Narcotics tampering still under investigation

CLOVIS — The Clovis Fire Department has new policies in place, but police said Monday they’re still investigating allegations of narcotics tampering on city ambulances.

On April 19, an investigating police sergeant identified “a total of 185 confirmed tampered items” at Station 1 of the CFD, including vials and syringes containing the narcotic drugs Fentanyl, Morphine, Midazolam and Diazepam. That’s according to a May 3 affidavit for a search warrant.

CFD and Clovis Emergency Medical Services (EMS) brought the issue to police attention after two city firefighters on an emergency medical call found evidence of tampering with the contents of various drug containers.

Then-City Manager Larry Fry said in April that no one was hurt in connection with the alleged tampering.

Clovis Police Chief Doug Ford said on Monday that investigators are waiting on lab results for evidence sent for analysis.

CPD Capt. Roman Romero confirmed no one has been arrested or charged in connection with the case.

Clovis Fire Chief Mike Nolen said officials have already taken steps to help ensure the problems won’t occur again.

“We’ve already instituted complete changes in the department,” Nolen said. “Not only have we done a complete review of our procedures, we’ve also been working with the New Mexico EMS Bureau in order to make our changes.”

A suspect identified early on began full-time work as a city firefighter in February but resigned after the investigation began, according to court records.

The former firefighter “was arrested and convicted in 2011 of attempt to commit fraudulent prescriptions,” the record shows.

The affidavit also indicated the former firefighter had been denied employment at the domestic air ambulance service Aerocare after that company attempted to check his background.

Nolen said the former firefighter had passed the city fire department’s standard background check, though it “(doesn’t) use the same methodology” as Aerocare.

More details of the department’s changes are forthcoming, said Nolen, pending the completion of a thorough procedural review as well as updates in the criminal investigation.

“The determination of all that went wrong is being compiled at this time,” he said. “Just about everything (else) that I would like to say right now in one way or another interferes with the investigation.”