Report Inappropriate Comments

A bit about Inspector Michael Matteson:

Kevin Sullivan

Chief of Department Warwick Fire Dept.

111 Veterans Memorial Dr.

Warwick, Rhode Island 02886

Dear Chief Sullivan,

I would like to bring to your attention the continued erratic behavior of one of your fire inspectors by the name of Mike Matteson. Please allow me to share with you the recent interactions that I have had with this individual.

On or about April 28th my dear friend from the neighborhood suffered a catastrophic loss of his home on Alice Ave. in the Nausaucket area. During the course of the day, the individual called me and asked me if I could come to his home to photograph the damage as his camera was also destroyed. Naturally I agreed. He informed me that he would get back to me later in the day when the property was released to him after the investigation.

Approximately 4 hours later he contacted me and informed me that the property was released and that I could come and take the photos needed. I arrived shortly thereafter and still present on the scene was one police officer and one fire inspector. Several neighbors and friends of the individual were also present on the property. I tool several photos of the exterior of the property on the grade level and then proceeded down the external stairs adjacent to the drive way and took several more photos from the exterior of the house. During this time the owner was in the interior of the building with your representative Mr. Matteson.

I finished the photos by taking several shots at the doorway at the sub level, again, on the exterior of the house. At no time did I enter the structure and had no intention of doing so for obvious safety reasons.

My photos were completed and I was waiting on the lower level for the owner to come out of the home. He did in fact emerge with your representative from the interior of the structure. I informed the owner that I had the photos and that I was going home to put them on disc so he could have them immediately.

At this point Mr. Matteson began screaming at me that I was not wearing a hard had and that I needed a hard hat to go in the building. I informed Mr. Matteson that I was not, and had not entered the building and had no intention of doing so. He continued in a fit of rage to berate me in front of several neighbors including my 10 year old daughter. He asked me my name, which I gave him, and he continued his insulting rant at which point I began to walk away. When I went to walk up the stairway, he took a side step and threw his chest in front of me came nose to nose with me, and blocked my exit. I asked him very calmly to move out of my way so that I could leave. He then took a step to his right exposing the stairs and when I went to walk up the stairs he put is left forearm up to block me once again. I cautioned him on his bodily motions and walked around his arm to my car. This was witnessed by several people. His behavior and posture was completely uncalled for, unprofessional, aggressive and not at all consistent with the conduct of a Warwick Fire Dept. representative. In fact, his behavior was commensurate with someone that is clearly unstable. Until this date, I had never before met this individual. I shrugged off his behavior to someone just having a bad day and decided not to report it. I did however get the name and contact number of an individual who witnessed the event.

On Friday May 28th my boat launched and I delivered it to Greenwich Bay Marina A dock. When pulling the boat in I met the boater next to me by the name of Chris, who I came to find out later, is a Warwick Firefighter. I introduced myself, he was a gentlemen, helped me tie up and I returned home.

Later that evening, I went back to my boat to relax, and noted that several Warwick Firemen were present on the dock drinking, and in fact, Captain Pete Sisson was present with friends on his boat, which was tied up at the Marina. Several men were dressed with blue sweatshirts labeled Warwick Fire Dept. and grey sweatshirts labeled WFD Marine Strike Team.

I retired to the cabin of my boat to relax and shortly thereafter I heard someone asking the owner of the boat next to me, (Chris) “whose boat this was”, as they evidently had plans to have another boat (not a member of the marina) come to tie up to join the party. I heard the individual Chris mention my name to this individual, later identified as Mike Matteson.

Mr. Matteson immediately began insulting conversation about me and began to slander me in front of several people while I was still inside the cabin of my boat. I emerged from the cabin, asked him to stop running his mouth and he began, yet again, another maddening rant, screaming profanities, and asking me to get off my boat to fight with him, and telling me that this was not over and our paths would cross again. He continued to slander me and attempt to humiliate me in front of the several Warwick Firefighters and their family members and friends with a beer bottle in his hand. It was obvious that he had been drinking excessively.

After about 5 minutes of his obviously drunken tirade, I informed him that I was calling the police at which point he commented to call anyone I wanted and stated “do you know who I am!”

I asked him several times to lower his voice and to stop the use of profanity yet he continued. What was most disturbing is the fact that during his psychological meltdown, not one of the other firefighters made any attempts to curb his behavior, and in fact, appeared to find it entertaining.

I was contacted by the police when they arrived and they informed me that they were trying to find Dock A. I indicated on the phone that I would meet them at the top of the dock. At this point I left my boat, walked up the dock, and met with Pete Sisson who witnessed the majority of the incident. Mr. Matteson was following behind me ranting. I asked Mr. Sisson to speak with the individual and that he needed to be removed as his actions were not conducive to a family environment. He was hesitant to get involved, but eventually did speak with the individual.

When the police got to the dock, Mr. Sisson told Mr. Matteson that the incident was about to get worse and Mr. Matteson fled the scene running away like a coward. When questioned by the police, the firefighters present refused to give up his name. I contacted the owner of the house that suffered the fire who had Mr. Matteson’s business card, and retrieved his name which I gave to the police.

I filed a complaint with the police that evening, contacted my attorney, and intend to pursue all legal channels available to me due to the abuse and slander that I withstood, coupled with Mr. Matteson’s statements that “our paths would cross again”. I am taking this as a direct threat to the safety of myself and of my family. I have also given his name to the marina management and I have been told to contact them if Mr. Matteson is seen on the site, and to immediately contact the Warwick Police.

Chief, I am well aware that with your position on the department you handle monumental tasks and cannot be responsible for the actions of your men while not on the clock. However, it would seem prudent, from the stand point of appearances, that there should be some kind of directive that prevents men from wearing clothing of the WFD, while out at a drinking party. This kind of behavior becomes very public, very fast and is not productive for anyone. It does however appear that a certain attitude exists that puts these men in a mindset that they are above all others. I would expect that in their position, a certain level of extra ordinary decorum would be the higher road to take. Not withstanding the fact that they should be setting the example of excellence and not the example of drunken abusive partying intimidating individuals. This incident was witnessed by numerous people throughout the property and word of it is already spreading rapidly through the social media.

I greatly appreciate your time and I look forward to hearing from you pertaining to this incident. I am forwarding this letter to the Mayors office and also to Mr. Oscar Shelton of personnel so as they are aware of the issue and I am on record of the event.

It is a tragic shame that the way Mr. Matteson comports himself must reflect on all of the hard working, well respected firefighters that contribute to the everyday safety of the citizens of our city. I truly hope that he seeks the necessary psychological help that he needs to manage his anger outbursts, as if this continues to go unchecked, will most certainly result in very bad publicity for him and in legal issues as well.

With great respect,

Rob Cote