Ex-Palermo Fireman Charged With Stealing From Palermo FD

Police say their 16 month investigation of a burglary at the Palermo Fire Department has ended with the arrest of a former firefighter.

State Police say Michael C. Murphy, 20, of Thompson Rd. in Palermo admitted to stealing a chainsaw from one fire truck, and rope and rescue gear from the department on a second occasion.

The investigation began in September, 2009, when State Police say Murphy entered the fire station in the middle of the night, took the chainsaw, then called police with a story of having disrupted a burglary in progress.

Last month, police say they interviewed Murphy again, at which time they allege he confessed to stealing the chainsaw and the separate thefts of the rope and rescue gear.

Police say they got back all three of the items taken.

Murphy was sent by a judge to the Oswego County Correctional Facility on bail of $1,000 cash or $2,000 bond.

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