City Firefighter Accused of Making False 911 Calls to Enable Thefts

A city firefighter has been accused of calling in several false 911 calls to empty out firehouses, from which he the stole personal belongings, the city Department of Investigation commissioner said.

Joseph Keene allegedly stole money from fellow FDNY employees at firehouses in Bellerose and Staten Island.

"It is surprising that a firefighter would both call in fake 911 calls and steal money from colleagues," DOI commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said. "To do so at this time, when there is a heightened need for units to be responding to legitimate calls to people in need is especially outrageous."

During the first incident on May 29, Keene allegedly called in a fake call about a smell of gas in Staten Island. While members of Ladder 83 went to inspect, the defendant is alleged to stolen between $150 to $200 from the firehouse.

He allegedly reported a transformer sparking in Staten Island on June 2 and took between $400 and $500 from Ladder 80.

He allegedly called in a fake gas odor on Little Neck Parkway on June 11 and stole $1,200 from Bellerose's Engine 251.

The defendant is also accused of stealing $40 to $60 from an employee locker area at Randall's Island on July 17 and taking $100 from Astoria's Engine 263 on that same day.

On July 18, Keene allegedly admitted to the incidents upon being interviewed by city detectives, the DOI commissioner said.