EMS News



EMTs beat me up, says Bronx hospital security guard BY EDGAR SANDOVAL and ALISON GENDAR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Tuesday, August 19th 2008, 12:24 AM [Photo]Lombard for News Hospital security guard Riza Sever A Bronx hospital security officer claimed he was worked over twice - first by two irate FDNY medics who beat him and then by his boss, who threatened to fire him. Riza Sever, 28, was working the night shift at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx on Thursday night when two FDNY EMTs came in with a patient on a stretcher. Sever said he and EMT John Rugen got into a shouting match about who was allowed in the emergency room. Sever said the situation turned ugly when Rugen cursed him out and shoved him. Rugen's partner, EMT Jay Yim, soon got into the fray, and started hitting him, Sever said. "I thought he was running to break it up," Sever said. "He hits me in a rapid succession, three or four times. I flew out of the double door of the ER." Another Bronx FDNY medic rushed over to break up the fight, he said. Fellow hospital security officers arrested both EMTs, but Sever's supervisor voided the arrests and threaten to fire Sever if he filed a complaint against the two. "They told me, 'How do we know you did not start the fight?'" Sever said. "I was just doing my job." Sever said FDNY brass grabbed all of the security video. "I would not expect anyone in uniform who also works for the city to treat me like this," he said. A hospital spokeswoman called the matter a "misunderstanding" and said the incident was under review. An FDNY spokesman said the two EMTs were not arrested, but declined to further comment. FDNY sources said the incident was handled at the hospital that night. Sever filed a police report yesterday at the 40th Precinct stationhouse in the Bronx. About 15 fellow hospital officers went with Sever for support - since they said they got none from their administrators or their union. "It's like we are furniture to them," said hospital officer Maxie James, 30. "They can replace us and that's it." agendar@nydailynews.com Edwin Martinez