PATCO officer fired but not charged for using pepper-spray on a passenger
A PATCO transit police officer suspended in May after an altercation with a passenger has been fired, the Delaware River Port Authority announced Friday.
A PATCO transit police officer suspended in May after an altercation with a passenger has been fired, the Delaware River Port Authority announced Friday.
"We have made a determination that the incident reflects actions inconsistent with our organizational core values and in direct conflict with the high standard of conduct we demand from our law enforcement officials," CEO John T. Hanson wrote in a statement.
The decision came after the Camden County Prosecutor's Office decided not to file charges in the incident.
On May 3, Transit Officer Michael Fiocca used pepper spray and hit a passenger with his baton after the man allegedly resisted arrest, according to police documents.
The passenger, Ryan Patterson, fell onto live tracks at the Woodcrest station during the scuffle. It took officers 10 minutes to hoist him back onto the platform.
Police documents state that Fiocca followed Patterson to the westbound platform about 7:45 p.m. and asked for his ticket. Patterson reacted angrily but did produce a ticket, and an explanation that he accidentally boarded the wrong train in Camden and got off at Woodcrest to catch a train home to Philadelphia. The incident then escalated when Patterson did not cooperate, according to the documents.
Patterson was taken to Kennedy-Stratford Hospital and was released with a citation for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Efforts to reach Patterson and Fiocca were not successful.
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