Bernard Shore of Port Washington, who drew widespread headlines in August when he used Craigslist to try and get someone else to take his EMT certification exam, has pled guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of official misconduct and been given a conditional discharge.
Under the plea, Shore, who was a 10-year EMT for the Port Fire Department, may not attempt to certify as an EMT with New York State, must forfeit any pension or pension credits earned from 2010 through now, must pay back real estate tax credits from 2010 until now and must pay a $500 fine.
Port Washington Fire Department Chief Raymond Ryan said Shore was dismissed during the process of the case. He added: “The Port Washington Fire Department cooperated fully with the investigation by the Nassau County Assistant District Attorney and we are thankful for their efforts.”
Shore could not be reached for comment.
The case began when Shore, then 65, allegedly solicited another person on Craigslist to impersonate him for the purpose of taking an emergency medical technician certification test in exchange for a fee.
Shore was arrested and charged with offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, criminal solicitation in the fourth degree, and two counts of official misconduct. At the time he faced up to four years in prison if convicted.
The chain of events began in May, when Shore failed the New York State Critical Care EMT examination, the district attorney said. All EMTs are required to re-certify with New York State every three years by passing
this test.
Shore then applied to be retested on July 18 and placed an ad on Craigslist on or about June 19 seeking an EMT-CC or paramedic to take the test for him, the DA said.
Shore said in the ad that he would provide the test-taker with an identification card and would negotiate a fee based on the test-taker’s qualifications, according to the DA.
Shore was contacted by an undercover representative of the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, which saw the ad. Shore agreed to pay the undercover representative $400 and provide him with a forged Port Washington Fire Department identification card with Shore’s name and the undercover’s photo, the DA said.
On July 16, Shore contacted the undercover representative and told him that he had changed his mind and would be taking the test himself, according to the DA. However, according to published reports, Shore then met with an undercover reporter, tipped off by Craigslist, who had also answered his ad later that day and paid him $400 and gave him a fake ID.
