2 Providence firefighters arrested for drug and gun charges

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

An investigation into activity at an Orms St. home in Providence began as just another chance to get drugs and guns off the street.

It wasn’t until weeks into the investigation that investigators learned the suspects were city firefighters.

Joshua Brown and Richard Jimenez are now charged with breaking the law in the city they swore to protect.

"This is a sad day for public safety."

Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare says the two were the subject of a weeks-long investigation into complaints of drug sales out of two apartments inside an Orms St. home.

On Tuesday, police searched 25-year-old Jimenez’s car and second floor apartment and found 2 lbs. of pot, a scale, and several guns.

In the upstairs apartment, home to 24-year-old Joshua Brown, police found 2 lbs. of weed, handguns, cash, and a scale. Brown was arrested while at work at the Reservoir Ave. fire station.

"It’s painful when you see members of our fire department and unfortunately members of our police department violate the law. We’re out there trying to combat and take guns off the street and between these two firefighters they had 8 handguns."

The two are in their third year at the fire department. Both had a clean record and underwent the same background check as other firefighters.

“These individuals when they were hired did not have any prior criminal conduct."

Commissioner Pare made it clear the two were not using or dealing drugs at work or to anyone they worked with.

"It appeared that they kept that separate but you cant separate your duties and the oath that you took.. They’ve tarnished the badge in which they’ve sworn to uphold."

Commissioner Pare says these arrests are not in any way connected to the arrest of another Providence firefighter, Ricardo Garcia, this summer. He was charged after police say they found cocaine in his car.

Jimenez and Brown are being held without bail until their next court date.

If convicted of a felony charge firefighters in the city of Providence are automatically fired.

© WLNE-TV 2016