DISTRICT BRIEFING

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Man Trying Out for Recruit Class Dies After Agility Test Difficulties

A 23-year-old man trying out for the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department died yesterday, a day after having trouble during agility training.

Eric Allen of Temple Hills had difficulty breathing Sunday morning while taking physical tests to determine his admission to a recruit class, authorities said. Doctors examined him after a stair-climbing exercise and noticed his blood pressure was elevated, authorities said. Allen was taken to an area hospital, where his condition quickly deteriorated.

The fire department did not know of any physical condition that would have prevented Allen from training, spokesman Alan Etter said. Authorities are investigating, and the D.C. medical examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of his death.

"Our most sincere condolences go to his family," Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin said.

-- Allison Klein

NORTHWEST

Hearing Scheduled for Tomorrow On City Effort to Close Video Store

D.C. Superior Court Judge Susan R. Winfield has set a hearing for tomorrow on a bid by the city to shut down a video store in Mount Vernon Square that has generated neighborhood complaints.

D.C. Attorney General Linda Singer is seeking to close Fun Fair Video-Movie, which the city says has been operating illegally as an adult entertainment shop. The store, in the 900 block of Fifth Street NW, does not have a certificate of occupancy to operate in that manner, according to Singer's office.

The city has been battling Fun Fair for more than a decade, and residents recently picketed the business.

-- Keith L. Alexander

POLICE

Chief Sets Policy for How Officers Should Deal With Transgender People

D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier issued an order yesterday that covers the way her officers will deal with transgender people. The order "sets the highest standards in the nation," according to the DC Trans Coalition, made up of members of the city's transgender community.

Police are to refer to transgender people by the gender they have "expressed or presented" and treat them respectfully, the order says.

When arresting a transgender person, officers should write "AT RISK" on the arrest form to indicate that transgender arrestees should be placed in a separate cell.

-- Allison Klein