AMR was made aware of a crew’s actions on the evening of 3/30. This reprehensible act is not condoned, and does not reflect the standards to which AMR holds its employees. Those involved tendered their resignations, and we apologize to anyone who was subjected to this behavior. — American Medical Response (@AMR_Social) March 31, 2020

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If you’re in public safety and need sensitivity training to help you understand that people are really on edge right now, maybe you’re in the wrong business. Did an American Medical Response (AMR) crew really believe no one would complain when they drove along streets in our Nation’s Capitol last Monday blaring from their ambulance what sounded like the haunting siren from the move “The Purge”?

AMR called what happened a “reprehensible act” and tweeted the crew “tendered their resignations”. I don’t know if it was reprehensible, but it sure was stupid.

I’ve never seen “The Purge”, but here’s how KATC-TV in Lafayette, Louisiana described it and the siren:

“The Purge” is a horror film that depicts a time in America when a national holiday is celebrated (The Purge) in which all crimes, including murder are legal for a 12-hour period. When the 12-hour period begins, sirens begin to blare and all emergency services are unavailable.

The reason a TV station in Louisiana was describing the movie is because a similar thing happened in the town of Crowley, Louisiana. On Thursday night, the Crowley Police Department used a similar siren sound to denote the beginning of a curfew. No one was fired, but after getting lots of complaints the police chief said it won’t happen again.

Police say they received mixed reaction from the public following the alarm. Crowley Police chief Jimmy Broussard tells us he had no idea the sound was associated with “The Purge”. He also tells us he doesn’t plan on using any type of siren moving forward.