ROBY CHAVEZ
WTTG
Reprinted with Permission

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Documents show an unknown amount of firefighters with criminal backgrounds are working for the D.C. Fire Department. FOX 5 obtained exclusive internal affairs documents from the department that show many have records, but are issued little more than a written reprimand by Chief Dennis Rubin.

"We've had problems associated with alcohol, drugs and weapons possession. Some of the issues we've had to deal with are truly worrisome. Drugs weapons, alcohol DUI-- all of that has happened," admitted Chief Dennis Rubin.

The revelation could mean the department is allowing convicted criminals into district homes and schools. It is a startling admission from the District's own fire chief: firefighters with criminal backgrounds and still on the job.

The documents detail arrests or convictions for current firefighters for possession of a controlled substance, assault with a deadly weapon, DUI, driving an uninsured vehicle, failure to appear, simple assault, possession of a firearm and theft to name a few. These are all charges the chief knows about.

On one DUI conviction, Chief Rubin signed off, and okayed a 36-hour suspension.

Before you say wow, the chief says, "I think the public should have said 'wow' 30 years ago, when we got so derailed-- when background checks were a thing of the past."

Even after some background checks were run by the department and it was determined some firefighters violated policy to notify the department, some only get a letter of reprimand and only minimal time off. For example, for an assault with a deadly weapon charge which was uncovered by the department itself, Chief Rubin only suspended the sergeant for 24 hours.

Others like a DUI arrest went untold for two years, and then Rubin only gave a letter of reprimand. The documents show his signature is on the reprimand letter sent last December.

"This really sounds like a witch hunt quite frankly," said Rubin

The chief wouldn't comment on the documents when we asked him to clarify his zero-tolerance policy on firefighter conduct.

"If you're involved in moral turpitude or felony, we'll work to get the member terminated," said the fire chief.

Council member Phil Mendelson is the chair of the city's public services committee with oversight on the department. He worries about the lack of background checks.

"The chief should have an idea. The department should know if there are issues with criminal background with any of its front line responders," said Mendelson.

Mendelson also worries that some may not be getting equal treatment from the review board.

"The discipline should be standard and the same for anyone. Like offense, like discipline. It's not clear that is the case. I hear this too much. It's arbitrary and it depends on who the superior is and who the transgressor is," said Mendelson.

Firefighters are one of the most trusted public servants going into our homes, schools, churches businesses. Yet of the 1,100 firefighters the chief made another worrisome admission. Rubin has no idea how many have been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime.

Department sources say several hundred may have a record.

"I truly don't know," Rubin told FOX 5. "I'd be hard guessed to say what the percentages are. I think as soon as we can get the rest of background checks done."

Rubin has been on the job for two and a half years, yet the D.C. Fire Department still has not run a background check on everyone.

FOX 5 asked the chief, "You're saying not everyone in your department has been checked?"

Rubin responded, "I'm embarrassed to say some members go back as much as 30 years and have not had background checks."

The questionable backgrounds of some firefighters even got the attention of the Secret Service. Chief Rubin admits some are not allowed to respond to the White House and have been reassigned.

Chief Rubin says he's working on policy to implement yearly background checks. For now, the chief says the department mainly relies on self-reporting.

As our investigation uncovered, there is a pattern of not reporting crimes, arrests and convictions. Firefighters say privately if they only get reprimands, it doesn't make it a priority for them to turn themselves in.