Fall 2000
Former emergency dispatcher Mary Ruth Stocking tells Town Administrator Candace Wheeler that police officers had been signing attendance sheets for training courses that were never held.
2005
According to three police officers, no EMT training courses were held all year.
2006
EMT-Basic Refresher courses, as well as continuing education courses, are scheduled but never held.
2007
More classes are scheduled without being held.
January: Michael Marchand, a Hamilton police officer who is on paid administrative leave, tells Town Administrator Candace Wheeler that officers are signing attendance sheets for bogus courses.
November: Sgt. Paul Grant tells selectmen of the problems.
2008
Selectmen hire two independent consultants to investigate complaints about fundraising and other problems in the Police Department.
July: A third investigator, Robert Pomeroy, is hired to further investigate, including allegations about training records abuses.
August: State Office of Emergency Medical Services begins investigation of training records.
September: OEMS finds "serious deficiencies." Police chief suspends town ambulance service.
Dec. 9: OEMS finds rampant signature fraud, pulls town's ambulance license for a year, suspends nine EMT licenses and reprimands 10 other officers. Five Danvers EMTs also cited.
Dec. 11: Selectmen get Pomeroy report, refuse to release it.
Sources: Office of Emergency Medical Services investigation report and Salem News stories.
