Durham paramedic charged with stealing PPE

A veteran Durham Region paramedic has been charged with stealing personal protective equipment as COVID-19 was starting to surge and his fellow frontline workers began expressing fear that there was not enough gear to do their job safely.

Blaine Bates has been charged with theft under $5,000 after allegedly stealing gloves, masks, gowns and Clorox wipes from the Bowmanville paramedic station on March 19.

Bates was not on duty at the time of the alleged incident, according to Durham Paramedic Services.

When reached by phone, Bates refused to comment.

A Durham official familiar with the arrest said Bates was allegedly heard saying “it’s time to go shopping” upon arriving at the station. According to the official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and asked for anonymity to be able to discuss it, a fellow paramedic photographed Bates carrying a black garbage bag full of PPE.

None of the allegations has been proven.

Troy Cheseboro, chief of Durham Paramedic Services, said he could not discuss details of the allegations against Bates because of the ongoing criminal and “internal” investigations.

“It’s disappointing that anyone would consider removing stuff without permission from any paramedic service, or any front-line service … during a pandemic,” Cheseboro said.

As the spread of COVID-19 worsened in the weeks following the alleged theft, the union representing the largest number of Ontario paramedics — including those in Durham — raised concerns that some services could run out of PPE.

Andrew Moore, a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Durham Paramedic Services Board, told the Star in April that there was an active worry about shortages. “The fear is there,” he had said, adding that paramedics were trying to minimize their use of the equipment whenever possible.

Cheseboro said Durham Paramedic Services avoided some of the acute equipment shortages experienced elsewhere, but said accessing the necessary gear remains a concern.

“We saw what was happening throughout the world and began taking opportunities when we could to acquire PPE through our normal supply chain,” he said.

“But absolutely, it currently is a challenge and continues to be a challenge to make sure we can secure adequate stuff for our staff, and it’s important that they have it.”

Bates, 55, has been a paramedic in Durham Region for several decades, Cheseboro said.

The day before the alleged March 19 theft, Bates took to Twitter to criticize the provincial government’s treatment of paramedics during the pandemic.

“Hey @fordnation and @celliottability how about some recognition for the work the front line Paramedics are doing during this crisis, your staff seem to be forgetting them!!,” Bates wrote.

His next court date is scheduled for August.