Ex-Compton firefighter pleads not guilty to arson, Battalion chief cost department more than $200,000, Saatva Mattress Review: Our Pick for the Best Overall Bed of 2023, We Found 12 Cute Planters and Flower Pots That Cost Less Than $25, Here's Where to Watch and Stream Marvel's 'Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Online. Village of Evansville Fire Department- $25,837.62. His chief was suspicious, and after a five-month investigation Melanson was arrested Thursday.Prosecutors say Melanson's theft and the fire damages totaled more than $200,000. Fire Chief? Help protect your furry family. COMPTON, Calif. (AP) A huge fire visible across Los Angeles burned stacks of pallets in a commercial yard and buses parked in a neighboring lot Friday. Alicia Banks is a former Metpro trainee at the Los Angeles Times. Compton Fire Department 1 Your subscription has been confirmed. You've been successfully signed up for the Fire Chief. His selection as chief was met with opposition from several organizations, including the Womens Fire League, L.A. County Stentorians and Los Bomberos de LA County, who pointed to systemic failures in the department to bolster diversity within the department and create jobs and advancement opportunities for women and people of color. The arrest stems from what investigators say was a suspicious fire that broke out at Compton Fire Department headquarters on Acacia Avenue on December 11, 2011. (C70) - 1978 Chevrolet Step Van 30 command (Ex-Port Moody Public Works) (Sold 2004) 1975 Dodge 300 4x4 / Truck Utilities Corp. walk around rescue (Ex-Rescue 62) (Sold 1988 to North Cowichan Fire Department Crofton BC) (VA368) - 1973 Ford C-904 / Pierreville pumper (1050/250) (SN#PFT-351) (Traded July 1995 to Anderson's) (Ex . Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year. CITY CAREERS Browse & Apply for Jobs . COMPTON (CBSLA.com) A former deputy chief for the Compton Fire Department has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at headquarters and stealing thousands of dollars in radio equipment. Are you a Firefighter at Compton Fire Department 1 or a member of the Compton community? . Authorities charge that the terminated deputy chief set a fire at department headquarters as part of his theft of thousands of dollars in radios. Marcel Dione Melanson, 38, was ordered to pay $517,477 in restitution for the 2011 fire; he paid $100,000 before being taken into custody. Thanks! 3. . Several public speakers at the board meeting also questioned Marrones educational background and criticized the lack of female representation in the department even noting that some county fire stations dont even have womens bathrooms. Deputy Fire Chief Bryan Batiste says the removal of four defibrillators from their trucks and ambulances shouldn't worry residents. All rights reserved. Compton Fire Chief Jon Thompson was placed on leave Tuesday as the city launched an investigation after a series of Times reports on breakdowns in the fire agencys management of emergency medical care. He has been with the department for 36 years, previously serving as acting chief deputy over business operations. Chief Anthony C. Marrone. This button displays the currently selected search type. Ford Aerostar van. An investigation by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department found that many of the radios were sold to private buyers or on EBay and that Melanson had been selling Compton-owned radio equipment since 2008. First published on July 7, 2015 / 10:50 PM. Thompson was placed on administrative leave at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. When that plan was scrapped, the city hoped to recoup some of its investment by selling the radios. Fire Chief Darcey O'Riordan . It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Los Angeles, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. You've been added to our list and will hear from us soon. Patrick Willis, an arson investigator with the Long Beach Fire Department, told the court Melanson sought to make the fire look accidental. COLONA, Ill. Several area fire departments will be purchasing new gear after benefitting from grants issued by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal . Rick Roman emphasizes that paramedics carry advanced equipment that can deliver different voltage on cardiac-arrest patients. Investigators from the Long Beach and Montebello fire departments, as well as the U.S.Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, concluded the blaze was arson. Copyright 2014 Los Angeles Times Olmsted Fire Department- $26,000. "He deeply regrets that his actions have hurt his family, his friends, and those who he worked with, his fellow firefighters.". Police didn't respond to requests for information at the time. We need to fix it, he said. "I'm not mad at him, more mad at what he did," said Deputy Chief Bryan Batiste, who knew Melanson since his involvement with the Fire Department in high school. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (such as a space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time. July 7, 2015 6:29 PM PT. Lexipol. This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience. Former Fire Chief Rico Smith will take over day-to-day management of the department and serve as interim chief, Ford said. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. Thank you to Chief Jack Ambrose from the Morris County Sheriff's Office for taking the time to speak with a group of our Criminal Justice Students on February . Opening the process will ensure that diverse applicants from across the nation have the opportunity to apply, according to the letter. Location and Mailing Address. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. VINTAGE ASST BATT CHIEF HORSHAM SHIELD PA FIRE DEPT . Salton Community Services District Fire Dept, California State Prison-Los Angeles County Fire Department, Linden-Peters Rural County Fire Protection District, General Dynamics NASSCO - Fire Department. Keep anything that can burn at . Officials say the investigation is continuing. is a Fire Department located in Compton, LOS ANGELES County, in the State of CA. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Marcel Melanson, 37, was arrested Wednesday without incident at his Torrance home on charges of felony arson and grand theft, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE COMPTON FD SHIELD FIRE DEPT CAIRNS LEATHER HELMET FIREMAN FIREFIGHTER FD at the best online prices at eBay! Each member of the group has completed a refresher course, but only one has scheduled and passed the final exam to renew an EMT license. Shop high quality Compton Fire Department shirts from Compton Fire Apparel.. Board members said they had confidence in Marrones ability to improve the makeup of the agency. You should know the risks, make a plan, and learn how you can protect yourself. Authorities conducted a joint investigation with arson investigators from the Long Beach Fire Department and Montebello Fire Department. Deputy Fire Chief Bryan Batiste says the removal of four defibrillators from the department's trucks and ambulances shouldn't worry residents. COMPTON, Calif. A former deputy chief for the Compton Fire Department has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at headquarters and stealing thousands of dollars in . The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved Anthony C. Marrone as the next county fire