Rescue Me
Two AMR paramedics on probation for substance abuse.
July 2nd, 2008
Cover Story • Manhunter | Almost every state lets bounty hunters chase down its most wanted. Why doesn’t Oregon?63 comments
July 2nd, 2008
Bill Of Fair | Ex-restaurateur puts hopes of returning to Portland in a “widow’s bill.” 0 comments
July 2nd, 2008
Murmurs • Scoundrels seeking a refuge besides patriotism? You’re always welcome here.2 comments
July 2nd, 2008
Rogue of the Week • Legacy Good Samaritan | Please, go by streetcar20 comments
July 2nd, 2008
Broadcast Dues | While Portland Beavers go up to the major leagues, the team’s broadcaster soldiers on.1 comment
July 2nd, 2008
Blog Of War | Online chat about a Georgia weapons manufacturer ends in real-time Oregon court battle.10 comments
July 2nd, 2008
Textual Criticism | MSG FM CMSR SAM: WHR R U GOING? WATCH THE ROAD!!16 comments
July 2nd, 2008
The Reed Guard | A woman sues for alleged sex assault in another case involving the College’s security.16 comments
July 2nd, 2008
The Score • Escapees and exiles edition.0 comments
July 2nd, 2008
Letters to the Editor • Inbox5 comments
 IMAGE: Lukas Ketner |
[May 21st, 2008]
What happens when a paramedic gets caught using drugs, loses his driver’s license twice, and fails to tell his employer about his violations of company rules?
Not much, to judge by the case of American Medical Response employee David Mull, licensed as a paramedic in Oregon since 1994. Mull, 37, of Portland, remains one of about 14 paramedics on AMR’s high-profile “Reach and Treat” team, which handles calls in the Mount Hood Wilderness and the Columbia River Gorge.
Last October, the Oregon Department of Human Services, which certifies the state’s 8,000-plus paramedics, put Mull on probation for “providing false information on an application; unprofessional conduct; habitual and excessive use of intoxicants; and failing to notify the Department of a loss or restriction of driving privileges.”
Mull admitted to the allegations, which included “using marijuana several times a week for the past three to four years and cocaine over the last three months.” He also acknowledged failing to notify the Human Services Department or his employer that the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicles Division had suspended his license for four days in March 2006 and again in August 2006 for nearly an 11-month stretch.
A suspended license is big deal for a paramedic. Typically, say industry sources, two-person teams split the driving on ambulances. In other words, for nearly a year, Mull either drove illegally or didn’t carry his weight on the 12-hour shifts.
Mull’s supervisor, Phil Moyer, Clackamas County operations manager for AMR, declined to answer WW’s questions, citing company policy against discussing personnel matters.
But Moyer didn’t seem overly concerned about Mull’s deception, according to a letter Moyer wrote Nov. 26, 2007—after Mull’s admissions to state regulators.
Story continues below
advertisement
“Dave continues to be a valuable, dedicated and contributing employee in the Clackamas County operations team,” Moyer wrote a lawyer representing Mull in a divorce proceeding. “There are no restrictions that have been placed on him by the AMR medical director.”
Since AMR won’t comment, it’s impossible to know whether the second sentence is true. But Moyer’s letter failed to mention that the DHS only a month earlier had placed Mull on five years’ probation and ordered him to abstain from alcohol and drugs, enroll in a 12-step program and submit to monthly random drug tests.
Mull’s case isn’t the only troubling one on AMR’s “Reach and Treat” team. AMR paramedic Joshua Keyes of Portland, licensed in Oregon since 2001, also admitted to “providing false information on an application; unprofessional conduct; and habitual and excessive use of intoxicants.” Keyes admitted using marijuana over the past five years and cocaine over the past six months.
In October, DHS put Keyes on probation for two years.
Robert Leopold, DHS’s director of EMS and trauma systems, says such problems are rare, with only 18 of 8,569 state-certified EMTs and paramedics now on probation.
Leopold says both AMR paramedics were put on probation rather than decertified because their substance abuse occurred during off-duty hours. And the agency believes close monitoring works better than revocation because paramedics who lose their certification are free to apply again within two years.
Still, Leopold says AMR and its employees should understand the agency is unhappy.
“If someone calls 9-1-1, we want the person who responds to be competent and trustworthy,” he adds.
AMR holds exclusive contracts to provide ambulance services to Multnomah and Clackamas counties. Another AMR driver, Lannie Haszard, was charged last fall with sexually assaulting a female patient on the way to Portland hospitals. He faces trial for first-degree sex abuse later this month. Three civil lawsuits against Haszard are also pending.
