Newark Fire Captain’s Death Spurred Dozens Of Transfers: Report

NEWARK, NJ — Nearly 100 members of the Newark Fire Department were reassigned to other stations after a captain allegedly overdosed on illegal drugs at a firehouse on Park Avenue in January, a report says.

Carlos A. Rivera, 49, of Sayreville, was found deceased inside the firehouse at 269-271 Park Avenue in Newark on Jan. 15. Authorities previously said Rivera was found "unresponsive" along with a second person – a retired firefighter – who was also discovered unconscious.

Both were transported to University Hospital; Rivera was pronounced dead at the hospital. A preliminary investigation “showed no signs of violence,” prosecutors said. Read More: Newark Captain Found Dead In Firehouse; Authorities Release ID

Soon afterwards, the incident spurred the transfer of 89 department members, including all 40 firefighters and captains assigned to Park Avenue, plus their replacements from Newark’s 15 other firehouses, NJ.com reported.

The head of the local union and some firefighters called the transfers a serious blow to morale, and suggested that it could make it harder for newly reassigned firefighters to find their way to service calls because they don’t know the area as well. But Newark’s public safety director disagreed, saying that local firefighters routinely drill to familiarize themselves with their coverage area, and that there have been no reports from fire officials about any reduction in response times since the transfers took place, NJ.com reported.

In August, a Kearny resident was accused of distributing the drugs that caused Rivera’s death. He was charged with strict liability drug-induced death for distributing a controlled dangerous substance that caused the death of Rivera. He was also charged with counts of distribution of CDS cocaine and distribution of CDS within 1,000 feet of a school.

• Related: NJ Man Caused 'Drug-Induced Death' Of Newark Fire Captain, Prosecutor Alleges

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