Oct. 16--HAVERHILL -- Two more firefighters have admitted they falsified records to obtain emergency medical technician certifications, bringing the number of Haverhill firefighters in the statewide scandal to 31.
Lt. Philip Sykes and firefighter Jeff Moriarty agreed on Sept. 27 to accept a series of punishments to save their jobs, according to documents obtained by The Eagle-Tribune.
Moriarty, who has been on sick leave since he was injured in a July 2010 traffic accident, also agreed to resign his job, which he has since done.
Moriarty recently filed for ordinary and accidental disability retirement benefits. Instead of serving a suspension like other firefighters involved in the EMT scheme, Moriarty has agreed to pay the city $5,563 from his first 18 pension checks.
A message left with the firefighters union seeking comment for this story from Sykes, Moriarty and union president Gregory Roberts was not returned.
Firefighters are required by state law to attend classes to maintain their EMT certification. They also receive stipends to their pay for being qualified as EMTs. Firefighters in Haverhill and other communities in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire were involved in the scandal, investigators said.
According to the documents obtained by The Eagle-Tribune, Sykes admitted he falsely claimed he attended seven paramedic training classes in 2007 and that he collected $6,332 in extra paramedic pay in 2008 and 2009 based on fraudulent certification. The documents show that last month fire Chief Richard Borden suspended Sykes without pay for five days and recommended Mayor James Fiorentini fire Sykes.
To save his job, Sykes and the firefighters union agreed to a series of punishments similar to those agreed to in February by 27 other Haverhill firefighters involved in the EMT scheme.
Sykes' case was not resolved in February with the larger group of firefighters because it was part of an earlier investigation by local officials covering the years 2006 and 2007. The larger group included firefighters who lied about their training in 2008 and 2009, officials said.
Sykes agreed to be demoted one rank, serve 1,080 hours of suspension and work 1,080 hours without pay, known as punishment duty, according to documents in the case. The suspensions and free shifts must be served at the fire chief's discretion over the next four years, the documents show.
Sykes must also pay the city $6,332 within three years for paramedic pay he received. He also agreed to forfeit his extra paramedic pay this year and in 2012 and 2013. Sykes also gave up his right to appeal his punishment to any court or state agency.
Moriarty's case was part of the 2008 and 2009 cases, but the city postponed it when Moriarty went out on sick leave as a result of the July 2010 traffic accident. Moriarty was driving a pickup truck that was towing a trailer with cattle on board when the truck veered off the highway and hit a sign. The truck, owned by Kimball Farm in Haverhill, caught fire as it rolled down an embankment. Moriarty did not return to work after the accident and has since resigned and filed retirement paperwork.
The documents show that in his agreement with the city, Moriarty agreed to pay the city $5,563 in lieu of serving 242 hours of suspension. Moriarty, who has filed for both ordinary and accidental injury retirement benefits, is to pay the city through monthly deductions of $265 from his first 18 pension checks. If for any reason Moriarty does not receive his pension, he must pay the city in cash within 24 months.
Moriarty also agreed to forfeit any extra EMT pay he may be due this year and write a public apology letter to the city, similar to letters signed by other firefighters. Also similar to other agreements, Moriarty and the union gave up their rights to appeal.
Two other firefighters involved in the case were fired last year.
Former Haverhill firefighter Jeffrey Given, who facilitated the scam locally, was fired last winter and in June pleaded guilty in Superior Court to participating in a scheme that allowed other firefighters to lie about their emergency-medical-technician training.
The other terminated firefighter was Lt. Alexander Fredette. He was the only firefighter who went forward with a hearing on the allegations and declined to admit wrongdoing. He has appealed his firing to the state Civil Service Commission.
The Eagle-Tribune has requested documents and records under the Freedom of Information law pertaining to the city's investigation of at least two other firefighters believed to be the subject of the EMT probe. City Solicitor William Cox said the city would neither confirm or deny such investigations, if they exist, until they have been completed and closed.
