ILLINOIS – Two Aurora firefighters have been demoted following a strange and dangerous encounter with a police officer in which they allegedly forced the officer off the road with their fire engine. Aurora’s fire chief described the behavior as “alarming” and confirmed internal disciplinary action.
Police Officer Forced Off the Road
The incident occurred on February 25 around 7 p.m., as 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 came across a fire engine approaching from the opposite direction.
That fire engine, which was carrying Lt. John Casessa and Engineer Ryan Endly, reportedly turned its spotlight on the police vehicle and veered into its lane, forcing the officer to pull over to avoid a collision. There were no injuries, and the squad car was not damaged, but the behavior prompted an immediate internal investigation.
Firefighters Demoted for ‘Reckless’ Behavior
According to CBS Colorado, the fire department confirmed that Casessa and Endly were demoted after disciplinary reviews in May.
Endly admitted to the behavior but did not explain or prevent the misconduct.
Casessa, the officer in charge at the time, was also chastised for inadequate supervision and for failing to intervene.
Both were reassigned to different stations following the incident and have since appealed their demotions. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the confrontation, but the city of Aurora refused to release it, citing personnel privacy laws.
Fire Chief Reacts to Dangerous Conduct
Aurora Fire Chief Alec Oughton stated that the department was “alarmed” by the actions and stressed that any deviations from protocol would be addressed immediately.
“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 found that their actions were reckless and unprofessional, posing an unnecessary risk to both city personnel and the general public.
No Criminal Charges, But Serious Questions Remain
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation database shows no criminal charges filed against the firefighters. However, many questions remain, including why the spotlight tactic was used and what caused such an unprofessional confrontation between two public safety departments.
The situation has highlighted the importance of accountability within fire and police departments, particularly when those sworn to protect jeopardize public safety.
