ILLINOIS — Two Aurora firefighters have been demoted after a bizarre and dangerous confrontation with a police officer, in which they allegedly forced the officer off the road using their fire engine. Aurora’s fire chief called the behavior “alarming” and confirmed internal disciplinary action.
Police Officer Forced Off the Road
The incident happened on February 25 around 7 p.m. when Aurora Police Sgt. Tony Spano was leaving a city facility near East Hampden Avenue and Dawson Street. While driving west in a marked police car, he encountered a fire engine approaching from the opposite direction.
That fire engine, carrying Lt. John Casessa and Engineer Ryan Endly, reportedly turned its spotlight on the police vehicle and veered into its lane, forcing the officer off the road to avoid a collision. No one was injured, and the squad car was not damaged, but the behavior triggered an immediate internal investigation.
Firefighters Demoted for ‘Reckless’ Behavior
According to CBS Colorado, the fire department confirmed that both Casessa and Endly were demoted from their positions following disciplinary reviews in May.
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Endly admitted to the behavior but failed to explain his actions or prevent the misconduct.
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Casessa, who was the officer in charge at the time, was also faulted for not supervising properly and for failing to intervene.
Both were reassigned to different stations after the incident and have since appealed their demotions. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the confrontation, but the city of Aurora declined to release it, citing personnel privacy laws.
Fire Chief Reacts to Dangerous Conduct
Aurora Fire Chief Alec Oughton stated the department was “alarmed” by the actions and emphasized that deviations from protocol would be addressed swiftly.
“Any deviation from AFR’s policies and standards will not be tolerated and will be swiftly addressed, as was done here,” Oughton said in a written statement.
While the two firefighters were not criminally charged, the department’s internal review deemed their behavior as reckless and unprofessional, posing an unnecessary risk to both city personnel and the public.
No Criminal Charges, But Serious Questions Remain
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation database does not list any criminal charges filed against the firefighters. However, many questions remain, including why the spotlight tactic was used and what led to such an unprofessional confrontation between two public safety agencies.
The situation has drawn attention to the importance of accountability within fire and police departments, especially when safety is compromised by those sworn to protect.
Should more transparency be required when firefighters or police engage in misconduct? Share your thoughts in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
