DC firefighter paid for not showing up to work for more than two years. Part of a 2008 corruption probe.

Article by Mark Segraves, WTOP Radio & WTOP.com:

A D.C. firefighter has been paid for not showing up at work for more than two years, WTOP has learned.

The reason for the payments can be traced back to a 2008 corruption investigation.

According to documents obtained by WTOP, D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin received a complaint from the NoMa Business Improvement District saying a firefighter had sent an invoice to the company for CPR training provided by the fire department.

The invoice was printed on D.C. Fire and EMS letterhead, but instructed that a $120 payment be made to an individual – Natalie O. Williams – rather than the department.

The complaint was received in July 2008.

D.C. Fire and EMS officials confirm Natalie Overton Williams has been a firefighter/EMT since November 1988 and was part of the unit that provided CPR and first aid training to the public.

D.C. Fire and EMS offers the training to the public for a nominal fee.

According to Fire and EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer, after an internal investigation, the matter was referred to the office of the D.C. Inspector General. Williams was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into possible misconduct.

Williams was placed on leave in September 2008. Since then, Williams has not been charged and has continued to receive her annual salary of $72,125.

As to why the investigation has taken so long, Piringer says once a case has been referred to an outside agency for investigation, it’s out of the department’s hands.

Ray Sneed, President of the Local 36 Firefighter’s Union, says Williams has not been brought before a trial board, as is called for in the union contract.

“This is a prime example of the attitude of this administration,” Sneed says. “This should have been resolved a long time ago.”

Williams did not return e-mails from WTOP.