San Jose fire captain arrested for burglary, drug charges, officials say
(KRON) — San Jose Fire Captain Mark Moalem was arrested this week for allegedly burglarizing a local fire station and potentially stealing narcotics.
The San Jose Fire Department contacted the San Jose Police Department earlier this week about several controlled substances in the department's possession that had been potentially been damaged or tampered with. During the investigation, San Jose Police Department detectives identified Moalem as a suspect.
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Detectives obtained a warrant for Moalem's arrest and booked him into the Santa Clara County Jail for burglary, child endangerment and narcotics violations. Moalem last worked for the San Jose Fire Department on April 15. It's unclear if Moalem has been fired or if he is on any kind of probation related to the arrest.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and City Manager Jennifer Maguire issued statements following Moalem's arrest.
'Lives depend on our firefighters' ability to administer medical care during emergencies which is why we take theft of controlled substances extremely seriously,' Mahan said. 'I'm grateful to our City Manager and Police Chief for acting quickly and decisively by opening an investigation and holding those responsible accountable. I'll continue monitoring the situation and look forward to procedural changes that ensure this never happens again.'
The investigation is ongoing. The SJFD has since conducted an audit of its controlled substances. City officials suspect that drugs may have been removed from as many as 16 San Jose fire stations. Anyone who may have information about the investigation is encouraged to contact San Jose police.
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'I will not tolerate criminal behavior,' Maguire said. 'The allegations are deeply concerning and represent a serious breach of public trust. I want to be unequivocal: Any conduct that endangers community safety or undermines the integrity of our public institution will be addressed with the utmost seriousness.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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