Chief John S. Butler
President and Chair
Board of Directors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 28, 2023
The unprecedented criminal prosecution of Aurora (CO) Firefighter/Paramedic Jeremy Cooper and Captain Pete Cichuniec, that led to the recent verdicts against them, may have a profound and harmful impact on the delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical services.
The IAFC does not seek to relitigate this case or to argue the merits. But the politics driving this criminal prosecution sets a dangerous precedent that will weigh heavily on the minds of all pre-hospital providers, including our firefighters and paramedics, as they face similar split-second medical decisions.
Ultimately, without an astute "course correction" away from politically driven criminal prosecution, dangerous delays in time-critical patient care intervention and decreased availability of advanced prehospital emergency medical care will likely result.
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About the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
The IAFC represents the leadership of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials response, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety policy. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas, develop professionally and uncover the latest best practices and services available for first responders. IAFC Headquarters is located in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area at 8251 Greensboro Drive, Suite 650, McLean, VA 22102, and can be reached by phone at 703-273-0911.