chief, but board members made clear they wanted to see improvements in the numbers of women and people of color in the agency's ranks. Ben Welsh is the former editor of the Data and Graphics Department, a team of reporters and computer programmers who collect, organize, analyze and present large amounts of information. We do have defibrillators, said Capt. Through the combined efforts of Compton Fire Department and Compton Unified School District (ROP), the first Compton Fire Academy applied for and received The Los Angeles County Fire Department is responsible for protecting the lives and property of 4 million residents living in 1.25 million housing units in 60 cities, including the City of La Habra in Orange County, and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. All rights reserved. Compton Fire Chief Jon Thompson was placed on leave Tuesday as the city launched an investigation after a series of Times reports on breakdowns in the fire agency's . The Compton City Council dropped the plan to re-establish its own police department because of the city's financial difficulties. The defendant allegedly set the fire to conceal the theft of the radio equipment. This process is automatic. The investigation of Melanson started after a fire spread across a racquetball court inside Compton Fire Station No. Compton Junction FD was assisted by Nevada Fire Department, Hume Fire Department, and Deerfield Fire Department. Melanson had served with the fire department for 17 years. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Chief Compton was the Fire Chief in Mesa, Arizona, for 5 years and Assistant Fire Chief in Phoenix where he served for 27 years. 2.6 (11-16-016) Fire Chief, Each 9-1-1 Provider Agency; CEO, Each Private Provider Agency: California Occupation Safety and Health Standards related to workplace violence prevention in health care. 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. Compton Fire Department Chief Jon Thompson has been . I heard you use the word equality, and I want to suggest the focus should be equity, given the historic under-representation, she said. July 7, 2015 / 10:50 PM 2009-2022 USA Fire Departments usfiredept.com All Rights reserved. $7.50 + $10.11 shipping. Are you the Compton Fire Department 1 Fire Chief? He pleaded no contest in April to charges of felony arson of property and embezzlement by a public official. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Montebello Fire Department and Long Beach Fire Firefighters battle a fire at a commercial yard in Compton, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. April 16--A former Compton Fire Department battalion chief pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony charges of arson of property and embezzlement by a public official. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Prosecutors said that on Dec. 11, 2011, Melanson reportedly set fire to radio equipment that then caused extensive damage to the Compton Fire Department's headquarters. Your request has been confirmed! The department provides fire and rescue services for the city of Compton from four fire stations (see the site list for details). or a member of the Compton community? Inside were about 200 radios valued at more than $1 million. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Copyright 2023 COMPTON, Calif. A former Compton Fire Department battalion chief pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony charges of arson of property and embezzlement by a public . LITTLE COMPTON, R.I. (WPRI) When Steven Velozo died on Oct. 2, little about his death was made public. COMPTON (CBSLA.com) Compton Fire Department Chief Jon Thompson has been placed on leave pending an investigation into compliance with key lifesaving devices. and suppliers. COMPTON (CBSLA.com) A former deputy chief for the Compton Fire Department has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at headquarters and stealing thousands of dollars in radio. "By his plea in criminal court, Marcel took responsibility for his actions, for not only a violation of the law, but for a violation of the trust of the residents of Compton," defense attorney George Bird said in a statement. In November 1989, Fire Fighter Mackey transferred . Los Angeles Times. Marrone will earn $441,792 a year as county fire chief. Marcel Melanson, 38, was accused of stealing valuable city-owned radio equipment, then setting a fire to cover up the theft. Please enter valid email address to continue. Cardiac arrests are among the most time-sensitive medical emergencies. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website. He must also register as an arson offender for life, the Los Angeles County district attorneys office said. We will fix everything thats broke. Smith said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Compton fire officials were unable to produce paperwork showing city firefighters had up-to-date training, and the devices were removed from non-paramedic vehicles Friday. ONLINE PAYMENTS Address: 201 S. Acacia Ave. Compton CA 90220 Website: http://www.comptoncity.org Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:00am to 6:00pm. www.firehouse.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Theres much more work that needs to be done.. In a letter to the board, the groups called for a 90-day delay in the vote to allow for a more thorough search for the next chief. He was featured on the BET reality series First In.. The heavily tattooed Compton Fire Department deputy chief was the star of his own reality series on BET called "First In . Marrone has been serving as interim chief of the department since July 2022. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs . Copyright 2023 California Nearly 1 in 4 Compton firefighters is working without an EMT permit Engines from the Compton Fire Department on display during an unveiling in 2006. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. The groups and others also blasted the Board of Supervisors, saying it failed to hold a thorough, transparent and fair search for a new fire chief. The city managers move to place Thompson on leave was welcomed by Councilwoman Janna Zurita, who has been a critic of the way city leaders have handled the agencys problems. Welsh has contributed to projects that have won the Pulitzer Prize, the Library of Congress Innovation Award, a Knight News Challenge grant and numerous other prizes for investigative reporting, digital design and online journalism. The event also included a special presentation to honor former Compton Fire Chief Monroe Smith for his contributions to the Compton community as the first Black man to head a fire department in California. The Compton Fire Chief requested the LASD's Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau to assist in looking into the case on January 4, 2012. We owe it to the citizens to report out on what is happening inside our Fire Department. she said. A tech lover who constantly finds . Former Fire Chief Rico. We are able to provide high-quality political journalism to you for free thanks to our advertisers. 1. Lexipol. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. The allegations shook the Compton Fire Department, where Melanson had been well-liked. Find out more or adjust your settings. By clicking I Accept or using our site, you are consenting to the use of cookies unless you disable them. 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