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Chief Wright: “I don’t want him in the firehouse.”
Police retrieved documents from a firefighter’s locker as part of an investigation into whether he stole money from a 94-year-old woman he met on a call — allegations that led the fire chief Friday to put to the firefighter on paid leave.
The raid took place this week at the 826 Woodward Ave. firehouse.
Police had obtained a search and seizure warrant for the firefighter’s work locker.
The warrant, signed by a judge on Sept. 14, approved the retrieval form the locker of “[a]ny statements transactions history, cash transactions history, check transactions involving his personal accounts and accounts belonging to” the 94-year-old woman, who lives on Summit Street in Fair Haven Heights.
The warrant also covers “[a]ny lock box, safe, safety deposit information, checks or receipts for withdrawals and deposits holding the name” of the firefighter “with the account being” the woman’s from May 2012 to the present.
Fellow firefighters contacted police earlier this month after meeting the woman on a non-fire medical emergency call and hearing from her that the firefighter had gained access to her financial accounts and allegedly stolen money from her over a period of years, according to people familiar with the case. The police then launched the investigation. The firefighter targeted in the investigation originally met the woman on another medical call years ago.
The investigation is being conducted by Detective Rose Reid under the supervision Sgt. Elisa Tuozzoli of the police department’s financial crimes unit.
Lt. Tony Reyes, commander of detectives, confirmed that an “extensive investigation” has begun into the allegations. It remains in the early stages, so it’s too early to comment further, he said.
Chief Allyn Wright Friday placed the firefighter, who is 31 years old, on paid administrative leave. Wright said he acted “based on the seriousness of the allegation. The allegations by the complainant may involve conduct that is prejudicial to the good name of this department. I want him not in the firehouse.”
The firefighter had power of attorney over the woman until this week, when Probate Judge Jack Keyes named North Haven attorney Americo Carchia as the 94-year-old woman’s conservator. That means Carchia now has control over the woman’s financial affairs, not the firefighter.
The woman told the judge during a proceeding — conducted over the phone — that she wanted the conservator because her money had been improperly taken.
Firefighters union President Jimmy Kottage said he “commends” the firefighters for contacting police with the information.
“That’s not acceptable behavior,” Kottage said of the alleged theft. “If it’s proven true, we don’t want firefigthers like that.”
The woman had originally told firefighters about the problem back in December. Back then, though, she limited the complaint to a single check being cashed in her name; the targeted firefighter spoke with her afterwards and she didn’t pursue it further.
But then more money allegedly disappeared from her accounts, and she told firefighters a broader story upon seeing them this month. At that point, the firefighters contacted police.
The woman told the judge in a phone-conference hearing that she wanted a conservator for her financial “safety. After what I’ve been through … My money wasn’t used properly.”
People familiar with the case said the amount of money allegedly stolen could have reached six figures, but that fact hasn’t been confirmed.
“Do you believe your power of attorney was stealing your money?” Keyes asked her.
“I won’t say that,” the woman responded. “Let me just say it wasn’t used properly.”