Tulsa Fire Department Audit Reveals Paramedics Have Proper Training

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6 

TULSA, OK -- Last year, questions were raised about Tulsa firefighters and records of their training.

An audit of those records concludes there was a problem with sloppy bookkeeping, but not with training. 

The credentials of fire paramedics came into question after the department couldn't produce records proving they had taken required training. The records were to make sure medics were qualified to administer care and to receive extra pay.

"As painful as this was, it's been good for the Tulsa Fire Department," said Chief Allen LaCroix.

Tulsa Fire Chief LaCroix is talking about an audit that verified years of shoddy record keeping, but found no fraud.

According to the audit, paramedics had the proper training - just not the records to back it up. The department now has a records system that tracks training.

Read The Tulsa Fire Department Audit

"They've corrected all the problems. There was no fraud, nobody intentionally mislead anybody. The citizens of Tulsa were never in jeopardy for emergency technician service," said Bill Christiansen, Tulsa City Councilor.

The audit of the fire department's records cost $120,000 and found $17,000 in questionable spending - all stipends to paramedics who couldn't prove they had enough training.

"This wasn't about the $17,000. This was about restoring confidence in the service delivered by our EMT's," said GT Bynum, Tulsa City Councilor.

The city is pursuing payback of $3,000 from three firefighters.

7/21/2009  Related Story: Tulsa City Council Discusses TFD Audit