By Chris Camire
The Lowell Sun
BILLERICA, Mass. — The owner of a local EMT training company, who is also a Lexington firefighter, is under investigation for allegedly giving fellow firefighters and private ambulance workers CPR certificates without actually training them.
Mark Culleton, of 17 Wildbrook Road, Billerica, issued CPR certificates to Lexington firefighters who did not attend the state-required recertification course, according to Lexington Town Manager Carl Valente.
Culleton is also being investigated by the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services for allegedly improperly recertifying EMTs and paramedics employed by Cataldo Ambulance, said Valente.
Valente said the investigations were launched after the state received anonymous allegations against Culleton.
Culleton is the president of a state-accredited EMT training company, Life Saving Maneuvers, based out of his Billerica home, according to state records.
Jennifer Manley, a spokeswoman for the state’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, confirmed yesterday that the office is investigating people associated with the Lexington Fire Department. She would not elaborate.
Valente said the town began looking into Culleton after the Office of Emergency Medical Services made Fire Chief William Middlemiss aware of an anonymous allegation regarding Culleton’s activities. The town has taken no personnel action against Culleton.
“We’re still investigating whether any of the allegations are true,” said Valente.
Culleton could not be reached for comment.
Culleton’s company conducts classes at the Burlington Police Department and Minuteman Regional High School in Lexington, according to records.
An employee at the Burlington Police Department said Culleton rents out a room at the facility for a small janitorial fee. Culleton has a room reserved for several dates this month, the employee said.
Culleton is also a part-time adjunct professor at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, where he has taught an EMT class since September 2008. Culleton was scheduled to teach his class last night, but he requested a substitute, according to college spokesman Patrick Cook.
Cataldo Ambulance, a private ambulance company which services the Boston and North Shore areas, was notified by the state that paramedic certifications given out by Culleton’s company may be invalid, said Valente.
A spokesman for Cataldo could not be reached for comment.
David Daly, who owns Lowell-based PrideSTAR EMS, said none of his employees have been impacted by the allegations against Culleton. Representatives from Trinity EMS of Lowell and Patriot Ambulance Inc., based in Chelmsford, could not be reached for comment.
Valente said if it is determined that any Lexington EMT or paramedic does not have the proper training certification, they will be immediately removed from the town’s ambulance service. At this point in the investigation, Middlemiss has not identified any employee without required certifications, said Valente.
In 2007, Culleton was a contestant on the short-lived The Great American Dream Vote reality TV series hosted by Donny Osmond. Culleton’s dream on the show was for his wife to become a flower shop owner. He lost out to a 23-year-old man who wanted hair plugs.
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