Garner eyes early end to rescue squad contract

Garner, N.C. — With the Garner Rescue Squad facing a sexual assault investigation and lacking a leader, town officials said Thursday that they might end their contract with the agency.

The squad, which operates as a nonprofit agency, provides search and rescue services and non-emergency ambulance services under a one-year, $280,000 contract with the town. The Garner Fire Department is scheduled to take over those duties next July.

Wake County EMS began providing emergency medical services in Garner in May because of the nonprofit's mounting financial difficulties.

Mayor Ronnie Williams said he and a majority of Town Council members want to end the contract with Garner Rescue as early as January because of the agency's troubles.

Rescue Squad Chief Bill Frederick resigned Tuesday, six days after a squad employee allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in the former Garner EMS & Rescue Squad office on Seventh Avenue.

Frederick, who has been unavailable for comment, told his board chairman that he was stepping down for personal reasons.

In 1996, Frederick resigned from the Sanford Police Department amid allegations that he traded leniency on criminal charges for sexual favors. He was later convicted of attempted obstruction of justice and was placed on probation.

Williams questioned how Frederick became chief with his history.

"Why did it get this far – stay 12 years and move into a leadership position in charge of money and in charge of people?" he asked.

It's unclear who hired Frederick, but Phil Penny was chairman of the Garner EMS & Rescue Squad board when Frederick was promoted to chief.

Penny declined to comment Thursday when asked if he knew about Frederick's previous conviction and the circumstances surrounding his departure from the Sanford Police Department.

Williams said the rescue squad wants to retain its contract with Garner, but he said recent developments might give the town the upper hand in negotiating a buyout.

"Leverage might be a good word," he said.

No criminal charges have been filed in the alleged sexual assault, and no other Garner Rescue employees have resigned or been fired in the case.

7 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 7 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments

I would suggest to the town to wait until January and see what happens, if they provide great service and change their leadership to may have a better department.

Sherlock
September 10, 2010 10:57 a.m.

I work in the industry and KNOW your comment is not true. There are people in every industry that think that they are something special...don't make it sound like it is just this one.

ncmedic201
September 9, 2010 7:53 p.m.

ncmedic201 who do you think you are passing judgement on my comments..I did my time..if you only knew my treatment..so shut up.

UNCfuturealumi
September 9, 2010 7:03 p.m.

UNC, you obviously don't know many, if any at all, if fire and EMS because your comment is totally baseless. EVERY industry has a few bad apples, as I'm sure yours does too.

ncmedic201
September 9, 2010 6:07 p.m.

I feel sorry for the members of the Garner squad that aren't involved in this mess. It would be easy to pass judgment on the entire squad because the chief and some other moron happen to be in the news. I'm sure there are good members on this squad. I've never seen rescue workers referred to as "jocks" either, but again I would implore anyone who has a bad taste in their mouth about EMS in general try to judge the entire profession. I think that Wake EMS should just absorb the service, which should have been done long ago, and make a fresh start in that area. Time to close the chapter on the Garner squad. Good luck to the members that are left, hope that you find a better squad on which to serve.