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Thirteen Cleveland firefighters were suspended today after being indicted on a payroll investigation.

(PD file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city of Cleveland today suspended without pay 13 firefighters who were indicted last week by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on charges of theft in office.



(Read the indictment and other documents related to the case in the document viewer below).

All 13 waived their rights to pre-disciplinary hearings and accepted the suspensions, according to a news release from the city.

The suspensions will run until their criminal cases have been adjudicated.

The firefighters were taken off active duty last week after their indictments, prompting staffing adjustments to be made by Fire Chief Daryl McGinnis, according to the city.

The firefighters each face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted of the felony theft-in-office charge. They also have been charged with soliciting or receiving improper compensation, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and a seven-year ban from public employment.

The firefighters are accused of illegally paying co-workers to cover most of their shifts, thereby allowing them to work other jobs while still collecting pay and benefits from the city.

County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said last week that each of the indicted firefighters failed to work at least 2,000 hours – the equivalent of about one year – of their scheduled time.

"The public's trust was violated," McGinty said in the release. "In addition to not working and receiving full pay, these individuals abused the system and collected retirement, vacation, medical and other benefits. They caused other firefighters to work multiple days without rest. Fatigued firefighters put the safety of the people [they serve] at risk as well as their fellow firefighters."

The indictments were obtained after a series of internal audits of fire department payrolls. Former federal prosecutor Ronald Bakeman was hired to assist the Cleveland Police Department's internal affairs unit.