Georgia Battalion Chief Fired for Accompanying Patient to Hospital

Feb. 18--SYLVESTER -- Worth County Commissioners voted Tuesday to terminate John Graddy from his long-time position as battalion chief of the Worth County Fire Department.

At issue was Graddy's decision in January to accept a request from Worth County EMS to assist the transport of a patient from Phoebe Worth Hospital in Sylvester to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. In doing so, Commission Chairman Mike Cosby contends Grady left Worth County vulnerable to fires.

"In his absence, (Graddy) left only a lieutenant and two non-certified firefighters to drive the truck or use the equipment," Cosby said.

According to Commissioner Ken Hall, Worth County has no single fire chief, but three battalion chiefs, with Graddy and another man alternating 24-hour shifts as EMTs. The two agencies have an ongoing mutual agreement to help each other in emergencies, Hall said.

"The agreement is intended for emergency assistance," Hall said. "That really means transporting victims from an accident or medical emergency situation and transporting them to a hospital -- not from one hospital to another."

Worth Commissioner Billy McDonald, who voted to terminate Graddy, said Graddy went along to help with a "combative" patient for whom Phoebe Worth was running short on sedative. Worth officials say Graddy failed to notify either Hall, who supervises the Worth Fire Department, or McDonald, who also works with the agency.

McDonald said Graddy injured his arm and shoulder while helping take the patient from the ambulance and diagnostic services and treatment.

In the end, three of the four commissioners present at the meeting voted to terminate Graddy. Hall was the only dissenter.

"I thought (Graddy's) decision was unfortunate," Hall said, "And it shouldn't be without penalty, but I didn't think it warranted his termination."

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