SAN JOSE — A San Jose fire captain was arrested Thursday on suspicion of stealing controlled substances from at least one fire station in the city, according to authorities.
On Monday, the San Jose Fire Department reported the discovery of several drugs in its custody that were potentially damaged or tampered with, a San Jose police spokesperson said.
A preliminary investigation confirmed multiple substances had been tampered with and some were found to be missing, according to police. Detectives identified San Jose fire Capt. Mark Moalem as the chief suspect and obtained search and arrest warrants.
Additional evidence linking Moalem to the theft was found during a search of his home, police said.
Moalem was booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges including burglary and child endangerment, as well as for narcotics-related offenses, according to police.
The fire department conducted an audit of its controlled substances, and it is suspected that drugs may have been taken from an additional 16 fire stations and tampered with, the offices of the San Jose City Manager and Mayor said in a joint statement.
“Lives depend on our firefighters’ ability to administer medical care during emergencies which is why we take theft of controlled substances extremely seriously,” Mayor Matt Mahan said. “I’m grateful to our city manager and police chief for acting quickly and decisively by opening an investigation and holding those responsible accountable.”
City Manager Jennifer Maguire added that she “will not tolerate criminal behavior.”
“The allegations are deeply concerning and represent a serious breach of public trust,” she said. “I want to be unequivocal: any conduct that endangers community safety or undermines the integrity of our public institution will be addressed with the utmost seriousness.”
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the Police Department at 408-277-4521.
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