Massachusetts Fire Chief Sparks Fury After He Was Filmed Running Over And Killing Raccoon ‘Because It Was RABIES’

A Massachusetts fire commissioner has come under fire for allegedly running over and killing a raccoon, which officials believed was rabid and “foaming” at the mouth.

Springfield Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi was allegedly seen on camera running over an infected raccoon in front of the Springfield Fire Department headquarters on February 21.

Video clips show a black SUV, believed to be a city vehicle, driving back and forth in broad daylight as another man in a firefighter’s uniform approaches the car.

The Springfield Fire Department said that while they received reports of a raccoon in distress, they could not confirm if it was actually rabid.

Springfield Fire Capt. Drew Piemonte said 22News: ‘I notified TJ O’Connor Animal Control, but they don’t deal with nuisance wildlife. They were able to contact a trapper. But the arrival time could not be estimated.

“And due to the high occupancy and high pedestrian traffic in the area where the station is located, he determined that it was a threat to public safety and “dispatched” it with his urban vehicle.”

The Fire Department further said that “the commissioner observed the raccoon foaming at the mouth.”

The Springfield Police Department also confirmed they received calls about a sick raccoon.

Since the video’s release, local leaders and residents have been criticizing the Commissioner for his inhumanity and sparking debates about wildlife management in urban areas.

Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, former Hampden County Register of Deeds State Representative saying: ‘This was extremely disturbing, what are you thinking when you’re going over it, you fail it, you go back and go over it again?

‘Right now I am a concerned citizen. His best thinking is not good enough and I think the mayor should watch this video.

“I think it’s quite disgusting and disturbing and clearly something needs to be done.” Is not acceptable.”

Critics have also argued that the method used by the defendant was “excessively” cruel and that other solutions should have been considered.

But while some criticized Calvi, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno came to his defense, saying the action “had to be taken in the name of public health and safety.”

Sarno added that Calvi was acting within his capacity as a municipal official, as specified by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

His role as a municipal official allowed him to respond and take immediate action when he reasonably concludes that an animal has rabies.

According to Police Department spokesperson Ryan Walsh, if locals come into contact with a potentially sick or injured wild animal, they should call police for help.

If there is imminent danger to the public, officers can euthanize the animal with their service weapons, as long as “it is safe to do so without passing cars or bystanders in the line of fire,” Walsh said. live dough.

It is unclear if any action will be taken against Calvi or if efforts will be made to determine whether the raccoon was truly rabid.