Convicted of Stealing Pain Meds, Medic Pleads for Job

May 10--SOUTH BEND -- A suspended paramedic who is convicted of stealing pain medication from an ambulance tearfully asked for a second chance at a job with the South Bend Fire Department during a Board of Public Safety hearing on Friday.

Timothy Greenlee, 39, pleaded guilty in October to two felonies, theft and official misconduct, for stealing five vials of fentanyl, a powerful narcotic pain reliever, from an ambulance medication safe and replacing the medicine with saltwater in April 2013.

A St. Joseph Superior Court judge treated the Class D felonies as misdemeanors and sentenced the man to one year of probation.

Greenlee told the South Bend Board of Public Safety that he has overcome his addiction to pain medication after receiving treatment at Oaklawn Psychiatric Center, supported by his family.

"I love my job," said Greenlee, who is suspended without pay. "I can return to be a better firefighter than I was before my addiction."

But South Bend Fire Chief Steve Cox is asking the board to terminate Greenlee due to the seriousness of the workplace theft and the patients who could have been harmed due to the missing medication.

The Board of Public Safety heard testimony throughout the morning that pitted the consequence of a serious criminal conviction against a chance for redemption. Retired St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Roland Chamblee moderated the hearing.

Board members will weigh Greenlee's request and the city's recommendation for termination, likely handing down a decision at a meeting later this month.

Greenlee sat straight and tall in his seat, occasionally growing emotional as he discussed his plummet into addiction after taking pain medication in 2012 to treat kidney stones. "I withdrew from everyone and started doing things I shouldn't have," Greenlee said. He admitted his conduct was immoral, and potentially harmful to patients he was supposed to help.

City attorney Cory Hamel argued that despite Greenlee's recovery, he still stole from the city and endangered patients. "It's commendable but still irrelevant," Hamel said of Greenlee's addiction treatment.

Attorneys disagreed over the issue of paramedic certification as well, which poses a challenge to Greenlee's work if he is reinstated. Upon his criminal conviction, Greenlee lost his paramedic license, but is in the process of trying to get it back.

Greenlee and his attorney, Tom Dixon, argued that Greenlee can be solely a firefighter for the department while he works to obtain his paramedic certification. But Hamel said it is unreasonable for the department to employ Greenlee while waiting on the certification that would allow him to assist in an ambulance.

"The city of South Bend should have the ability and desire to offer second chances to people who deserve them," Dixon said.

WSBT contributed to this report.

MBuckley@SBTinfo.com

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Twitter: @Mabuckley88

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