By Scott Williams
The Journal Times
WATERFORD, Wis. — Wisconsin Department of Health Services records show the village’s former ambulance director was convicted in a second case related to accusations of using duct tape to restrain a child.
Thomas Nehring was charged with two counts of child endangerment in New York on Nov. 17, one day after pleading no contest to misdemeanor child endangerment in an Ohio case.
The judge in Ohio sentenced Nehring to 90 days in jail and fined him $350, but stayed the jail sentence provided Nehring does not re-offend in the next two years.
Nehring pleaded guilty in New York to the reduced charge of disorderly conduct on Feb. 27 . He was fined $250 and issued an order of protection directing him to stay away from certain children unless permitted in a subsequent hearing that was to be held in Racine County.
Racine County officials could not be reached for comment about the hearing.
Both cases emerged from a road trip last summer from Wisconsin to Vermont.
WDHS moved to revoke Nehring’s paramedic license after learning about the convictions, and he resigned as Waterford ambulance director effective Aug. 1.
Nehring is appealing the license revocation.
He remains employed by Waterford, although officials have said that he is on administrative leave and will not disclose what his job is.
Contacted at his home in Rochester, Nehring declined to comment.
Waterford Village Administrator Zeke Jackson and Village Board members could not be reached for comment.
Nehring, 37, was a captain in the Waterford Fire Department when he was promoted May 10 to interim emergency medical services director, overseeing all ambulance operations in the village.
While village officials have not said whether they were aware of Nehring’s legal troubles at the time of his promotion, WDHS records include a memo Nehring wrote on April 26 to then-Fire Chief Kevin Hafemann, outlining the charges in Ohio and New York.
On the memo, Hafemann added a handwritten note: “Verbal warning issued by chief 4-29-24. Captain Nehring was instructed to report charges to DHS,” referring to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Two weeks later, the Village Board split the fire department into two departments — one for fire protection and one for ambulance services. Hafemann resigned as fire chief, and Nehring was named interim ambulance services director.
Nehring disclosed his out-of-state convictions to WDHS on May 15, prompting a review that led to the revocation of the paramedic license he needs to serve as ambulance director.
In announcing the license action, state health officials said Nehring’s usage of duct tape on a child showed “a willingness to risk the health and safety of individuals under your care.”
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