Providence Fire Dept. 'spying' on crews

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Next to salaries, overtime is the biggest expense in the Providence Fire Department. So, to combat firefighters who fraudulently call out sick, the department hired a private investigator to follow firefighters out on questionable injury or sick leave.

The president of the Firefighters Union said the private investigator has cost taxpayers thousands of dollars and is a waste of money. However, Fire Chief George Farrell said the aggressive approach to crack down on bogus sick calls has saved millions.

"People who go off injured and two days later they are moving furniture, you know, loading up a truck," Farrell said.

As an example of the overtime problem, Farrell cited a December 19, 2008 snowstorm. He said the department logged 734 hours of sick leave the following weekend, which added up to $28,000 in overtime for that weekend alone.

In 2005, he said overtime to cover sick and injured leave cost taxpayers $4.6 million.

"The fire department has to replace that person because of the minimum staffing agreements that we have," Farrell said.

So in 2006, fire department officials took a dramatic step and hired Warwick-based Investigative Services, Inc. to follow firefighters who, Farrell said, showed a "pattern" of questionable sick calls or injury leave.

"This wasn't an easy decision for us to do this, it wasn't an easy decision to say that we were gonna hire a private investigator to go out and look at people because we though that they were doing something that as was wrong," Farrell said.

Paul Doughty, president of the Firefighters Union, called the practice an expensive "witch hunt."

"What's next? Scarlett letters for guys that are off for whatever reason?" Doughty asked.

Doughty supplied Target 12 with invoices totaling more than $48,000 over two years.

"Some investigations are almost in the neighborhood of $2,000," he said. "That's significant to follow one person and then not to ever have anything brought disciplinary wise?"

Farrell conceded most investigations do not lead to disciplinary action and no firefighters have been fired. However, he said there have been seven reprimands ranging from unpaid suspensions, sometimes up to 60 days, or demotions. He called the surveillance a "deterrent"

Since the department hired the private investigator, Farrell said overtime costs have dropped seven figures, from $4.6 million to $3.6 million.

"I think the numbers speak for themselves, there is no secret in this fire department as to what we are doing and that we are using a private investigator," Farrell said.

Doughty, on the other hand, said many factors played a role in the overtime decline. The least of which, he said, is the investigative firm.

City attorneys would not allow Target 12 to see the video surveillance, citing personnel reasons. However, Farrell said they've caught firefighters out on injury pay, moving furniture, mowing lawns or working another job.

When fire officials have enough evidence, they call the firefighter in and show him the video. A process Farrell admits is not pleasant for firefighters.

"I would assume if I were on the other end of that I would have been uncomfortable," Farrell said.

In an effort the fight the practice, the union claimed the city needed to put the job out to bid. In a report to City Council, the City Auditor recommended the department put the job up for bid from here on out.

Farrell said the program was in place a year before he took the job, but said he'll comply if the City council tells him to do so.

Regardless of the dispute, Doughty and Farrell do agree on one thing.

"The vast majority of the people on this job take this job seriously - take their oath of office seriously," Farrell said.