Can’t fault Everett firefighters for trying to shut homeless man up

A homeless man who has caused the Everett Fire Department a headache and cost taxpayers up to $1 million was taken out to a more remote location in hopes it would quiet him.

A captain and two firefighters brought the man to a bridge near the city limits in July, after responding to what they said was an unnecessary 911 call.

The man is one of “several” who are burdening the fire department in a city where services are overburdened, Fire Marshal Rick Robinson told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson. The department has responded to that one man alone several dozen times, which is wasting department resources and money.

However, transporting the man to city limits, instead of just checking on him and leaving, was against department policy, Robinson explained.

“We don’t take people away from services,” he added. “When we’re called to a scene like that … make sure it’s not a medical issue and treat accordingly.”

The three could have “done many things other than putting him in a remote location,” he added.

The firefighters gave the man water before leaving. They justified their actions by saying not only would moving him distance him from stores where he could buy alcohol, but it would also cut down on the amount of unnecessary calls, Robinson said.

It’s understandable that people, even in the department, take issue with those actions, Dori said. However, all they were trying to do was get the man away from the public eye and away from booze.

“What’s wrong with that?” Dori asked. It’s not like they dumped the man in another city.