September 1, 2005 -- A retired FDNY veteran who nearly became president of the city's firefighters union was arrested yesterday on charges he tried to bribe lab workers to lose his firefighter son's cocaine-laced urine, officials said yesterday.
Thomas DeParma, a 27-year veteran, faces seven years in jail if convicted by Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes' office.
While running for the top union post this year, DeParma first offered $1,000 and then $5,000 in bribes to employees at the Bendiner & Schlesinger laboratory, according to the city's Department of Investigation.
DeParma, 54, allegedly wanted the lab workers to get rid a urine sample taken from his son, Christopher, 28, which had tested positive for cocaine on May 8.
Officials said the younger DeParma was arrested three times, including once for possession of drug paraphernalia, before he was hired by the FDNY in 2003.
