Published Feb. 10 in the Louisville Courier-Journal

EMT charged with theft of supplies taken from ambulance service to benefit fire dept

By SHANNON TANGONAN
The Courier-Journal

LOUISVILLE — A volunteer firefighter with the Dixie Suburban department has been charged with taking medical equipment and supplies from his employer for use at the firehouse, Louisville police said yesterday.

David Whitlock, 22, of Arvis Drive, worked for Yellow Cab Ambulance Service and took about $6,000 worth of goods ranging from splints to oxygen tanks, Louisville police said.

Whitlock has been charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, said Capt. Steven Thompson, commander of the Louisville police criminal investigations section.

Dixie Suburban Chief Tim Robbins said Whitlock, who has been a volunteer firefighter for about eight months, was helping gather donated equipment so crews could help EMS on medical runs.

Other volunteers became suspicious of the items Whitlock brought in as "donated" and alerted Yellow Cab, Robbins said. A representative from Yellow Cab and police then searched the firehouse at 1904 Park Drive and a fire department office on Dixie Highway, he said.

Robbins said he is disappointed but not convinced that Whitlock is guilty. Some of the seized items include equipment that Robbins thinks was acquired before Whitlock arrived.

Even so, Whitlock, who was jailed for a day, has been suspended from the department. "I feel we are a victim in this whole thing," Robbins said.

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