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Well, I thought this was over with the arrest of one and now there are two.
How does one go about even thinking up something like this?
I mean; people are caught every day filing claims for money that they aren't entitled to, but when I saw the headlines in the paper yesterday, of course "firefighter" loomed large.
AND apparently, having a personality disorder doesn't preclude you from getting on a fire department and police department and possessing firearms.
This is depressing, indeed.
I want to believe that somehow it's all a big mistake, but...
CR
How does one go about even thinking up something like this?
I mean; people are caught every day filing claims for money that they aren't entitled to, but when I saw the headlines in the paper yesterday, of course "firefighter" loomed large.
AND apparently, having a personality disorder doesn't preclude you from getting on a fire department and police department and possessing firearms.
This is depressing, indeed.
I want to believe that somehow it's all a big mistake, but...
Another Illinois Firefighter Accused of Fraud
Said he was serving overseas.
............
CHARLES SHEEHAN
Chicago Tribune
Jan. 7--Dismay and betrayal hit two south suburban communities after a firefighter was charged Saturday with fraudulently claiming to be serving with the U.S. Special Forces in the Middle East.
Until recently, a flag flew over a Lemont fire station to honor Steve Slawinski, 37, of Romeoville, who told colleagues he was stationed in Afghanistan.
His good friend, Lawrence Masa, a lieutenant on the Orland Fire Protection District, also was accused earlier this week of forging military documents and collecting a paycheck from his local department when he was no longer in the service.
Orland Park police said they knew there likely was a second firefighter involved in the scam when the Lemont fire chief approached them with suspicions about one of his own firefighters.
"This has been very difficult for the whole fire district, for the men and women, for myself, for our district trustees," said Lemont Chief Carl Churulo. "Steve had an impeccable record."
Slawinski is charged with felony theft and official misconduct, the same charges Masa faces. Slawinski was held in lieu of $150,000 bail Saturday and ordered to turn over his passport and weapons to Orland Park police. He has been placed on paid administrative leave by the fire department.
Slawinski collected $27,115 from the Lemont Fire Protection District, the difference between what he alleged he earned in the U.S. Special Forces and what he would have earned as a firefighter, said Cook County Assistant State's Atty. Sabra Ebersole.
"In April of 2006, [Slawinski] requested military leave from the Lemont fire district," Ebersole said. "The defendant provided to the fire district a forged document which purported to be a letter from the United States Department of Defense calling him up to active duty in the United States Special Forces."
It was not clear Saturday if Slawinski could face federal charges for submitting fraudulent defense documents.
Slawinski enlisted in the Navy in May 1995 but was discharged in 1996 when he was diagnosed with a personality disorder, Ebersole said in Bond Court in Chicago.
Slawinski and Masa were overseas, investigators said, but they were working together for a private contractor in the Middle East for $63 an hour, and collected pay and benefits from fire departments back home, said Orland Park Police Cmdr. Chuck Doll.
Doll's department is leading the investigation.
The two had worked together at the Westmont Fire Department, said Glenn Bergmark, Lemont fire trustee. Slawinski also was a part-time police officer in Summit and Lemont, prosecutors said.
Slawinski was decorated last year when, as a Lemont police officer, he used CPR and a defibrillator to revive a man who had been jolted by electricity.
"He brought the guy back to life, " said Battalion Chief James Sheldon.
Slawinski endured hardships during his childhood, said friend James Cosgrove, and at one point in his late teens asked if he could live at Cosgrove's house while attending West Leyden High School. He did for three years, Cosgrove said.
"His life at home was really rough, but he worked really hard and never gave up hope," said Cosgrove, who graduated from high school in 1988.
Slawinski helped Cosgrove get a job at Illinois Tool Works in Itasca where they worked together for years, but the two went their separate ways about two years ago, Cosgrove said.
Said he was serving overseas.
............
CHARLES SHEEHAN
Chicago Tribune
Jan. 7--Dismay and betrayal hit two south suburban communities after a firefighter was charged Saturday with fraudulently claiming to be serving with the U.S. Special Forces in the Middle East.
Until recently, a flag flew over a Lemont fire station to honor Steve Slawinski, 37, of Romeoville, who told colleagues he was stationed in Afghanistan.
His good friend, Lawrence Masa, a lieutenant on the Orland Fire Protection District, also was accused earlier this week of forging military documents and collecting a paycheck from his local department when he was no longer in the service.
Orland Park police said they knew there likely was a second firefighter involved in the scam when the Lemont fire chief approached them with suspicions about one of his own firefighters.
"This has been very difficult for the whole fire district, for the men and women, for myself, for our district trustees," said Lemont Chief Carl Churulo. "Steve had an impeccable record."
Slawinski is charged with felony theft and official misconduct, the same charges Masa faces. Slawinski was held in lieu of $150,000 bail Saturday and ordered to turn over his passport and weapons to Orland Park police. He has been placed on paid administrative leave by the fire department.
Slawinski collected $27,115 from the Lemont Fire Protection District, the difference between what he alleged he earned in the U.S. Special Forces and what he would have earned as a firefighter, said Cook County Assistant State's Atty. Sabra Ebersole.
"In April of 2006, [Slawinski] requested military leave from the Lemont fire district," Ebersole said. "The defendant provided to the fire district a forged document which purported to be a letter from the United States Department of Defense calling him up to active duty in the United States Special Forces."
It was not clear Saturday if Slawinski could face federal charges for submitting fraudulent defense documents.
Slawinski enlisted in the Navy in May 1995 but was discharged in 1996 when he was diagnosed with a personality disorder, Ebersole said in Bond Court in Chicago.
Slawinski and Masa were overseas, investigators said, but they were working together for a private contractor in the Middle East for $63 an hour, and collected pay and benefits from fire departments back home, said Orland Park Police Cmdr. Chuck Doll.
Doll's department is leading the investigation.
The two had worked together at the Westmont Fire Department, said Glenn Bergmark, Lemont fire trustee. Slawinski also was a part-time police officer in Summit and Lemont, prosecutors said.
Slawinski was decorated last year when, as a Lemont police officer, he used CPR and a defibrillator to revive a man who had been jolted by electricity.
"He brought the guy back to life, " said Battalion Chief James Sheldon.
Slawinski endured hardships during his childhood, said friend James Cosgrove, and at one point in his late teens asked if he could live at Cosgrove's house while attending West Leyden High School. He did for three years, Cosgrove said.
"His life at home was really rough, but he worked really hard and never gave up hope," said Cosgrove, who graduated from high school in 1988.
Slawinski helped Cosgrove get a job at Illinois Tool Works in Itasca where they worked together for years, but the two went their separate ways about two years ago, Cosgrove said.
I can't bad mouth the city too much though because I am traveling there tomorrow (thursday the 11th).
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