Ambulance boss: I’m sorry for blacking-up
AWEST Midlands ambulance boss has apologised after pictures emerged of him on social media ‘blacking up’ at a party. Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Steve Wheaton can be seen in the pictures, which have since been removed, grinning for the camera with his face painted black. He appears to be impersonating Mr T who played BA Baracus in the 1980s television series The A Team. It is believed the picture was taken at a party in December 2018.
West Midlands Ambulance Service received a complaint about the pictures in January, and the individual was told that an internal investigation would be conducted by the trust.
But an associate of the anonymous complainant, who uses the alias ‘Celebrity Paramedic’,
posted the pictures of Mr Wheaton on Twitter on Monday night, sparking criticism that it was “shameful” and “outrageous”.
He said he had been frustrated that “nothing had been done” following the complaint, and that he found the whole situation “sickening”.
The social post and account, seen by the Birmingham Post, was later deleted.
West Midlands Ambulance Service Trust told the Post that after receiving the complaint in January and being made aware of the pictures that a full investigation was launched and that the complainant was responded to.
Mr Wheaton, who was awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Medal last year for his dedication to the ambulance service, has worked at WMAS since 2008. He apologised for any offence that he may have caused by his actions.
He said: “The pictures were taken at a private party almost 18 months ago that celebrated people we looked up to in the 80s. BA Baracus from The A-Team was someone I hugely admired as I was growing up for his strength of character, often against the odds.
“However, with hindsight, I can see that my action could be offensive, and for this I can only apologise.
“When I realised the pictures might cause offence, I immediately asked for them to be removed from social media and have thought a great deal about this matter since.
“I have welcomed the opportunity to talk about it with the Trust’s Head of Diversity and Inclusion and learnt a lot from those conversations about how people might perceive such pictures. Again, I apologise if they have caused any offence.”
Kim Nurse, director of workforce and organisational development, added: “When the Trust was first made aware of the pictures in January it carried out a full investigation into the circumstances.
“Mr Wheaton had already acted to address the situation many months before the matter was brought to the attention of the Trust and had reflected extensively on it. He accepted that it was a misjudgment and that it could have caused offence for which he was deeply apologetic.
“The Trust has extremely high standards in regards to all of the protected characteristics. We expect staff to reflect those standards in both their work and personal life.
“Data on the protected characteristics is a matter that is regularly reported on at the Trust Board. We have extensive training in place for staff, hold listening events, have positive action groups and celebrate a wide range of events, for example Eid and Pride month.
“We consider the matter closed.”