Polk County Captain Charged in Theft of COVID19 Vaccine

Posted by: Curt Varone January 28, 2021 0

A captain with Polk County Fire Rescue has been arrested and charged with stealing three doses of COVID19 vaccine intended for first responders. Polk County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that Captain Anthony Damiano stole the doses with the assistance of Paramedic Josh Colon in order to give to his mother, who is elderly and sick.

Colon reportedly left the doses in a location from which Captain Damiano took them. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judge was quoted by CBSNews as explaining:

  • There were three syringes with three doses of the vaccine that Joshua Colon put in a plastic bag, put in a special refrigerator and sealed it.
  • So he left, take a break, and when he came back, voila! The seal’s broken, and the vaccinations are gone.

Captain Damiano turned himself in to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office yesterday. He is facing two charges, one a felony for falsifying an official record and the other a misdemeanor for petit theft. Colon was arrested Tuesday and charged with falsifying vaccine screening and consent forms. Colon was recently honored as paramedic of the year.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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