By Petula Dvorak
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 29, 2006

D.C. Fire Chief Adrian H. Thompson wants to dismiss four firefighters for botching the response to the fatal robbery of retired New York Times reporter David E. Rosenbaum, government sources said yesterday.

The firefighters were among the emergency workers who failed to realize that Rosenbaum, 63, had been beaten in a robbery Jan. 6 on Gramercy Street NW, near his home. Instead they treated him as a drunk and a "low priority," according to a government source.

Thompson recently launched dismissal proceedings against an emergency medical technician. A total of 10 firefighters and emergency medical workers face disciplinary action in Rosenbaum's case, according to the government sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because personnel information is considered confidential.

Some D.C. Council members have called for Thompson's resignation in the wake of a scathing report from the D.C. inspector general that detailed "an unacceptable chain of failure" in Rosenbaum's case. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) has rejected calls to fire Thompson, who in 2002 became chief of the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

Thompson appears to be taking a more aggressive stance since the release of the inspector general's findings. He is moving to oust two other firefighters who allegedly missed a call while taking a nap in their vehicle early Monday, the sources said. The firefighters were snoozing after parking in a lot near Alice Deal Junior High School in the 3800 block of Fort Drive NW, the sources said.

The latest actions in the Rosenbaum case targeted firefighters Reginald Chandler, Anthony Fields, Michael Roy and Frelimo Simba. The development was first reported by the Washington Times. The firefighters will go before a trial board, where they could face suspensions or dismissals. Thompson will push to have them fired, sources said.

Fire department spokeswoman Kathryn Friedman confirmed that personnel actions had been taken against four firefighters but said she could not provide details.

Thompson began dismissal proceedings this month against ambulance driver Selena Walker. She continues to work pending a final decision, although she is restricted to administrative duties.

Lt. Ray Sneed, president of the D.C. Firefighters Association, said he plans to speak this week, after his legal staff reviews the matter, on behalf of the firefighters involved in Rosenbaum's case.

Dismissing the firefighters allegedly caught napping this week would be a just act, Sneed said, adding: "We don't support that type of behavior. These two could have taken a nap at the firehouse, where we have people on watch all the time."

But the union leader expressed concern that Thompson could be getting tough to fight calls for his resignation. "Just because you can fire people doesn't indicate that you're a good leader," Sneed said.

Staff writer Robert E. Pierre contributed to this report.