An investigation is complete after Local 10 cameras caught on-duty firefighters playing tennis. 

A formal policy will be put in place, and a fire captain may now face disciplinary action. 

It’s been dubbed by some on Key Biscayne as “Tennis Gate.” Local 10 cameras found Key Biscayne firefighters on duty, out of their jurisdiction, paying tennis at the Crandon Tennis Center. 

All the firefighters on duty that day were there, leaving the Village’s only fire station empty. 

The firefighters pulled up to the tennis center in a rescue unit, a fire truck and a command vehicle and played for several minutes until they faked an emergency call and ran from the cameras. 

The concern is that if there was a real emergency to respond to back in the Village, the firefighters would have to maneuver through bumper-to-bumper traffic to get back there, which would no doubt cause a delay in response. 

“It is not a great distance, but it takes time to get there, and that time spread would be less if they were where they were supposed to be,” said Key Biscayne Mayor Frank Caplan. 

The traffic concerns caused former Fire Chief John Gilbert, who is now the interim village manager, who issued a directive not to train outside the jurisdiction during peak traffic times. 

The current fire chief admitted to a possible delay when questioned by Village Council members about Local 10’s story. 

Local 10 has learned an internal review of the incident is complete. Those on the courts that day have been interviewed. That directive will likely be turned into a clear-cut policy.

“It is very, very clear that physical training at 5 o’clock in the afternoon will continue to be my direction of not be taking place anywhere off the Key,” said Gilbert. 

A captain who was the senior officer on duty that day was placed on administrative leave and has now returned to work. A source said he may still face disciplinary action. 

While physical activity is mandated to keep fit, Key Biscayne provides its firefighters with a full gym and a basketball court at the fire station. The Department does use the Crandon Tennis Center for organized drill work.

The acting fire chief is now working on a full report that will be presented to the Village Council for review.