Who Should Be Held Responsible For Fall River Pool Death?
FALL RIVER (CBS) - Closed-door hearings were held at Fall River City Hall Tuesday for two health inspectors, who have been on paid leave since the body of a woman was found at a state-run pool last month.
The two inspectors had given the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Pool a clean bill of health, even though the water was too murky to see the body of 36-year-old Marie Joseph for two days. The two inspectors were at that pool on one of those days.
Fall River city attorney Steve Torres says jurisdiction is a key question.
WBZ-TV's Diana Perez reports.
The inspectors were grilled at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
Union attorney Jaime DiPaola-Kenney, representing the two inspectors, said responsibility for the pool is clear.
"They are city inspectors and they do not have jurisdiction over this pool," she says. "This is a state-run, state-operated pool in question."
Their attorney said they inspected the pool as a courtesy and had no power to take any action.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports.
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Torres says he will review all the evidence, and make a recommendation to the mayor for disciplinary action, if any, against the two inspectors.
Meanwhile, both inspectors are on paid leave and the pool is closed.