BOSTON --
A Haverhill firefighter who was jailed in New Hampshire for four months this year on a driving charge, continued to collect his paycheck by keeping the incarceration secret.
Kevin Thompson, 52, was in jail from Jan. 28 until May 27 after pleading guilty to driving after suspension of his license, Rockingham, N.H., County Department of Corrections Superintendent Albert Wright told the Eagle Tribune.
New Hampshire officials said Thompson has not had a driver's license in that state since 1992, when he was labeled a habitual offender after various driving violations. He lost his Massachusetts license in 1987 for failing to pay excise tax, according to the registry.
Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini told the paper that an investigation is under way into whether Thompson or anyone else broke laws or city rules by covering the shift and keeping the incarceration secret from the fire chief and other city officials.
Fiorentini said Thompson used a mix of vacation time, personal time and special leave time while he was in jail so he could continue to get paid.
Fiorentini said officials are also investigating whether Thompson drove any city vehicles without a driver's license.
Haverhill Fire Chief Richard Borden placed Thompson on administrative leave after becoming suspicious of the time off. Thompson then quit his job and filed for retirement, the paper reported.
Fiorentini said he is considering fighting Thompson's claim for retirement benefits and a pension at a hearing this week.
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