The fire chief from Long Island allegedly confronted a 10-year-old girl in an inappropriate manner, telling her to “shut up.” The incident was captured in a video shared on TikTok by a neighbor who witnessed it on Monday, as reported by the New York Post. In the footage, emergency responders can be seen assisting the girl as she is placed on a stretcher.
In the video, the man, identified as North Babylon Fire Chief Peter Alto, can be heard yelling, “Stop f—ing!” at the child, while she replies, expressing her desire to go home.
This situation has drawn criticism, with claims that the child was in a state of distress, facing a mental health crisis. Comments on social media emphasized the lack of compassion from the adult, noting that instead of offering support, he responded with harsh words. One user mentioned that the child’s treatment was unacceptable, suggesting that kids in crisis need empathy rather than hostility.
The North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company acknowledged the inappropriate behavior in a press release shared on Facebook. They stated that Alto has been suspended from duties pending a thorough investigation. The organization labeled the incident as “unacceptable” and vowed to review its training and policies.
The city of Babylon also released a statement confirming that the language used by the responders contradicts the standards of respect and professionalism that the community expects. They stressed that there is no tolerance for actions that harm the public, particularly vulnerable individuals like children.
The girl’s grandmother spoke with NBC4 New York, revealing that she was not present during the incident. She conveyed her concern, feeling that the girl needed protection and support during a tough time. “When you reach out for help, you expect to be treated with kindness, not hostility,” she expressed.
A neighbor, Mark Sims, shared that he had witnessed previous interactions with the fire department and noted they had not treated the child this way before.
