May 24—NEW BRITAIN — A former fire lieutenant is trying to get his job back after city officials say he was terminated because text messages revealed he sold drugs at a local firehouse to a member of the department who died two months later of a suspected overdose.
Former New Britain fire Lt. Michael Yagmin, who was interviewed as part of a broad administrative investigation into allegations that more than a half-dozen firefighters were using drugs, including some while on duty, is in arbitration with the city, Mayor Erin Stewart's spokesperson Rachel Zaniewski said. A hearing is scheduled for June, she said.
According to his termination letter, Yagmin was fired in February after an internal investigation revealed he lied about selling heroin or fentanyl to firefighter Matthew Dizney, who died Jan. 26 at his Southington home of what Stewart called a suspected overdose. The state's medical examiner said Dizney's cause of death is pending further studies.
Yagmin is also believed to have sold Dizney prescription drugs, according to the termination letter.
New Britain police conducted a criminal investigation into the alleged drug activity among city firefighters, but Stewart said she was told there was not enough evidence for an arrest.
New Britain police have not responded to requests for comment. The department has also not responded to Hearst Connecticut Media Group's request for the documents related to the criminal investigation.
Yagmin declined to comment when reached last week.
According to his termination letter, Yagmin was fired Feb. 18 for "commission of a criminal or immoral act, conduct unbecoming of a city employee and untruthfulness under the Garrity Act during hearings." Under Garrity, an incriminating statement may not be used in a criminal proceeding against an employee threatened with termination.
The letter states that Yagmin was asked about apparent discrepancies in the statements he made to investigators and the text messages to and from Dizney. Yagmin denied to investigators that he arranged for a drug transaction or used illegal drugs at any fire station, the termination letter stated. But the text messages referred to Yagmin getting Dizney pills, a "stack" or a "bun" — street slang police said is used to describe quantities of heroin or fentanyl, according to the letter.
Yagmin said he didn't know what "stack" or "bun" meant, and said his texts were referring to marijuana, which he claimed to have legally obtained in Massachusetts, the letter stated.
In the letter, Stewart noted the contradiction and pointed out that firefighters are not allowed to use recreational marijuana.
Stewart wrote that despite his denials, Yagmin conducted a drug transaction at Station 7 on Nov. 17, 2021 and is believed to have planned a drug transaction at the same firehouse with Dizney on Dec. 22, 2021.
"It is clear that you scheduled, arranged and conducted a drug transaction at ( Station 7) on Nov. 17, 2021," the mayor wrote in the letter. "You were knowingly supplying, giving, selling, sharing and using illegal drugs and your prescription Adderall pills with a private in the fire department and delivered drugs to Private Dizney while Private Dizney was on duty."
The Southington police probe of Dizney's death triggered the New Britain internal investigation of drug use among city firefighters, Stewart said. The investigation led to Yagmin's firing and the demotion and suspension of seven others, all of whom had been promoted to lieutenant or driver, Stewart said.
The administrative investigation found that nine New Britain firefighters consumed drugs, including Adderall, marijuana, cocaine and possibly either heroin or fentanyl. Three of the employees, Yagmin, Dizney and one other unnamed firefighter are believed to have consumed drugs while on duty, Stewart said.
Stewart, who released the results of the internal investigation last week, said more than nine firefighters may have used drugs. She said as rumors about the internal investigation spread, a number of firefighters retired.
Fire Chief Raul Ortiz, Assistant Chief Peter Towey and staff from the Human Resources and corporation counsel's offices conducted the administrative investigation.
As a result of the probe, two lieutenants and five drivers were demoted to "private," which is the lowest rank, suspended for 30 days without pay and placed on probation for three years during which they are subject to random drug testing — something Stewart said she has been pushing for years to be included in the union contract for all firefighters.
The disciplined firefighters avoided termination by admitting "somewhat of their truth" when they were interviewed during the investigation, Stewart said. Yagmin, however, lied when he was interviewed, Stewart said.
"Your actions and failure to acknowledge and be truthful with the city and yourself indicate that you are a safety risk to the fire department and the public it serves, which impacts the efficiency and operation of the department. For you and the union to state that you did not knowingly participate in illegal drug activity is irresponsible," Stewart wrote in the termination letter.
"From a public policy standpoint, I cannot allow an employee of the fire department let alone a lieutenant to continue in employment when there is sufficient cause to believe that he is involved in illegal drug activity."
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