ST LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 Three St. Lucie County firefighters were fired after investigators said videos appeared to show them “hazing” probationary firefighters while on duty at Station 1A.<\/p>\n
WATCH BELOW: New depositions reveal why a firefighter turned in alleged hazing videos<\/p>\n
New depositions reveal why a firefighter turned in alleged hazing videos<\/p>\n
Now, for the first time, depositions newly obtained by WPTV reveal why the firefighter who turned those videos over to fire leadership felt he had to.<\/p>\n
The videos, which WPTV also obtained, appear to show probationary firefighters at Station 1A being quizzed on the job, then shocked with a modified bug zapper for wrong answers.<\/p>\n
“What are ya gonna do?” a voice says in one of the videos.<\/p>\n
In a deposition WPTV reviewed, the firefighter who turned over the recordings asked investigators to keep his identity confidential. He told investigators he decided to come forward for two reasons.<\/p>\n
“One of them, obviously you watch it, you know, [expletive] goes too far sometimes, and there’s a stigma here, so you don’t want to say [expletive],” the firefighter said. “Then the other thing is, these guys were in a jam, so obviously there’s something here.”<\/p>\n
He pointed to a separate 2025 investigation into Station 1’s workplace culture \u2014 one that described it as “characterized by intense peer pressure, social exclusion, and inappropriate banter” \u2014 months before the videos surfaced.<\/p>\n
WATCH BELOW: Fired firefighters speak to WPTV on bug zapper hazing case<\/p>\n
Fired firefighters speak to WPTV on bug zapper hazing case<\/p>\n
“There has been tons of rumors of what could potentially occur at that station,” he said.<\/p>\n
When asked whether those rumors were ever formally reported, he told investigators, “I think that’s what got us here in the first place.”<\/p>\n
The firefighter also said in the depositions that he filmed four of the videos himself \u2014 including one showing water being dumped on a probationary firefighter \u2014 and said he was also shocked with the modified bug zapper.<\/p>\n
He identified firefighters Doug Boudrias, Chris Baldwin, and Jordan Hutchinson, the three firefighters since terminated, as the main participants.<\/p>\n
“Yeah, I was walking. Somebody got me in the back,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Same group of players?” the investigator asks.<\/p>\n
“Same group of players,” the firefighter replies.<\/p>\n
In their own depositions, the fired firefighters defended the conduct, saying everyone had the choice to participate.<\/p>\n
“I just know it was inclusive, and I mean, I was shocked,” Baldwin said. “And ultimately, I think everyone that was there was either given the opportunity of being involved or not involved.”<\/p>\n
“Think it was appropriate to do that?” the investigator asked Baldwin.<\/p>\n
WATCH BELOW: Videos surface in St. Lucie County firefighter hazing controversy<\/p>\n
Videos surface in St. Lucie County firefighter hazing controversy<\/p>\n
“The way I viewed it at the time was just everyone kind of enjoying and you know, joking, having fun at the station, decompressing from calls, from a stressful, stressful job,” Baldwin replied.<\/p>\n
Hutchinson’s attorney, in his deposition, questioned why the videos, which were taken in 2024, weren’t reported until two years after they were recorded.<\/p>\n
“Do you have any reason why someone three weeks ago would have now been motivated to turn these over to the chief?” asked the attorney.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the conduct was appropriate or professional, all three firefighters gave different answers.<\/p>\n
“It doesn’t appear as professional as we could be,” Boudrias said.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t view it as inappropriate at the time,” Baldwin said.<\/p>\n
“At no point of this was there any intent to haze anybody,” Hutchinson said.<\/p>\n
The union says the district is trying to avoid court, but that any deal must include reinstating all three firefighters.<\/p>\n
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n
Read more of WPTV’s coverage below:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n WPTV Investigates<\/p>\n ‘NO ILL INTENT’: Fired firefighters speak to WPTV on bug zapper hazing case<\/p>\n <\/a> Region St Lucie County<\/p>\n Videos surface in St. Lucie County firefighter hazing controversy<\/p>\n <\/a> WPTV Investigates<\/p>\n Firefighter firings questioned after report contradicts hazing investigation<\/p>\n
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