Firefighters who were given a Caribbean vacation by Ellen DeGeneres for heroically saving a dog from an icy river are forced to decline the getaway... because of state ethics laws

  • Four Wellesley firefighters saved a golden retriever from an icy river last month
  • To award their bravery, Ellen DeGeneres gave each of them a vacation to the Caribbean
  • The fire chief forced the firefighters to decline the vacation because of state ethics laws for municipal employees
  • A 5-year-old female golden retriever named Crosby was found paddling for her life 40-yards offshore
  • Rescuers donned cold water survival suits and leaped into the frigid river to pull Crosby ashore

By Joshua Gardner and Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 23:03 EST, 15 January 2014 | UPDATED: 23:39 EST, 15 January 2014

Four first responders who rescued a golden retriever from the icy waters of the Charles River outside of Boston last month were forced to decline a Caribbean vacation given to them by daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as a reward for their selfless actions, which ultimately saved the dog's life.

Wellesley, Massachusetts Fire Capt. Jim Dennehy, Lt. Paul Delaney, Dave Papazian, and Joan Cullinan each were given a bedazzled life vest with their name on it by the host, as well as a cruise through the Caribbean.

However, the heroes were forced to turn down the vacation due to ethics laws regarding gifts for municipal employees.

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Denied: Four first responders were not allowed to accept a cruise from Ellen for saving a dog because it violated state ethics laws

Denied: Four first responders were not allowed to accept a cruise from Ellen for saving a dog because it violated state ethics laws

Grateful: The dog's owner, Amy Kapinos, is extremely grateful to the first responders for saving her beloved dog

Grateful: The dog's owner, Amy Kapinos, is extremely grateful to the first responders for saving her beloved dog

Shocked: The firefighters were stunned when Ellen told them she was sending them on a Caribbean vacation

Shocked: The firefighters were stunned when Ellen told them she was sending them on a Caribbean vacation

'It was a nice gesture on Ellen’s part and the firefighters were surprised by that, but state statute is very clear, so we FedExed the vouchers back to the Ellen show,' Wellesley Fire Chief Richard DeLorie told Boston.com.

On December 22, authorities received a frantic 911 call about a dog trapped in the ice in the Charles River.

Wellesley rescuers tracked the panicked owner's cell phone GPS data to an isolated stretch of river in the Elm Bank Reservation.

There they found a golden retriever named Crosby swimming for her life, stuck 40 yards from shore in the frigid water.

Captivating: Dramatic video shows the daring rescue of a golden retriever trapped in the icy Charles River in Massachusetts

Captivating: Dramatic video shows the daring rescue of a golden retriever trapped in the icy Charles River in Massachusetts

The cell phone data 'was absolutely critical in directing first responders to the correct area,' according to a Wellesly Police release.

Five-year-old Crosby was stuck in a tiny circle of broken ice, unable to paddle to shore after unseasonably warm temperatures had thinned the previously solid ice over the weekend.

Papazian jumped into action by donning a cold water survival suit and heading straight through the dangerously cold water and ice toward the ailing canine.

The search: Wellesley, Massachusetts rescuers used GPS data to track the panicked owner's 911 call to a remote area of the Elm Bank Reservation

The search: Wellesley, Massachusetts rescuers used GPS data to track the panicked owner's 911 call to a remote area of the Elm Bank Reservation

Captivating: Dramatic video shows the daring rescue of a golden retriever trapped in the icy Charles River in Massachusetts
The rescue: Wellesley firefighter Dave Papazian (pictured) donned a cold water survival suit and dove right into the frigid Charles River. The 5-year-old golden retriever, a female named Crosby, had fallen through the ice after unseasonably warm temperatures thinned it over the weekend

The rescue: Wellesley firefighter Dave Papazian (pictured) donned a cold water survival suit and dove right into the frigid Charles River. The 5-year-old golden retriever, a female named Crosby, had fallen through the ice after unseasonably warm temperatures thinned it over the weekend

Team effort: Papazian was joined in the water by Lieutenant Paul Delaney, who helped pull shocked Crosby from the water with the help of ropes and rescuers on shore

Team effort: Papazian was joined in the water by Lieutenant Paul Delaney, who helped pull shocked Crosby from the water with the help of ropes and rescuers on shore

Rescuers looked as soaked and exhausted as Crosby as they finally got the drenched dog onto solid footing

Rescuers looked as soaked and exhausted as Crosby as they finally got the drenched dog onto solid footing

Delaney, too, jumped in the frigid water and dramatic footage shows him and Papazian bravely towing Crosby back to shore with the help of rescuers pulling with ropes on land.

Police said Crosby was in remarkably good shape when she got to land and footage shows her looking grateful as firefighters dried her off.

Still cold, damp and shaken, Crosby was reunited with her owner, Amy Kapinos, a short time later.

'Crosby is a big part of our family but they didn’t hesitate one second,' Kapinos said during a taping of the Ellen Show. 'I can't thank them enough.'

 

Crosby was plucked from the river cold and unhappy but in good shape considering her close brush with death

Crosby was plucked from the river cold and unhappy but in good shape considering her close brush with death

Warming up: Rescuers quickly wrapped Crosby in a towel and dried her off before reuniting her with her grateful owner shortly thereafter

Warming up: Rescuers quickly wrapped Crosby in a towel and dried her off before reuniting her with her grateful owner shortly thereafter


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I'm convinced that firefighters are absolutely the best humans on earth. This story, as most about firefighters, proves that. I hope Ellen is able to give them something they can accept and use instead of the cruise.

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That's right. Ellen's producers should have known that before making the big presentation. They could always donate the equal amount in money to the the fireman's fund or the city to purchase new equipment in the names of the firemen. That way everyone makes out.

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I hope that dog never gets near the ice or deep water again.

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i am sure Ellen will find another way to applaud this guys.

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Easy solution. The Massachusetts legislature can pass a law allowing these 4 to accept the gift.

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Bullspit, Just call it a campaign donation and they're good to go.

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Why make them decline it! Because the bosses didn't get one too I recon! Jealousy, pure Jealousy! If somebody want to reward them for doing something that's their right to do so! To turn it down could be offensive!?

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Geez just let the guys go on the vacation. This isn't some seedy slap on the back good old boys club Washington DC deal.

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It is true that if you work for the government you are not supposed to take anything of value but that only applies to the peasants not the congress.

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An annuity that they can¿t touch or control until they retire would work. Plus, it would be worth much more than the trip in the future.

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