Of all the outrages that have been perpetrated on the Massachusetts taxpayer, few match that of the Haverhill firefighter who kept collecting his paycheck while serving a four-month jail sentence in New Hampshire.
According to a recent story in The Eagle-Tribune, firefighter Kevin Thompson, 52, had not had a valid driver's license since 1992 and recently served four months of a six-month jail sentence in New Hampshire, after pleading guilty on Jan. 28 to driving after suspension of his license.
During those four months, he used a combination of vacation time, personal time and special leave, also known as "swap time," during which other firefighters covered his shifts for him. Reportedly, those other firefighters were told only that Thompson "needed help."
Fire Chief Richard Borden eventually became suspicious, found out where he was with the help of police Chief Alan DeNaro, and confronted Thompson when he tried to return to work at the end of May. Borden then put Thompson on administrative leave and told him to meet him at the police station to be interviewed.
Instead, Thompson went to the retirement office in city hall, quit his job and filed for retirement benefits — 58 percent of his salary for the rest of his life.
This, say at least some members of his union brotherhood, is perfectly fine. Thompson, they say, used vacation and other leave time that he had accumulated. And the firefighters' contract allows its members to trade shifts. Thus it didn't cost the city any more than it would have owed Thompson anyway, they argue.
Legally, it seems they have a point. How sad is that?
City officials are now scrambling to cover gaping holes that exist in what ought to be basic accountability requirements for employees. Mayor James Fiorentini said there is now an investigation under way to determine if Thompson drove any of the department vehicles without a license. And police and firefighters in Haverhill will now be required to certify each year that they have a driver's license.
They will also be required to report to their superiors if they are arrested or jailed.
And the mayor says he will work to reform those swap-time rules.
Meanwhile, the Haverhill Retirement Board met to consider Thompson's request for an early pension. A decision is pending while they seek a legal ruling on the question: Should he get credit for the four months he spent in jail?
This is about more than one employee gone bad. It is about a system that is rotten. Fiorentini was only stating the obvious when he told The Eagle-Tribune, "This is exactly why the public has lost all faith in our system."
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