Safety First

Michigan officials are looking into whether three Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies broke state workplace safety regulations. Are they accused of reckless discharge of firearms? Unsafe driving? No, they ran into a burning building and pulled people to safety. The Ypsilanti Township and Washtenaw County gave them awards for bravery. But someone lodged an anonymous complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The department faces fines and other sanctions if OSHA finds deputies broke the law. In fact, the agency is reportedly looking into other instances when deputies entered burning buildings and a collapsed trench. A sheriff's department official told local media he had reason to believe the complaint was filed by someone in the Ypsilanti fire department. Members of the fire department and the firefighters union denied that charge.