If I remember Oregon law correctly; DMV is required to provide AMR with a copy of Mull's license suspension. AMR would be required to verify that they received a copy of such and DMV would maintain this record in their files. Seems to me that AMR is being negligent and irresponsible in this case (maybe others) and have left themselves open for futher investigation. Obviously Mr. Moyer has some more explaining to do, both to the public, and to his employer regarding his management of company policy.
Recap.....Two guys get high after work. mmmmmmm better stop the presses for that one.
Wow, For a minute I thought I was reading the Oregonian. WTF Will Week, are you forgetting who your audience is? It is this Right winged rubbage that weighs on my decision to even open the pages of this paper. Finally I am still perplexed with so many issues out there in the forefront of our city, you have to dig up some dirt that happened over 6 months ago. I will keep my eyes open for your next riveting article, maybe, lets see, a J-walker on burside that appears drunk. Save a tree and write an article that can make a difference.
What a crap story. Why would you publish something that is a personal and private matter? Why dont pull up every judge,doctor, nurse, lawer, cop, firefighter or teacher and find dirt on them too. You will find plently. We all make mistakes and these guys have turned things around. Let me say what a crap story.
You all seem to forget drugs are illegal. They destroy lives, are highly addictive and impair your judgement. Why are you trying to justify bad behavior. We all need to be responsible for our own actions. Everyone makes mistakes this is true, but there are consequences. Why should we reward bad behavior that endangers peoples lives at work.
How personal and private is it when these guys are flying down the roads that I drive on at excessive speeds possibly being high. You act as though everybody is on drugs. I do not believe that. Thank goodness for good investigative reporting. It sounds like they need to clean up this profession like so many others. Especially emt's. These people have others lives in there grasps and they need to stay clean. Great story and we need more of them.
The Paramedic/EMT profession does not need to be "cleaned up" as "Bob" suggests. This story is about 2 out the approximately 500 ambulance Paramedics and EMTs in the area. Get a clue Bob! If you are basing your assessment of the paramedic/EMT profession on this poorly researched article you don't know what you are talking about. I am a paramedic and it is an honorable profession. I work alongside people I would trust my own life with, including Josh and Dave.
This article is just another WW hack attempt to paint public safety in a bad light. The local papers have never written one sentence about all the lives we save on a daily basis or the kindness we extend to people that "Bob" probably wouldn't even look in the face.
Having worked with Mull on many Search and Rescue missions, I can say that due to his knowledge and abilities, I would rather have him in charge when my life depends on it than almost any other medic or EMT that I know. This doesn't sound like "good investigative reporting" to me - more like someone has a grudge or some other agenda to bring forth. Yeah, these 2 screwed up, but at least they've admitted to it and are cleaning up their acts. And like the article says, "Their substance abuse occurred during off-duty hours," and only 18 out of 8,569 are actually suspended because this is not really a profession that needs to be "cleaned up." So stop freaking out about bad medics driving ambulances - ALL of the ones I know are good at their job, though Mull is one of the best.
This graphic in this article is extremely misguided and offensive. It implies that these medics were high on duty, which was not the case. This is a horrible poorly executed piece of tabloid journalism. It is as if a bunch of high school students run this "newspaper."
"Having worked with Mull on many Search and Rescue missions, I can say that due to his knowledge and abilities, I would rather have him in charge when my life depends on it than almost any other medic or EMT that I know."
YET YOU ARE AFRAID TO POST YOUR NAME. If you support Mr. Mull so much why be anonymous? That is saying more then what you actually wrote!
Perhaps what needs to be investigated further is why Mr.Moyer felt the need to break company policy and let Mr.Mull continue to work with no license. Yes, Mr.Moyer was well aware of Mr.Mull's suspended license and this can be verified by emails that the DMV sent Mr. Moyer regarding Mr.Mull's revoked license, emails that contain responses from Mr.Moyer. This was discovered during a state EMS investigation.
It is pretty clear that Mr.Moyer has broken AMR company policy. Which begs the guestion, why? Perhaps Mr.Moyer will consent to a hair follicle drug screen?
wow, most of these comments seem to be of the same persuasion, AMR employees maybe? And it does matter to me if the ambulance person that is going to save my life, did not do two lines of cocaine and/or binge drink the night before..or smoke a joint on the way to work....call me crazy
"What people do on there days off is their business!"
I sure as hell do not want someone driving code 3 in a 5 ton ambulance who has spent the night before snorting lines of coke. Would you want that medic to show up to YOUR childs trauma or YOUR mothers cardiac arrest?
