Shocking video shows a Long Island fire chief berating a 10-year-old girl — angrily telling her to “shut the f–k up” while strapped to a stretcher and being lifted into an ambulance during an emergency call.
North Babylon Fire Chief Peter Alt has been stripped of his duties while an investigation is underway following outrage over the viral TikTok video posted Monday showing him hurling obscenities at the child, a statement released Tuesday by the volunteer fire company confirmed.
WARNING: Strong language
This is how North Babylon Fire Department talks to a 10-year-old little girl in crisis. She was scared, having a mental health emergency—and instead of compassion, she was berated, told shut the f*ck up you little b*tch by a grown man in uniform. Suffolk County Police stood by and did nothing. What you don’t see on video was even worse. The verbal abuse went on and on. This child was treated like she didn’t matter. This is beyond unacceptable. This is trauma. Children in crisis need care, not cruelty. We will not be silent. This cannot keep happening. #NorthBabylonFD #justice #MentalHealthMatters #ProtectChildren #TraumaIsReal
“The fire company is presently reviewing all of its training, policies, and procedures and will determine if further training with respect to responding to emergency calls is required,” the statement read.
“The fire company does not condone this behavior and deems it unacceptable.”
Alt, a 22-year veteran of the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, was one of the first responders on the call Monday night in West Babylon after the girl’s family called for help to calm the child down, her grandmother told NBC New York.
As emergency responders began loading the 10-year-old into the ambulance, a concerned neighbor recorded the chief verbally berating her.
“Shut the f–k up! It’s like this with you every f–king week!” Alt can be heard shouting at the child.
“I don’t want to go!” the girl yells back. “I want to go home!”
“Shut your mouth!” Alt angrily replies, then mumbles something as the ambulance doors close.
The child’s grandmother, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was shocked and devastated by the way her granddaughter was spoken to.
“Maybe it was a blessing I wasn’t there because I would have jumped all over this guy,” she told the outlet.
“When you call for help — the police, the fire department — they’re supposed to help you. Not treat you like garbage. And curse at a child at that.”
The concerned grandmother said that her daughter called the police on her granddaughter after she had taken away the child’s phone, causing her to become emotionally distressed.
She added that the family has called first responders in the past to deal with the child, but they have always been understanding to her granddaughter.
Neighbor Mark Simms said the incident left others on the block disturbed by how the chief handled the emotionally distressed child.
“That’s not a professional way to deal with people,” Simms told NBC New York. “I wouldn’t want him to speak to my children like that or anyone in my family. I’d be outraged myself.”
Simms added that police have been called to deal with the child “a few times” this summer, but “never treated her like that.”
Town of Babylon officials have also released a statement on Facebook condemning the fire chief’s “appalling” actions.
“The use of demeaning and inappropriate language by a first responder during an aided call is appalling and completely at odds with the standards of dignity, respect, and professionalism our residents deserve,” the statement read.
“We understand that the individual involved has been relieved of duty while a full investigation takes place and we expect a full and transparent review of the incident.”
The town stated that they “expect meaningful steps to strengthen training, policies, and oversight to ensure this does not happen again,” adding that there is “no place in our town for behavior that disrespects or harms the public — especially when it involves a young person or child.”
“The Town of Babylon condemns this conduct in the strongest possible terms and stands with the affected family and all residents who rely on our emergency services in their times of need,” the statement concluded.
Commenters on both the viral TikTok video and statements released on Facebook have also called for the responders who stood by and allowed Alt to speak to the child in such a way to be investigated.
The Post has reached out to the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company for comment.
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