- September 25, 2024
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On the heels of Flagler County Fire Rescue adopting new protocols in response to sexual assault allegations from a former FCFR employee that was on duty when the crimes were committed, the victim of the case has notified the county of her intent to sue.
Flagler County administrator Heidi Petito, Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance and Flagler Fire Rescue Fire Chief Michael Tucker each received an official "notice of intent to initiate litigation" on Sept. 18, filed by the victim's attorney, Sam Masters, of Daytona Beach. The notice, provided by Flagler County, states the victim is seeking reparations for "all damages sustained by our client."
Former FCFR paramedic James Melady, 37, of Daytona Beach, was arrested on Sept. 11 after Flagler County Sheriff's Office and Daytona Beach Police detectives served a warrant for his arrest. He has been charged with sexual battery on a helpless person and one count of video voyeurism on a victim 19 years old or older, a FCSO press release said.
Melady “confessed to his crimes” of sexual battery and video voyeurism when interviewed by detectives, the FCSO press release said. The assault occurred in October 2021, where the victim was unconscious in the back of an ambulance with Melady, who was on duty.
Melady, who was hired in June 2018, was put on an unrelated administrative leave on May 8 after failing a drug test for a medication for which he no longer had a prescription, the county press release said. He then resigned and has not worked for Fire Rescue since.
“We want to express concern and extend our support to the victim and her family,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “The actions described are deeply disturbing and completely contrary to the values of our organization, and the principles we uphold in our service to the community.”
Following the allegations, FCFR immediately implemented a two-person protocol for if a patient is either under age or in a vulnerable state. Tucker said the extra person will be pulled from the responding fire engine and will have the correct emergency medical qualifications.
Tucker told the Observer the protocol would be triggered by "any kind of a call that gets someone in a position where they can't defend themselves."
From a budget perspective, he said, the county will need to figure out the long-term impacts and how many additional personnel are needed. There are currently 35 personnel per the FCFR's three shifts.
The department also cut $8,000 from other areas to install 360-degree cameras in the rear of all nine of its ambulances, according to a Flagler County press release. It has also sped up the implementation of two other policies that were already in the works: psychological evaluations for all new employees and and requiring a rescue supervisor on all calls.
Three of the nine ambulances already have supervisors, but the goal, Tucker said, is to ensure there are supervisors on every call.
“These actions reflect our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the people we serve,” Tucker said in the county press release. “We want to emphasize that the actions of one individual do not reflect the dedication and heroism of our entire team. The men and women of Flagler County Fire Rescue are life-saving heroes who work tirelessly to protect and serve our community. The arrest of this individual for his alleged depraved criminality does not diminish the exceptional and compassionate work performed by our entire team every day.”
