By Jeni DiPrizio
ABC24
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis firefighter is off the job after claims surfaced he was stealing city equipment and selling it on eBay.
According to city records, Carlos Dease sold more than $40,000 worth of fire department gear on eBay in the last five years.
According to the investigative files, several times after Dease was sent to a fire house to fill in, equipment turned up missing. Shortly thereafter equipment similar to the missing items appeared on eBay for sale by Dease.
Dease denied stealing equipment but did admit to dumpster diving in fire department dumpsters.
No one answered the door at Dease house when we tried to ask him about the situation.
The president of the Memphis Firefighter’s Association, Larry Anthony, does not believe Dease was treated fairly.
“The turnouts were supposed to be destroyed but you can go into just about any fire station and find old turnouts in a box,” said Anthony.
Anthony said buying and selling old firefighter gear on line is common.
“you can pick up old turnouts, helmets, people buy and sell the items,” said Anthony.
Dease told Memphis fire bosses he didn’t have receipts because he bought many items at garage sales and flea markets, but it wasn’t enough to convince the brass.
After more than 15 years on the fire department, Dease was fired. Instead of fighting the termination he resigned.
Dease was never charged with any crime.
In fact, after an investigation, Memphis police found it would be difficult to pursue a criminal indictment.
Many of the items sold by Dease to police conducting the sting had serial numbers scratched out so it was hard to trace the origination.
Republished with permission from ABC24.