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Fla. fire battalion chief allegedly cheated on paramedic exam

Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Bobby Bohn is under investigation for allegedly cheating on a paramedic exam while the county is paying thousands for him to attend the course

By News Staff

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A fire battalion chief is under investigation for allegedly cheating on a paramedic exam.

WFLA reported that an anonymous complaint accused Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Bobby of removing a firefighter from an engine, which caused understaffing on the rig, so the firefighter could help him with an online paramedic exam.

An investigation into the incident is underway.

The cheating allegation comes as taxpayers foot the bill for the course, after a new rule instituted in 2017 by the local union called for all fire officials at the rank of captain and above to have paramedic training.

Bohn is expected to retire within a few years, and the union said they would waive the requirement to save money, but county officials refused. According to Polk County Professional Firefighter’s Health and Safety Chairman Jay Schwartz, the city could pay Bohn up to $100,000 to finish the paramedic course, including tuition, overtime and other expenses.

“We should be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers and good stewards and say, ‘You know we’re not going to spend this much money,’ but we didn’t,” Schwartz said.

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