A longtime Miami-Dade firefighter is out of the job after a high school student on an EMS ride-along reported getting inappropriate text messages, a complaint that quickly triggered an internal investigation and left the teen feeling uncomfortable, according to county officials.
The incident reportedly happened in late January. By early March, the firefighter had resigned as Miami-Dade Fire Rescue moved to discipline him.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, the firefighter was identified as Guillermo Halphen, a roughly 20-year veteran of the department who was assigned to Fire Station 70 in southwest Miami-Dade. NBC 6 reported that the messages were exchanged during an EMS ride-along in late January and that the student told officials they felt uncomfortable, prompting the department review.
A department spokesperson told NBC 6 South Florida that Halphen resigned on March 6 as Miami-Dade moved to fire him. Public payroll records list a Guillermo E. Halphen on the county roster as a firefighter. The Metro-Dade Firefighters Union, Local 1403, said it could not comment on specifics, and Halphen’s attorney declined to comment, according to NBC 6.
Department Says Behavior Will Not Be Tolerated
In a statement to NBC 6 South Florida, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue stressed what it called a zero-tolerance approach, saying, “There are no circumstances under which this type of behavior is acceptable.” The department said it acted quickly to pull the firefighter from duty and that after an internal investigation the individual is no longer employed.
A chief’s memo obtained by NBC 6 reminded personnel that interactions with ride-along participants, cadets and students must remain respectful and fully in line with department policy, a written reminder that suggests leadership is trying to close any gray areas around how employees communicate with trainees.
Misconduct Scrutiny Already Hanging Over The Department
The resignation lands as Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is already facing questions about workplace conduct inside its stations. Separate reporting on a former lieutenant accused of recording colleagues in station restrooms described allegations involving a hidden camera, internal investigations and, in some instances, criminal charges.
Ride-Along Rules And Student Safeguards
County rules and affiliation agreements spell out how EMT and paramedic students can ride with Miami-Dade fire crews. The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics has said those partnerships must include safeguards that protect students and avoid conflicts of interest.
The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics 2024 memorandum notes that the county approved an affiliation allowing students to ride along as part of their training, while also underscoring limits and supervisory responsibilities meant to prevent misconduct.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says it intends to hold employees accountable, and the chief’s recent memo signals a renewed focus on how staff interact with students and other ride-along participants. For now, no criminal charges have been announced in the Halphen case, and officials have released few additional details to the public.
