Orland Chief: Firefighter Accused in Fatal Crash ‘Violated Our Code of Conduct’

Pat Bruce, of Oak Forest, faces disciplinary action from the Orland Fire Protection District after being involved in a March car accident that left a Downers Grove woman dead.

A lieutenant with the Orland fire district, Bruce, 45, was formally served with discipline charges Sunday, according to Orland Fire Chief Ken Brucki.

READ: Orland Park Firefighter Involved in Fatal Oak Forest Crash

“There were 10 felony charges filed by the state’s attorney, and given their nature, we figured out Lieutenant Bruce violated our code of conduct for on and off-duty,” Brucki said. “The fact that he had cannabis and Tramadol [a prescription painkiller], which the state’s attorney considers a narcotic, in his system at the time of the accident, both of those violate our drug and alcohol policy, as well as our code of conduct. We have a zero-tolerance policy. We do not tolerate that on- or off-duty for our personnel.”

Bruce was off-duty and driving eastbound on 167th Street, near Oak Forest, around 1:40 p.m. March 1 when his black Lincoln Navigator hit Anasis Knox's Oldsmobile. Knox, 25, of Downers Grove, was hospitalized and died later that day. A person in a third vehicle in the accident sustained a permanent back injury, according to Brucki. Prosecutors said in a subsequent court hearing that Bruce was driving 25 mph over the posted limit, and was weaving in and out of his lane.

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Bruce has pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide, driving under the influence of prescription drugs and other charges. He is scheduled to be back in criminal court on May 17.

“I think you can go with violating the public trust, violating oath of office as a firefighter, violating oath of office as an officer and lieutenant,” Brucki said, describing the discipline claims. “There is also the reckless nature in which he was driving a vehicle that not only resulted in a fatality but also a permanent disability.”

Bruce has about a week left to decide the next step for the discipline proceedings.

“He has 10 days under a union contract to either say he wants to go to arbitration, or have the board of fire commissioners hear the case, or he could also resign,” said James Roche, attorney for the Orland Fire Protection District.

Orland Firefighters Local 2754 will convene a peer review council that will decide whether the district had suitable reason, based on contract terms, to discipline Bruce. If the council determines there is suitable reason, the district’s board of commissioners will convene to decide the discipline outcome, which could include termination, Brucki said.

READ: Orland Firefighter Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charge in Fatal Oak Forest Crash

Bruce is on paid administrative leave, but if the discipline process goes to the commissioners, he will then be on leave without pay, Brucki added.

Local 2754 President Wally Rafacz said the union is not defending Bruce in criminal court.

“The union’s involvement is to protect the rights detailed in the contract, and make sure [Bruce’s] rights are being followed,” Rafacz said.

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