By Hector Gutierrez
Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright 2007 Denver Publishing Company
AURORA, Colo. — Narcotics detectives were investigating an emergency medical services technician to see whether he tampered with any of the fire department’s morphine supplies, police said Friday.
The EMS technician has taken a paid sick leave while the detectives conduct a criminal inquiry and the Aurora Fire Department investigates the case, fire Capt. Michael Ackman said. The technician also has been temporarily banned from all fire stations pending the outcome of the investigations.
The technician, who was not identified, took his sick leave April 1, a day before the fire department informed police, said detective Shannon Lucy, police spokeswoman.
“When the fire department came to us, they had an idea who their suspect might (be),” Lucy said. “As the investigation progressed, by April 6 we actually had contact with the suspect.”
Detectives are trying to determine whether the technician was responsible for tampering with drug boxes that contained the vials of morphine, and were waiting for the lab results before deciding whether to pursue the case with the district attorney, Lucy said.
Only paramedics, among the emergency responders, are permitted to administer narcotics, under Colorado law.
Fire officials have since instituted new policies for everyone who has access to the drug containers, to prevent employees from tampering with the medical supplies, the captain said.