A paramedic instructor is facing charges that he allegedly defrauded $67,500 from local fire departments, including Oxford and Addison, and numerous individuals by teaching a course not approved by the state and using forged, false documents to cover it up.
‘At this point, I’ve got to believe that he went out of his way not to do it properly,? said Oxford Fire Chief Jack LeRoy.
Jeffrey Alan Brown was arrested and arraigned April 21 in 52-3 District Court on two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses ? $20,000 or more.
Each charge is a felony punishable by 10 years and/or a $15,000 fine, or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater.
Brown, who’s employed as a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Warren, was released on a $50,000 personal bond.
The state has initiated actions to suspend/revoke his paramedic, instructor/coordinator and EMT licenses.
In September 2004, Brown began teaching a 12-month course in Oxford to prepare students to take the National Registry Examination and become state licensed paramedics.
The Oxford, Addison, Brandon and Groveland fire departments began paying Brown for the course as well as 11 individuals who each paid him $3,000. Majestic Industries also paid Brown $3,000 for one of its employees to attend the paramedic course.
Brown led them all to believe it was a state approved and sanctioned course, according to a statement released by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department on April 21.
‘Everything appeared to be on the up and up,? LeRoy said. ‘We’d received positive recommendations on him. He had taught for other fire departments in the area.?
‘He really did come with some great credentials,? said Addison Fire Chief George Spencer. ‘Most of the feedback we got on him was from Groveland Fire because he had taught out there before.?
The Oxford Fire Department paid Brown $21,000 to enroll seven of its firefighters in the course. Addison paid Brown $1,500 ? half the tuition for one of its firefighters.
‘We don’t question his ability to instruct. His instruction capability seems to be very good,? LeRoy explained. ‘Obviously, his administrative (abilities) and his follow-through on paperwork is what doesn’t appear to be proper. I guess it’s up to the courts to decide was that done willfully.?
‘I keep track of my guys in class and they seemed like they were on track, they were learning, they had a good classroom experience,? Spencer said. ‘The guy’s a good instructor. He really is. It’s shame to lose him, but if you’re going to do this, we don’t want you in the fire service.?
When questions were raised in November 2004 as to whether the course Brown was teaching was state approved, he allegedly faxed a forged false document indicating it was sanctioned in July 2004.
‘That was accepted as proof of course approval,? according to the sheriff’s department statement.
In November 2005, following the course’s completion, Brown filed a ‘Notification of Students Completing an Education Course? with SWM Systems, Inc. ? the company which the Michigan Department of Community Health contracts with to ensure compliance with laws and regulations ? that would enable the students who completed the course to take the National Registry Examination.
‘This official notification indicating that the course was sponsored by Superior Medical Education (SME) and taught in the City of Ferndale is a forged false document,? according to the sheriff’s department statement.
SME, of which Brown is a former employee, stated it did not sponsor the Oxford course.
In January 2006, Brown allegedly faxed the EMS Education Coordinator for the state Department of Community Health a forged false document stating the course had been approved in July 2004 and was sponsored by SME.
In addition to SME, Brown was previously employed by SWM Systems, Genesys Medical Center and the Groveland Township Fire Department as an instructor.
‘Information from these employers was used in the composition of false documents filed with the state and used to perpetuate the fraud,? according to the sheriff’s department statement.
Despite Brown’s alleged crimes, LeRoy said Oxford’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) program ‘is on track? thanks to the ‘very gracious? Genesys Regional Medican Center in Grand Blanc.
Genesys agreed to sponsor the class and the state agreed to sanction it, so those 12 months worth of classes with Brown were not in vain.
‘Genesys always has been committed to the quality education and training of first responders in our community,? said Dominic Foster, manager of Emergency Medical Services at Genesys. ‘We are very happy to step in under these extraordinary circumstances to help this group of highly qualified individuals complete their training. Dr. Michael Jule, medical director of Emergency Services at Genesys, and I are happy to provide the classroom instruction and clinical training for this group.?
‘I think it was tremendous of them to pick up the class,? said LeRoy, noting Genesys is doing this at no additional cost. ‘They stepped up to the the plate and I can’t thank them enough.?
‘Genesys has really bent over backwards to help these guys get through this. They really came through and they didn’t have to,? said Chief Spencer.
LeRoy said members of Brown’s paramedic class took a competency exam and are currently finishing up a 48-hour competency course through Genesys.
The class is expected to take the National Registry Exam in June.
‘This group of people will probably be more scrutinized than any class ever has been in the State of Michigan,? LeRoy said. ‘Believe me, I’ve got nothing but the greatest admiration for everyone that’s taken this class because they have been through hell.?
‘Am I going to be a certified paramedic? Is this class going to be accepted? That had to be a terrible, terrible strain on these people,? the chief added.
‘I am very confident that anybody who finishes this class is probably going to end up being a better paramedic than somebody who went through a non-challenged class,? Spencer said. ‘They really will be good. They’ll know their stuff because they’re going to be more thoroughly tested than any other student that goes through the system.?