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Chief, Paramedic Have Certificates Revoked

Carteret County

NEWPORT - While a town-sponsored investigation has cleared its fire chief in a case involving management of the department, a separate panel has found fault with his conduct and revoked his emergency medical technician certification as well as that of a female paramedic in the department with whom he’s alleged to have had an affair.

On Thursday, the town released findings from an investigation into rumors and allegations of which the town would not specify, citing the cloak of personnel law.

The next day Fire Chief Holt and paramedic Melanie Woods had their emergency medical technician (EMT) certificates indefinitely revoked by the County Emergency Medical Services Quality Improvement Committee.

The revocations were based on an investigation of incidents involving Chief Holt and Ms. Woods, said Dr. Mike Lowry, medical director of the committee. That review was separate from the town-sponsored investigation conducted by Frank Galizia, a former sheriff’s deputy now in private practice as an investigator.

According to the official statement from the committee – a peer organization that controls emergency medical services in the county – its members “carefully reviewed the evidence” and interviewed Chief Holt and Paramedic Woods “and numerous other EMS providers.”

“Based upon their careful investigation, the committee unanimously decided that EMT-Basic Holt and Paramedic Woods have been restricted from further operation within the Carteret County EMS System,” according to the statement.

The decision also means Chief Holt may no longer supervise EMS providers in the county, part of his duties with the Newport department.

Chief Holt, who was recently honored by the U.S. Marine Corps for heroism, is the town’s first full-time, paid fire chief.

The committee is also referring its action to the state EMS office for further review and investigation, Dr. Lowry said Tuesday.

Details of the alleged offenses were not provided but Dr. Lowry did reference allegations made by people who posted on the public comment sections of The News-Times’ Web site but did not list their names, remaining anonymous.

Those allegations included an extramarital affair between Chief Holt and Ms. Woods and other unprofessional actions.

“I can say that the Carteret County EMS Quality Improvement Committee reviewed multiple cases and reports and testimony and based upon this, we decided that Rob Holt, an EMT basic and current chief of Newport Fire Department and Melanie Woods, an EMS basic, are hereby restricted from operating as an EMT basic in Carteret County and will have no further administrative supervision of EMS providers within Carteret County,” Dr. Lowry said.

In addition to Dr. Lowry, a physician in the emergency department at Carteret General Hospital, the committee is comprised of members of the EMS community representing each of the squads, Carteret Community College, which provides EMT training, and the hospital. Dr. Lowry is the only physician on the committee. Other members are practicing EMTs.

“Every member of the committee is given an equal vote in the committee’s disciplinary actions and recommendations,” Dr. Lowry said. “This decision was a decision made by Chief Holt’s and Paramedic Woods’ peers.”

Town Manager #### Casey said Monday that neither Chief Holt nor Ms. Woods had been fired from the department, but any decision on whether or not town action would be taken is pending formal notification from the peer committee.

“I need a written statement from Dr. Lowry before taking further action,” Mr. Casey said Monday.

Dr. Lowry said Tuesday notifications had not been sent to the town manager or the state board.

“#### Casey will get CC’d (carbon copied) on the letter. That letter will contain more committee-specific information about the decision,” Dr. Lowry said.

The issue was apparently the subject of closed-session discussions during the town council’s December and January meetings, the latter of which was Jan. 6. Those sessions were held, according to meeting minutes, “to hear or investigate a complaint, charge or grievance by or against a public officer or employee.”

The News-Times learned in December that Mr. Galizia had been hired by the town to conduct the investigation.

Mr. Casey said Monday the town paid Mr. Galizia $575 for his services.

According to the town’s press release last week, the rumors and allegations investigated by Mr. Galizia were unfounded.

“A thorough investigation of these rumors and allegations has been conducted by the town manager with the assistance of an experienced and capable outside investigator,” according to the statement. “Sixteen people, some of whom were said to be knowledgeable of the facts concerning these rumors and allegations, were interviewed – some more than once – over a period of several days. After exhaustive efforts to get to the truth, the investigation found no evidence to support the rumors or allegations. The origination of these rumors and allegations were verified to be anonymous e-mails and letters and repeated gossip.

“The members of the town council, the mayor and the town manager are able to assure the citizens of Newport that the services they expect to receive from the town are and will continue to be skillfully and quickly provided.”

Primary Agency: Newport Fire Department

Source: Carteret News Times

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Posted on Wed Jan 14 2009 at 15:56

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