Paramedic may get drug court

A paramedic caught injecting sedatives from the Spokane Fire Department’s pharmaceutical supplies will be given a chance to consider a court-operated treatment program before prosecutors file drug charges against her.

In most drug cases, that option isn’t available until after criminal charges are filed.

But authorities insist no special treatment is being given to Spokane Fire Department paramedic Rebecca Singley.

“The vast majority of cases we get are people in need of public defenders, and the only way they get that assistance is by the charges being filed,” said Spokane County Chief Criminal Prosecutor Jack Driscoll. “In this case, the person, I believe, has a private attorney.”

If Singley is accepted into the program – called drug court – felony charges would be deferred and possibly dismissed if she completes an intensive 12- to 18-month drug treatment schedule, authorities said. She’s facing felony charges of possessing morphine and Demerol, and a misdemeanor charge of possessing etomidate.

The 32-year-old was found on Spokane Fire Station 11’s bathroom floor May 30 after injecting herself with etomidate, a short-lasting sedative, while on duty, according to court documents.

Deputy Prosecutor John Grasso determined charges were appropriate late last week after reviewing the Spokane police investigation into Singley’s actions, officials said Tuesday. According to court documents released Thursday, Singley told investigators she’s been stealing drugs since at least December, and in some instances, tried to hide the missing drugs by filling the bottles with a saline solution.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health has opened its own investigation, said Melody Westmoreland, section manager for licensing and certification for the office of EMS and trauma systems, a division within the state department.

If the state’s investigation finds Singley violated the state code under which she was licensed, she could be disciplined or her paramedic certification revoked, officials said.

Singley’s certification expires in 2009, Westmoreland said. Paramedics are typically recertified every three years in Washington. According to state law, possession or use of drugs is considered a violation of the code.

Mary Doran, a Spokane County prosecutor, said she expects Singley to observe drug court proceedings sometime this week, but she didn’t know whether it would be today or Thursday – the two days of the week the specialized court operates.

But even if Singley opts for the intensive drug treatment alternative, her acceptance into the program isn’t guaranteed.

“They are evaluated, and they will have a hearing,” said Spokane County Superior Court Judge Linda Tompkins, who oversees drug court. “They are not eligible if they are merely using or abusing drugs. They have to be addicted. The resources are so dear, if you will, we can’t take everyone.”

Tompkins was unaware of Singley’s interest in the program.

Singley remains on paid administrative leave, fire officials said. Until she’s officially charged by the prosecutor’s office, a decision regarding her employment cannot be made.

Spokane Fire Chief Bobby Williams said Tuesday he’s unclear about his options regarding Singley’s employment if she enters drug court and the felony charges are deferred.

However, Williams did act quickly to do what was within his control.

The night Singley was found “temporarily incapacitated,” all the drugs at Station 11 were replaced. Williams said the entire Fire Department’s drug supply – in all remaining stations – was swapped out the next day.

It’s impossible to tell just by looking which drugs may have been swapped out, said Dr. Kim Thorburn, a Spokane medical authority, who said using saline as a replacement for liquid drugs is not unusual among those stealing drugs such as morphine.

“It’s a common form of diversion,” Thorburn said. “The drugs appear clear in the bottles.”

If a paramedic had used the saline solution in the field, it probably would not have been life-threatening, Thorburn said, although the patient also wouldn’t get pain relief.

“Saline is generally not harmful in itself,” she said. “One situation where it could be a problem is if a person has high blood pressure. Theoretically it could introduce a blood-pressure problem.”

Williams said a departmental investigation determined that none of the drugs Singley said she replaced at Station 11 were used in the field during the time frame she indicated.

Thorburn, who is an internist by training and has done much of her work in the field of chemical dependency, said she wasn’t surprised no one detected Singley’s alleged drug problem.

“It’s common for an addict to function fairly well until they are late into the problem,” Thorburn said. “It’s more in the social sphere of things before it’s the performance of duties. And that’s unfortunate; really, if we can get the disease earlier it’s a better time for intervention and recovery.”

Jody Lawrence-Turner can be reached at (509) 459-5593 or jodyl@spokesman.com.