HEAT IS ON

Arrested in February, now firefighter is indicted

Saturday, May 05, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City firefighter has been indicted on charges he struck a city policewoman with his car while in an apparent narcotic stupor only seven minutes after finishing his shift at the firehouse, officials said.
Firefighter Lawrence Lemke, 38, of Zabriskie Street, has been indicted on the charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and possession of heroin, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said yesterday.
On Feb. 16, Lemke was arrested behind the A. Harry Moore public housing complex on Duncan Avenue at 8:07 a.m. His shift at the firehouse on Palisade Avenue at Congress Street had ended at 8 a.m., officials said.
West District Police Officer Bridget Revell, a 12-year veteran of the department, found Lemke slumped over his steering wheel behind the housing complex, police said at the time.
When she went to check him, the car suddenly lurched backwards with the driver's door open, knocking Revell to the ground and causing her to suffer bumps and bruises, according to Police Capt. Hugh Donaghue.
Revell was treated and released from the Jersey City Medical Center and has since returned to work.
After the incident, police found a bag of suspected heroin, a syringe and a spoon for "cooking up" the drug in Lemke's car, officials said.
Lemke was also cited for driving while intoxicated and several motor vehicle violations, including for driving an uninsured vehicle and being an unlicensed driver.
The indictment was handed up last week and made public yesterday.
Lemke's attorney, Leonard Meyerson, said he had not seen the indictment yet. Fire Department Chief Fire Chief William Sinnott did not return calls seeking comment.

Mmm, I think I might have been one of the people who called the cops in this case. The wife and me saw a guy slumped over the wheel with the car rolling along Duncan Avenue at about 5mph. It was very strange and we thought he'd been shot or something. We saw him roll through a red light at Duncan and Mallory then when we got off the phone with the 911 operator he suddenly woke up, stepped on the gas and swerved off towards the projects. Nice to know he was a firefighter......

FIREFIGHTER BAIL IS SET AT $10,000
Charged with drug possession and assault on police officer

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City firefighter who knocked down a police officer with his car last week and is charged with drug possession had his bail set yesterday at $10,000 cash or bond.

Judge Dennis McGill said there were "a lot of factors to be taken into account" when he set the bond at a hearing at Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City yesterday.

Firefighter Lawrence Lemke, 38, of Zabriskie Street, was arrested behind the A. Harry Moore public housing complex on Duncan Avenue at 8:07 a.m. Friday, seven minutes after his shift ended at the firehouse on Palisade Avenue and Congress Street, officials said last week.

He appeared yesterday via video link from the Hudson County jail.

Lemke's attorney, Leonard Meyerson, requested a $5,000 bond, saying the firefighter had more than 15 years with the department. He also said that Lemke had strong family ties with Jersey City, having lived all his life in Hudson County.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office had requested a $25,000 bond. Lemke is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of heroin, driving while intoxicated, resisting or eluding police, and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Police Capt. Hugh Donaghue. He was also issued a summons for driving an uninsured vehicle and being an unlicensed driver, reports said.

After the incident, police found a bag of suspected heroin, a syringe and other paraphernalia, and also found track marks on Lemke's arm, reports said.

The police officer suffered bumps and bruises after being knocked to the ground by Lemke's Honda Accord, reports said.

The officer found Lemke slumped over his steering wheel with the engine running, police said. She was checking the firefighter's pulse when his car lurched backward and the door knocked her to the ground, reports said.

"Also, this guys supervisor should be demoted for being a dumb-ass and his fellow firefighters from that station should be ashamed of themselves. Here they are fighting and investigating fires and a person they need to rely on could be as high as a kite."

Just as there are functional alcoholics so to are there functional dope fiends, who "medicate" themselves two or three times per week. Not easy to detect by your everyday layman.

It might be a silly idea, but a lot of major private companies and businesses do require a police check and drug test. They can't risk their employee's doing something stupid that could cause any legal or compensation issues for themselves.

Why stop there? Lets see random drug testing for all our elected officials, and airline pilots, taxi drivers, anyone who has anything to do with public safety or public trust. Lets see bankers, stock brokers, land developers, doctors lawyers, judges, all drug tested. How about anyone who draws a government paycheck drug tested, that includes welfare and food stamp recipients.

DRUG TESTS for ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL NOW.
Enough is enough.

Also, this guys supervisor should be demoted for being a dumb-ass and his fellow firefighters from that station should be ashamed of themselves. Here they are fighting and investigating fires and a person they need to rely on could be as high as a kite.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see the signs of someone that is a user or on drugs. Most of JClister could pick them.

HE WAS 'BLAZED'
Firefighter busted on drug charges and officer assault

Saturday, February 17, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A 15-year veteran of the Jersey City Fire Department hit a policewoman with his car behind a city public housing complex only minutes after his shift ended yesterday morning, officials said.

Firefighter Lawrence Lemke, 38, of Zabriskie Street in Jersey City, was arrested on drug charges following the incident behind the A. Harry Moore Apartments on Duncan Avenue at 8:07 a.m., seven minutes after his shift ended at the firehouse on Palisade Avenue and Congress Street in the Heights, officials said.

He was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of heroin, driving while intoxicated, resisting or eluding police, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Police Capt. Hugh Donaghue said. He was also issued summonses for an "uninsured vehicle and unlicensed driver," police reports say.

Inside the 1996 Honda Accord police found a bag of suspected heroin, a syringe, and a spoon for "cooking heroin," police reports said, adding that investigators also photographed "track marks" on Lemke's arm. Fire department officials suspended Lemke without pay, said Fire Department Director Armando Roman.

West District Police Officer Bridget Revell, a 12-year veteran of the department, suffered bumps and bruises when the open door of Lemke's car struck her and knocked her to the ground as the vehicle backed up, Donaghue said.

Revell is being treated at the Jersey City Medical Center for pain in her hip and lower back. She is expected to be released today, Donaghue said.

"It's an unfortunate incident and we have zero tolerance for this type of conduct," Roman said. "He has a wife and kids so it's unfortunate for him, too. It's conduct totally unbecoming one of our guys."

Lemke was also taken to the Medical Center to be examined and have a blood sample taken, Donaghue said, adding that the firefighter fell out of the car after it struck the officer.

Revell was dispatched to the housing complex on Duncan Avenue and found Lemke slumped over the steering wheel of a Honda Accord with the engine running, Donaghue said.

Revell opened the car door and was trying to check Lemke's pulse on his neck when he suddenly put the car in reverse. The car door struck the officer and knocked her down, Donaghue said. The reports say Lemke placed "the vehicle in reverse in an attempt to prevent a police officer in full uniform from effecting a lawful arrest."

Police Chief Tom Comey said: "I know that this is in no way indicative of the caliber of men and women who serve in the fire service and we are proud to work with them day-in and day-out. We're grateful the police officer's injuries were not more severe."

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio called the charges against an active-duty firefighter, "disturbing."

Fire department officials are working on implementing random drug tests for firefighters, Roman said, adding that right now, firefighters are only tested for drugs when they are first hired.

By 4 p.m. yesterday Lemke was locked up in the Hudson County jail in Kearny.


----------------------------
Second firefighter scandal in 2 months
Saturday, February 17, 2007

Trouble in the Jersey City Fire Department now has some company. The arrest yesterday of Lawrence Lemke on a slew of drug offenses marks the second firefighter in just over two months to get into hot water.

Police say Fire Capt. Thomas Verdon, a 25-year-veteran of the department, was caught by a neighbor burglarizing a vacant home on Clinton Street on Dec. 13. He is charged with burglary, theft and official misconduct.