Volunteer Firefighter Charged With Tampering With Public Records: DA

CUTCHOGUE, NY — A Cutchogue volunteer firefighter was charged with tampering with public records and official misconduct Wednesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

James P. Burns, 27, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree tampering with public records, a Class D felony, and official misconduct, a misdemeanor, Tierney said.

Burns is accused of making 96 false entries in the electronic records of the Cutchogue Fire Department, giving himself and his family members credit for attending emergency calls they did not actually attend, Tierney said.

On September 30, 2023, Burns responded to the Cutchogue Fire Department for an emergency call, the DA said. While at the firehouse, Burns reportedly accessed an internal computer system that he was not authorized to use and made 96 changes to the records of 55 prior emergency calls, Tierney said.

In so doing, Burns gave himself and three family members credit for attending previous emergency calls they did not actually attend, Tierney said. The false entries provided Length of Service Award Program, or LOSAP, credits to one of the Burns' family members, which that family member allegedly did not earn — thereby potentially providing future fraudulent monetary benefits, Tierney said.

"These allegations evince a lack of integrity that is not representative of the brave men and women who volunteer to serve as firefighters in towns across Suffolk County," said Tierney. "Our residents deserve honest government at all levels, and my office will continue to seek out and prosecute violations of the public trust."

Burns was arrested by investigators of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s public corruption squad, Tierney said. Burns was arraigned on the charges before Southold Town Justice Eileen Powers, who released Burns on his own recognizance, the DA said.

Under current New York State law, the offenses Burns is charged with are considered non-bail eligible, Tierney added.

Burns is due back in court on April 26 and faces up to two and one-third to seven years in prison if convicted on the top count, Tierney said. He is being represented by attorney William Goggins, who declined to comment.