassionate in the past,” said the child’s grandmother. “Maybe it was a blessing I wasn’t there because I would have jumped all over this guy,” she said.
“When you call for help — the police, the fire department — they’re supposed to help you. Not treat you like garbage. And curse at a child at that.”
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“How dare he speak to a child like that? When you call for help, you should be treated with dignity, not like garbage.”
The video circulation on social media shows Suffolk County Police present at the scene, but none intervened as Chief Alt ye the child. The child’s family and neighbors have expressed dissatisfaction with the way the situation was handled.
One neighbor, Mark Simms, shared, “That’s not a professional way to deal with people. I wouldn’t want anyone speaking to my children like that”.
North Babylon Fire Company, in a statement, said: “The fire company is presently reviewing all of its training, policies, and procedures and will determine if further training with respect to responding to emergency calls is required.
“The fire company does not condone this behavior and deems it unacceptable.”
Chief Alt, a 22-year-veteran, has been suspended effective immediately. The fire department and the Town of Babylon are reviewing their training, policies, and procedures regarding emergency response, especially in situations involving children in crisis.
Town of Babylon officials have released an official statement condemning the behavior of Chief Peter Alt: “The use of demeaning and inappropriate language by a first responder during an aided call is appalling and completely at odds with the standards of dignity, respect, and professionalism our residents deserve,” the statement read.
“We understand that the individual involved has been relieved of duty while a full investigation takes place and we expect a full and transparent review of the incident.
“The Town of Babylon condemns this conduct in the strongest possible terms and stands with the affected family and all residents who rely on our emergency services in their times of need.”
Social media users have also condemned Chief Peter Alt’s behavior.
