A fire captain from Pennsylvania is accused of operating vehicles without a license and falsifying training certifications.#News #Pennsylvania #Crime #DauphinCountyPA
DAUPHIN COUNTY, PAA The safety and accountability of the local fire department have come under scrutiny following a recent arrest in Paxtang, Pennsylvania. Former Paxtang Fire Co. No. 1 captain Steve Bartholomew, 55, is accused of forgery and operating a fire engine without a valid driver’s license, among other offenses. Local authorities and the fire company have a tense relationship as a result of the situation, and the business’s actions are currently being scrutinized.
Charges Against Steve Bartholomew
The Swatara Township Police Department charged Steve Bartholomew with seven charges of forgery, ten counts of recklessly endangering another person, and ten counts of driving without a license. He was taken into custody on December 5, 2024.
Police claim that Bartholomew began operating Paxtang Fire Company fire vehicles in January 2024 even though he lacked a current driver’s license. No proof that Bartholomew had a valid driver’s license in any state was discovered by authorities.
Bartholomew allegedly falsified seven training certifications from the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, according to the police investigation. The purpose of these credentials was to provide the impression that he had finished advanced firefighting training, which is a crucial qualification for fire company chiefs. The charges against him now revolve upon the falsified certificates.
Paxtang Borough s Concerns and Response
On December 6, 2024, Paxtang Borough officials released a statement after Bartholomew was arrested, voicing their concerns about the fire company’s failure to provide the required monitoring. Since August 1, 2022, the borough has contracted with Swatara Township Fire and Rescue for fire services, however Borough authorities have pointed out that Paxtang Fire Co. No. 1 has been operating without the appropriate government delegation of authority or oversight.
The borough also pointed to problems with Bartholomew’s behavior in the previous few months. The borough accused Bartholomew of damaging public property and repeatedly inviting women and children into the Paxtang Municipal Building, the location of the fire company’s headquarters, and requested a court injunction in October 2024 to prevent him from entering. However, this request was turned down by the court.
In reaction to the ongoing legal disputes, borough officials stressed that their actions were motivated by a desire to safeguard taxpayers, stating, “The Borough officials have been seeking to eject the Fire Company from the Paxtang Municipal Building in order to provide relief to the Borough Taxpayer because of the Fire Company’s continued reckless and unaccountable actions.”
Paxtang Fire Company s Defense
In response to the arrest and the borough’s criticism, the Paxtang Fire Company released a statement in which it accused borough authorities of attacking the fire company and its members personally every week.
Despite having a court-ordered facility use agreement that permits the fire company to operate inside the fire department’s premises, the statement stated that the Borough Council and Management have been personally attacking fire company members on a weekly basis as part of the Paxtang Fire Company’s ongoing legal proceedings with the Borough of Paxtang.
In response to the accusations made against Bartholomew, the fire department claimed that as soon as they discovered that he was operating a vehicle without a license, they promptly suspended his driving privileges. Bartholomew left the fire department as more details regarding his falsified training credentials came to light.
According to the fire company’s statement, Mr. Steven Bartholomew is no longer associated with Paxtang Fire Company No. 1. The investigation into this issue is still underway, and the Paxtang Fire Company No. 1 will be working with the Swatara Township Police.
Legal and Administrative Tensions
Tensions between Paxtang Borough and Paxtang Fire Company have escalated as a result of the circumstance. In addition to Bartholomew’s activities, the ongoing legal disputes regarding the fire company’s operations and use of municipal facilities are at the heart of the conflict. The borough has expressed worries regarding the lack of supervision and the possible dangers posed by the fire company’s leadership, despite the fire department’s insistence that it is operating according to the correct protocols.
Both parties are steadfast in their stances as the investigation goes on, and it is unclear how the Paxtang Fire Company and the municipality will interact in the future.
RELATED TOPICS: Pennsylvania Crime
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