The Hartford Courant
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A city firefighter was charged Monday with stealing $125,000 from a 95-year-old city woman he met while responding to a call.
Police said Kenneth Burgos, 41, gained the woman’s trust and got control of her finances. Bank records showed that since 2013 at least two accounts were completely emptied.
The investigation into Burgos began when firefighters showed up on a medical call to a woman’s home in Fair Haven Heights a few months ago. The woman told firefighters that one of their colleagues had stolen thousands of dollars from her, police said.
Responding firefighters contacted police and their superiors and Burgos was placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continued. A warrant for Burgos’ arrest was signed Monday afternoon and he was taken into custody at his New Haven home hours later.
Burgos, a 17-year department veteran who most recently worked out of the Woodward Avenue firehouse, was charged with first-degree larceny and tampering with a witness. Bond was set at $50,000.
“This type of crime is particularly upsetting,” said Achilles Generoso, New Haven’s assistant chief of detectives. “When someone abuses their authority to take advantage of someone so vulnerable, we are all shaken. I want to personally thank the firefighters who, without hesitation, came forward with what they’d learned.”
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