Paramedic group wants more protection for workers
Posted February 6, 2013 7:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto Paramedic Association (TPA) called for tougher penalties for those convicted of assaulting paramedics on the same day a man accused of such a crime appeared in court.
“The people who help us shouldn’t have to be hurt doing their job,” TPA president Geoff MacBride told CityNews. “Assault isn’t acceptable in any form and we just want the laws to have some teeth to ensure that there’s a bit of a deterrent for that to happen to paramedics on duty.”
There are stiffer penalties for assaulting police officers and firefighters, MacBride said, and he wants that extended to paramedics.
Paramedic Aron Sperling suffered a broken leg when he was assaulted at a Richmond Street restaurant earlier this year.
The restaurant owner called 911 when a customer refused to pay his bill.
The customer allegedly claimed to be drunk and fell off his chair and onto the floor. He was lying on the floor when paramedics arrived.
He allegedly then tried to run away, but was stopped by Sperling.
The 40 year old appeared in court Wednesday.
