A five-month investigation into why a San Jose firetruck dropped off a bikini-clad lady at a strip membership has concluded, however officers have but to reply many questions on the scandalous incident caught on video, together with which firefighters had been outdoors the Pink Poodle and what self-discipline — if any — they face.
In a letter despatched to metropolis councilmembers earlier this month, San Jose Fireplace Chief Robert Sapien wrote the division “extends a honest apology” to the neighborhood. However he stated the identities of the firefighters seen on the strip membership gained’t be launched.
“The actions portrayed within the video had been acquired with disappointment and concern, as they appeared severely misaligned with the Division’s mission and values and had been extremely detrimental to the arrogance and belief of our neighborhood and our workforce,” Sapien wrote within the 343-word letter dated March 10. It was the primary time that he apologized for the incident.
Sapien stated the town wouldn't elaborate on the incident as “workers’ personnel data is confidential,” however that the firefighters have been notified that “acceptable motion” can be taken. He additionally promised that requirements of conduct can be bolstered amongst its wider workforce.
“I attempted to be as beneficiant as attainable with the memo despatched to council,” Sapien stated in an interview. “I don’t have any extra feedback presently.”
Town supervisor’s workplace additionally declined to offer any additional particulars on the firefighters’ October go to to the Pink Poodle, which drew swift condemnation from then-Mayor Sam Liccardo. “If the investigation concludes that this video is as unhealthy because it appears to be like, then heads should roll,” Liccardo stated within the assertion on the time.
The “World Well-known” Pink Poodle, established in 1963, is the town’s solely “all-nude membership”. It survived a 1984 choice by the Ninth Circuit Courtroom of Appeals, which dominated that cities had the best to zone away grownup companies, however made an exception for the Pink Poodle, in keeping with the strip membership’s web site.
The firefighter scandal first got here to mild on Oct. 6 when a video was posted to the Instagram account San Jose Foos displaying an Engine 4 hearth truck outdoors the strip membership on South Bascom Avenue, and a scantily clad lady exiting the automobile, closing its door after which strolling towards the Pink Poodle’s entrance. The video was captioned, “Solely in San Jose do you see a stripper come out of a firetruck.”
Dispatch information later revealed no requires service had been made on the deal with. A public information request made by Bay Space Information Group revealed that the Pink Poodle wasn’t the one grownup leisure institution visited by Engine 4 that night time. GPS information reveals that the firetruck additionally traveled to AJ’s Bar, a bikini bar on Lincoln Avenue 2 miles away from the Pink Poodle. The GPS information was first reported on by NBC Bay Space.
The investigation that was launched in October by the town supervisor’s workplace was formally closed in February with no details about its findings revealed.
All the scenario has perplexed retired San Jose Fireplace Captain Richard Santos, who stated in an interview that the investigation took for much longer than normal and the incident was addressed too late by the chief.
“I’m sort of puzzled. The lingering on it's not good,” Santos, at present a director at Santa Clara Valley Water District, stated in an interview. “What was actually achieved?”
Earlier than the official investigation was closed, extra public information requests made by this information group had been denied by the town. These requests included paperwork associated to any disciplinary actions taken towards the firefighters seen within the Oct. 6 video and inside hearth division communications concerning the incident, in addition to any associated studies.
Employees author Austin Turner contributed reporting to this text.