Man who trained FEMA USAR teams wanted by police. Michael Reimer, Safety Solutions, & four firefighter/employees are caught up in Fort Lauderdale training scandal.
Michael T. Reimer, Safety Solutions, is wanted by Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
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The last word from Broward County, Florida is the remaining suspect from the training and certification scandal involving Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue is Michael T. Reimer. According to news reports, Reimer recently resigned from the fire department and has continued to run Safety Solutions out of Boynton Beach. Reimer’s firm is accused of providing phony training documentation.
A search of the web shows that Michael Reimer and Safety Solutions also have provided training for the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams. News reports indicate that the other four firefighters arrested, Freddie Batista, Greg Jones, Joseph Perri and Steve Loleski, all worked for Safety Solutions.
Here’s an excerpt from a January, 2010 article by WSVN-TV in connection with the earthquake in Haiti:
A South Florida company has so far been responsible for training more than two dozen of the country’s urban search and rescue teams.
Contracted by FEMA, Safety Solutions, based in Boynton Beach, taught all 28 urban search and rescue teams in Haiti everything they know. “This is a concrete chain saw. It can plunge through solid concrete,” said Mike Reimer of Safety Solutions, as he demonstrates how the machine can cut through solid rebar in a few seconds.
Teams go into the ruins and dig with $3 million worth of equipment. “They need to know building construction, how to use tools effectively, how to prevent further collapse,” said Reimer. “They’re going to shore up the building with lumber that will hold the building in place, and then they’re going to tunnel and dig.”
Broward County Sheriff’s Office photos of (l-r) Freddie Batista, Steve Loleski, Gregory Jones and Joseph Perri via sun-sentinel.com.
Here’s what the articles are now saying about Michael Reimer and Safety Solutions.
Erika Pesantes and Linda Trischitta, Sun Sentinel:
Authorities said (arrested firefighter Steve) Loleski allegedly got his training at Safety Solutions Inc., a Boynton Beach company owned by Michael and Tracey Reimer that was not approved to offer the certification.
Batista allegedly also made a phony card for Michael Reimer, a city firefighter who recently resigned and faces charges of uttering a forged document, grand theft and official misconduct, police said. He remains at large.
Other firefighters who also allegedly received the bogus certification were: Gregory Jones, 28, and Joseph Perri, 27, both employed by the city department for six years, and charged with uttering a forged document and official misconduct.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Loleski and the other accused firefighters received their ACLS cards from a company called Safety Solution Inc., owned by Michael Reimer, which was not approved to teach the advanced cardiovascular life support course, stated the affidavit. The cards of Loleski, Reimer, Jones and Perri all contained similar, suspicious characteristics including the name of a non-authorized instructor, Freddie Batista, stated the affidavit.
As a result of the fake cards, the affidavit stated, Reimer and Jones received the 15-percent pay incentive and Loleski received the 10-percent.
Elgin Jones, South Florida Times:
Reimer is president of Boynton Beach-based Safety Solutions LLC, an internationally recognized safety company he founded in 1996. Safety Solutions sells products and equipment and specializes in rescue and recovery training.
Batista, Jones, Perri and Loleski have worked for his firm.
The company has provided training to fire departments around the country and abroad. It has also offered training to law enforcement agencies and branches of the U.S. military, as well as foreign government.
Mark Young, BrowardNetOnline.com:
At this time, the remaining subject that is still at large is Michael T. Reimer. His whereabouts are unknown at this time. Anyone with information regarding Reimer’s location, is urged to contact Sgt. R. Pelham of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-5700.
The investigation began when the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department discovered what appeared to be a suspicious document during a routine audit of training certificates. The Fort Lauderdale Fire Department initiated an internal auxiliary review, discovering additional fraudulent documents. The Fort Lauderdale Fire Department turned their investigation over to the Florida Department of Health and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
