Injured Fire Captain Caught on Video Shoveling Snow Is Appealing His Firing

Friday, March 17, 2017 | 0

A Paterson firefighter who was fired after video surveillance showed him shoveling snow while receiving workers’ compensation benefits is appealing a municipal court judge’s decision that he be terminated.

“This is absurd. The guy was home sick and went out to shovel a little snow,” his attorney, Clifton-based Charles Sciarra, told nj.com. “He was not on bed rest. Paterson has enough problems without making them where they don’t exist. The charges are absurd and nonsense.”

Capt. James Reyes was fired in January following 25 years of service. He had been receiving full pay of $149,000 a year since suffering work-related injuries to his back and leg several months ago.

Three injections to his back, and physical therapy sessions, did not ease his pain, Reyes told a doctor in December, according to records nj.com obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Reyes’ firing was the result of an investigation by city risk manager Samir Goow, who was hired in April 2015 to help Paterson combat a growing number of workers’ compensation cases that cost the city $6.5 million in fiscal 2016 alone, NorthJersey.com reported.

Reyes was charged with conduct unbecoming of a public employee and dishonesty, and has been referred to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office for possible prosecution.