DALLAS (AP) -- An investigation by The Associated Press has uncovered that over the past 18 months, at least 129 ambulance attendants across the U.S. have been accused of sex-related crimes on duty or off.
Emergency medical technicians have been accused in recent months of such crimes as rape, soliciting minors over the Internet and possession of child porn.
In Copperas Cove, a paramedic is awaiting trial in January on charges he exposed and touched an 18-year-old accident victim's breasts while pretending to tend to her injuries.
State health officials in 23 states reported receiving sex-related complaints involving ambulance workers. New York reported the most complaints -- 17.
Texas reported 13 complaints, Massachusetts 11 and Virginia 10.
Former Dallas Fire Chief Steve Abraira suggests ambulances carry three workers.
Ambulances usually have two -- one in the front, one in the back.
Although most states insist they would rarely, if ever, allow sex offenders to work those jobs, the AP found that Texas has knowingly allowed eight, Louisiana two and Maine, Virginia and North Carolina one each.
Twenty-two states strictly prohibit such offenders from working as EMTs.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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