A probe into a bikini-clad woman climbing out of a San Jose fire engine last month has revealed the rig also stopped at another strip club that evening.
Right after the video surfaced, Mayor Sam Liccardo was incensed and promised accountability.
“We cannot have a life-critical emergency rescue apparatus relegated to a frat party bus, nor tolerate any conduct that so demeans the heroic work of the rest of our SJFD team,” he said in a statement.
NBC Bay Area investigative journalists filed a public information request when it didn't get any answers.
GPS data they received show Engine 4 stopped in front of the Pink Poodle around 9:06 p.m. Oct. 5. It circles the block slowly before returning around 9:10 p.m.
By 9:14 p.m., the rig's device pings approximately two miles away, with the engine stopped in the vicinity AJ’s bikini bar on Lincoln Avenue. GPS data shows the engine parked there for about four more minutes before driving away, reporters noted.
After the mayor gets the video from reporters, city officials discussed the incident via text message.
Fire Chief Robert Sapien tells the mayor via text: “I have directed the BC to lock down units to strictly emergency response through the evening..."
The fire department spokesman told the chief they had spoken with someone in the mayor's office in an attempt to get him to tone down the statement, but he refused.
A number of texts sent to and from the chief were redacted.
The city has not responded to reporters' request for e-mails sent to and from the chief in reference to the rigs stopping at strip clubs.
The names of the firefighters aboard the roving engine have not been identified.
