By Esther Rubio-Sheffrey | SDUN Reporter
Just after 2 a.m. on Feb. 26, two brothers were involved in an altercation with three other men near the corner of Adams Avenue and 34th Street. The three men were off-duty San Diego Fire and Rescue firefighters Capt. Vadid Cisneros, Gregory Econie and Andrew Brennan. The firefighters eventually walked away, but not before allegedly striking one of the brothers on the head, taking their wallets, a cell phone and making a threatening remark.
Shortly after the altercation, the two brothers placed a call to police, as did a few witnesses. Nearby officers saw the three walking away from the incident’s location. As the officers approached, the off-duty firefighters dropped the stolen items. A police report stated the suspects were cooperative while questioned and subsequently arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault.
The investigation is ongoing and the firefighters remain on active duty. Cisneros is a supervisor at the dispatch center and has been with the Fire and Rescue Department for 11 years. Brennan has been stationed at Fire Station #19 in Mountain View for 10 years and Econie has been with Fire Station #28 in Clairemont Mesa East for four years.
Police reports indicate the comment the victims perceived as a threat was allegedly made by Brennan, and was regarding Brennan knowing where the victims lived. All three suspects posted bail that same morning, and the District Attorney’s office has yet to file any charges.
Prosecutors are required to file charges within 72 hours only if a suspect is held without bail. Given that the firefighters were held with and later posted bail, San Diego District Attorney Communications Director Steve Walker said the case remains under review and could not comment further.
Both the San Diego Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office maintain the firefighters have not received special treatment, their professions are irrelevant and they are being treated like any other suspects. Additionally, San Diego Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Maurice Luque confirmed the Department has initiated its own fact-finding investigation, also still ongoing.
A fact-finding investigation is standard procedure when someone from the Department is involved in an incident that leads to police or other law enforcement agency involvement while employees are off-duty to see if the Department should take any action.
“We let the authorities and the legal processes run their course while conducting a fact finding [investigation] independent from the legal process. That is the Department’s normal course of action,” Luque said, adding the public should remember, “The individuals involved in the situation… are entitled to the presumption of innocence our Constitution guarantees us all. Their cases will be tried in a court of law, not in the court of public opinion.”
Judy Elliot, executive director of the Adams Avenue Business Association, said that while aware of the situation, no businesses or individuals have contacted the Association to express concern regarding their safety or the integrity of first emergency responders assigned to their neighborhood.
Luque said the Department’s status as public safety providers comes with a considerable amount of public trust. “Along with that trust comes the public’s expectation that we will be above reproach in our conduct at all times, even when we are off duty,” he said. “Some people may debate whether this is fair or not, but that is not really the issue here. The reality is that we will always be held to a higher standard. There is a prevalent feeling in the ranks that this expectation is appropriate given all the accolades we receive for our work and the public support we are provided.”