Not me.
I think AMR is enough trouble with continuing to let a medic work who had a sexual abuse complaint called in on him.
Then we find out top management let a medic continue to work without a driver's license.
Who is holding Mr. Moyer and Mr. Lauer accountable?
I will be calling AMR Corporate to express my concern with the leadership of Mr.Moyer and Mr.Lauer and I encourage others to do the same.
American Medical Response
National Resource Center
6200 South Syracuse Way # 200
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Main number: (303) 495-1200
Toll free number: (877) 244-4890
Having been a close personal friend, team member, and partner of Mr. Mull, I can honestly say that I am disappointed in WW not for writing the article, but for failing to get much in the way of a story.... So it sounds like you talked to the EMS division from the state, and made a phone call to AMR.... did you ever try and contact Dave himself, talk to any of his partners? Or did you all just assume that we all act the same and wouldn't give honest info? As a partner, Dave always provided the best patient care, and I would not ever hesitate to allow him to work on me, my wife, or either of my kids. During my time working with Dave, I never had the slightest indication that he was ever under the influence of anything, and as an emergency worker, we get pretty keen on picking that stuff up. Does the EMS profession need to be cleaned up? No more than any other profession. Should they be held to a higher standard, yes. Are they still human, absolutely. Have you ever met a human who hasn't screwed up? Doubtful. Give these guys some praise, they have cleaned up their act, which is a lot more than other users in this city have done. And how do we know they are clean, because they are still undergoing random testing. So, to all the citizens out there, please, please do not read this article and assume that the next Paramedic or EMT that comes to your door just got done smoking a joint on the way to the call. I, and all of the former co-workers I had at AMR worked hard to help you whenever we could, and it pains us much more than you know when we couldn't help.
I left phone messages for both Mull and Keyes but did not hear from either man. I also tried (unsuccessfully) to contact Mull's lawyer. I should have mentioned those calls in the story.
Perhaps Jesse would like to tell us all about his alleged failed drug test. This can be confirmed by the Oregon state EMS division. That was very surprising to everyone Jesse, how your name was left out of the WWeekly article. Makes one wonder if you were not the source of the article.
Perhaps Mr.Mull's behavior was not strange to you because you were also snorting or smoking the same stuff...
Boy Dan, I am glad to see you have no idea what you are talking about. The only drug test I have ever taken while at AMR was my pre-employment screening back in March 2002. I had already left AMR by the time this investigation came to light. So, unless you have something relevant, and even more importantly, True, then you truely show what you are made of. As they say, sometimes it is better to remain quiet and let everyone think you are an idiot, rather than open your mouth and prove it!!
Further more, at this time I would like to notify you that since you took the time to slander my name on a journalistic site, I will be having my lawyer contact WW to remove your false and unsubstantiated claims that I have ever failed a drug test. Further more, if I ever feel like your false statements have in any way affected me, you can expect to hear from my laywer as well...
I wasn't afraid to post my full name Dan, because I believe in what I said, and it is all true. Perhaps if you feel like responding to me at all, you will have the courage to post your full name as well!!
Ya, Jason (oops, I mean Jesse) it is your story...
Perhaps Jesse wants to meet behind the bleachers and duke it out!
Jesse: ME THINKS YOU DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH.....
WOW this article is simply amazing! I am guessing the reporter that wrote this couldnt get a real job or pass journalism school because he is to stupid to find out the whole story. Look at Portland Fire and Police where is your slander with them? What about the Clackamas County Commisioners and how disfunctionaly they run the county? Is the purpose of WW, to look at only negitive stuff, what about the positive, they need help and they are getting it. I dont want to post my real name for fear of WW making accusations and false statements at me and trying to ruin my life as well
what people do on there days off is their business, as long as they are not under the influence at work, the let them be. just because they had done some things off duty does not make them any less competent to do their jobs.
what i want to know is how many people at the Willamette week could pass a drug test tomorrow.. i think we all know the answer to that question. does that make them any less able to do their jobs. no it doesn't. how many people in this world go home and drink, how many people smoke. more then you can possibly count. just because these 2 medics went home and smoked a bowl does not mean that they are bad people or that they cant do their jobs. how many people have gone to the occasional party where there happened to be so people doing drugs and you tried it. does that make you a bad person.
from the lowest of the low people in the world to the elite of the elite have smoked weed and may still.
it disgusts me that just to find a story to print you have to make what is already a hard situation for these two medics to deal with even harder. leave them alone.
most of the people in this world are not innocent.