Fake Rescuer Arrested

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Mar 27, 2007
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It seems like there are more details not released.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1120AP_ODD_Fake_Firefighter.html?source=mypi

Fake firefighter showed up at disasters

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- James Campbell seemed to relish being a firefighter, showing up in uniform at the World Trade Center, train wrecks, the aftermaths of hurricanes including Katrina and wildfires.

He even posed for his driver's license photo in a Los Angeles County firefighter's uniform.

The problem is, authorities say, he was never a firefighter.

Police arrested Campbell on Friday on suspicion of impersonating a firefighter, possession of stolen property and being a felon in possession of firearms.

Inside his apartment, officers said, they found a pile of official gear: dress uniform, flight suit, yellow firefighting suit, department patches, fire helmet, wallet badge and an L.A. County Fire Department radio. On Campbell's walls were hundreds of framed photos of him at disaster sites in uniform, authorities said.

"This is a guy who really wanted to be a firefighter. He wanted to act as a hero," Orange County Deputy District Attorney Andre Manssourian said.

Campbell even created a DVD of some of his firefighting excursions, which may have been used to promote his business, Frontline Safety Products, which sold safety equipment and taught first aid courses, mostly to construction companies and government agencies, Manssourian said.

Despite his efforts, Campbell had no chance of being a real firefighter. While working as a paramedic in Arizona, he was convicted of credit card fraud in 1987. His paramedic's license was revoked and the felony would have prevented him from joining the Los Angeles County Fire Department, authorities said.

"The public puts a lot of trust in firefighters," said Fire Department spokesman Sam Padilla. "People don't think twice about an unknown man with big baggy clothes or a uniform. It's a shame that someone is pretending to be a firefighter to take that trust and bend it, distort it."
 
That sucks these people create a bad image for those of us that do these jobs officially. I just hope his intentions were to help people.
 
When I am palpating or visually inspecting a site on your 14 year old daughter or your 25 year old wife or your 84 year old grandmother, you bet it is a question of decency, honor and trust that what I am doing is medically necessary. People like this really need to have the full weight of the law come down on them. Especially since he was a paramedic before losing his license. He KNOWS better.

KR
 
Break his arms and legs, cover him with honey, and toss him on an ant mound.

I really don't like Walter Mittys.
 
Hell, I say just drop his ass off at any local fire Dept. along with all the news clippings of what he did including all of the things they found in his apartment. Make sure the firemen know what it was he was doing and had done in the past, and most of the good ole' boy firemen down here where I'm from would deal with this scum bag real quick!
 
Hell, I say just drop his ass off at any local fire Dept. along with all the news clippings of what he did including all of the things they found in his apartment. Make sure the firemen know what it was he was doing and had done in the past, and most of the good ole' boy firemen down here where I'm from would deal with this scum bag real quick!

Yeah, that's a good idea... have the fireman break the law by breaking him... :jerkit:

Legal justice is a two way thing... you can't break the law to get, as you suggested, revenge. Even though the guy probably deserves it, it's a big step to suggest that law abiding fireman should break the law and physically "deal with him".
 
Wabajack, lighten up, it was intended as sarcasm. Obviously it wouldn't be a good idea for that to take place, so you can relax now.
 
Wabajack, lighten up, it was intended as sarcasm. Obviously it wouldn't be a good idea for that to take place, so you can relax now.

lol

Hard to tell, it wasn't writen in a very sarcastic manner and some people do think this would be the best option in dealing with such as situation.

:D

Cheers,
~ Wabajack
 
We got a guy like that in our area but he is well known to have a screw loose and is dealt with quickly on a case by case basis.

Sad part is he is better equipped than most emergency svcs people.

Skam
 
ashtxsniper said:
I just hope his intentions were to help people.
Not likely given that the article quoted states, "Campbell even created a DVD of some of his firefighting excursions, which may have been used to promote his business, Frontline Safety Products, which sold safety equipment and taught first aid courses, mostly to construction companies and government agencies."

Fake firefighting was IMHO just a reinforcement for his pimping himself as a safety "expert". It's one way to run a business, but not what I would consider the right way. :thumbdn::grumpy:
 
I googled "Frontline Safety Products" (the name of his company) and found this:
http://www.frontlinesafetyproducts.com/servlet/StoreFront
I don't know if this is connected in any manner to the subject, but still...
:eek:

Disclaimer: This is not meant to make any implied or perceived association or accusation - just a google check on an aspect of this story and presenting the results.
 
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