Probe: Firefighters used drugs while on duty

A monthslong administrative investigation showed nine New Britain firefighters used illegal drugs — at least three of them while on the job, the city’s mayor said Tuesday.

Eight of the nine were in leadership positions, with three holding the rank of lieutenant, Mayor Erin Stewart said in an interview Tuesday. One was fired because he lied, she said, and one died at home of what she called a suspected overdose. The others were forced to take 30 days of unpaid leave, demoted and placed on probation. They will be subject to random drug testing.

The city’s investigation started when firefighter Matthew Dizney died at his Southington home in January, Stewart said, and city officials learned that his death was a suspected drug overdose.

“Everybody kind of knows without saying anything,” she said.

Asked if Southington police believe Dizney died of a drug overdose, Lt. Keith Egan said, “That would be completely speculative. It’s going to have to be determined by the state medical examiner.”

A woman employed by the medical examiner’s office said autopsy results are still pending.

The entire department has received training in how to recognize and report suspected illegal drug use, Stewart said. Because most of the involved firefighters were lieutenants or drivers — who have a higher rank — others were afraid to report them, she said.

“It’s alarming to me that we had individuals who knew what was happening, but they were afraid to come forward because they were their superiors,” Stewart said.

She acknowledged there is no indication that anyone was injured or even at risk because of the onduty drug use.

“The majority of the department, the remaining 120 firefighters, are mortified,” the mayor said.

Adderall, a stimulant, was the drug of choice,

Stewart said. Although the firefighters also used cocaine, marijuana, heroin and fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, according to Stewart.

She said while there were some admissions of drug use and text messages about it, police didn’t have enough evidence to arrest the firefighters. Police did arrest other individuals who they suspect were involved in the sale of the illegal drugs, however, Stewart said.

She suggested that drug use in the fire department could be more extensive than among the nine firefighters. A group of firefighters put in their retirement papers in recent months, she said.