Members of the Famalicão Volunteer Firefighters were assaulted by an individual they were assisting on June 24, upon arrival at the hospital.
The organization clarified in a statement that the team was dispatched to respond “to an incident identified as a suicide attempt in the parish of Calendário.”
“Upon arrival at the scene, a male individual was identified who admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages. As is customary in such situations, the presence of the Public Security Police (PSP) was also requested, and they quickly arrived at the location,” it added.
The firefighters detailed that after “a brief interaction with the law enforcement officers, the individual agreed to be transported to the Famalicão Hospital.” However, the man “adopted an aggressive posture, delivering a punch to the ambulance door” during the journey to the healthcare facility.
“Despite the team’s attempts to calm the individual’s behavior through dialogue, upon arriving at the hospital, he physically assaulted the firefighters, causing injuries that necessitated medical attention. The situation was immediately recorded and monitored by the PSP, and it has been handed over to our legal department,” the corporation detailed.
The firefighters pointed out that although infrequent, these situations “should be subject to reflection,” considering that “an unjustified assault on those on the ground saving lives should concern us as a society and lead us to question the values we wish to impart to future generations.”
“The men and women of this corporation serve the population of Famalicão with courage, dedication, and a profound sense of mission. They draw inspiration from the heroic legacy that honors us since the foundation of the firefighters and continue, every day, to fulfill their duty with integrity and altruism,” they emphasized.
A law increasing penalties for assaulting police officers, prison guards, and firefighters, while extending judicial cost exemptions to assaulted teachers and doctors, came into effect today.
It should be noted that a decree published in the Official Gazette on March 19 stipulated that the crime of simple physical assault against security forces and prison guards will now be punishable with one to four years in prison, previously not exceeding three. In cases where the assault is considered a qualified physical assault, the maximum applicable penalty increases from four to five years in prison.
Firefighters and other Civil Protection agents, public transport inspectors, and any worker in the health and education sectors have also been added to the list of professionals against whom an assault may “reveal special blame or perversity,” classified as a qualified physical assault, albeit with a penalty of up to four years in prison.
Teachers, doctors, prison guards, and employees of the Tax and Customs Authority, as well as those of the Tax and Customs Authority of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and public transport inspectors are also exempt from judicial costs when offenses occur in the course of their duties.
