VIDEO: A Middletown firefighter and a retired Spring Valley police officer were among the dozens arrested as part of a sweep of allegedly drug dealing bikers in Orange County Tuesday. Authorities say more than 20 people were taken into custody when search warrants were executed at 15 locations in connection with two separate drug rings, with the same man -- fire Lieutenant Paul Young -- at the center of both.
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC 7 News

VIDEO: On Friday, Platteville Fire Chief Ryan Simmons got a phone call he wasn't expecting. "It felt like a shock to us," Simmons said. Volunteer firefighter Tim Ebert died by suicide last week. "He was a student at UW-Platteville. So, between being a student working part time and being a volunteer on the Fire Department, he was a pretty busy guy," Simmons said.
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox 47 News

A federal arbitrator says Hillsborough County was justified in firing a Fire Rescue medic who belonged to the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, noting the negative attention his membership brought the county. Clinton Neal Walker, 35, of Bradenton, was fired a year ago after an internal investigation concluded he had “unwavering loyalty” to the Outlaws, long considered the state’s dominant motorcycle gang.
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times

With last year’s pay raises in effect, City Council members now want to know what it would take to make Montgomery’s public safety officers the highest paid in the state. For years, retention troubles have plagued the Montgomery Police Department and Montgomery Fire/Rescue. Despite high marks from outside groups on their performance, police lost around 60 officers last year, while firefighters had about 30 leave.
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Montgomery Advertiser