Chicago Paramedic Probed over Alleged Race Incident

Mar. 29--A high-ranking Chicago Fire Department paramedic has been placed on paid leave after allegedly asking about a subordinate's race before agreeing to let the worker tend to a family emergency.

Donald Walsh, an assistant deputy chief paramedic who has worked for the fire department for more than 25 years, has been on leave since the first week of March, department spokesman Larry Langford said.

The alleged incident happened a day before the suspension, when a paramedic had a family emergency involving a child in a hospital. The medic asked his supervisor, a field officer, for permission to leave the ambulance crew, Langford said.

The field officer in turn asked Walsh, who allegedly asked whether the paramedic was black or white, according to Langford. "The issue is the question," Langford said. "The allegation centers on the fact that the question of the race was not necessary. The answer should have no bearing."

Walsh also allegedly said it would be up to the field officer to find a replacement for the paramedic while he dealt with his family emergency, Langford said. The paramedic, who is black, was granted the leave.

In a prepared statement, Fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco said there is "no room in this department for this alleged conduct. None whatsoever."

"It saddens me that anyone in a position of authority in this department would display this type of poor judgment," he said. "If the charges are sustained you will see very rapid and decisive action from my office."

Copyright (c) 2007, Chicago Tribune Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email , call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.