BURLINGTON — A Burlington firefighter, who has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, faces arraignment in Fourth District Court in Woburn next week on multiple drug charges; this is the result of an investigation by the Police Department's drug unit, according to authorities.

Police said David Richardson, 32, who lives in Burlington, is charged with distribution of a Class B substance, named by police as OxyContin; drug distribution within a school zone, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

A police source said charges against Richardson are a result of an incident that occurred in Burlington May 15.

Fire Chief Lee Callahan said Richardson has not worked since that date. He was placed on paid administrative leave then; soon thereafter, Town Administrator Robert Mercier said he changed that to unpaid administrative leave.

Callahan and Mercier were both interviewed in their offices this morning.

Mercier said the town has "not relinquished any of its rights" with regard to possible disciplinary action that may be taken against Richardson.

At a recent meeting at Town Hall, Mercier said he met with Richardson and his attorney, and Edgar McLean, who is president of the firefighters' union.

Mercier said he informed the group at that time of his intention to place Richardson on unpaid administrative leave (this constitutes an act of discipline, Mercier and Callahan said; paid leave does not) as a result of the investigation.

Mercier also said he told them he is the town's hearing officer with regard to Civil Service personnel matters, and that if the three wanted, Mercier could have conducted a Civil Service administrative hearing on the spot; Mercier said the three instead agreed to Richardson being placed on unpaid administrative leave.

This past Tuesday, Mercier said, there was a "show cause hearing" at Fourth District Court, in which the Burlington Police Department brought forth the aforementioned charges to the Middlesex County District Attorney's office.

After that, the arraignment date was set, Mercier stated.

What allegedly happened

Callahan said Richardson was hired as a dispatcher in 1996, and appointed by Mercier to the department as a firefighter in 2002.

Asked if there had been suspicions about Richardson in the time leading up to May 15, Callahan responded, "I can't speak to that ... Right now, I feel for David and his family."

According to a police source, members of the drug unit had been watching the parking lot at Dunkin' Donuts on Winn Street "for some activity; we've been doing that for some time now."

The source said further investigation led police to believe a drug transaction was about to go down May 15.

A person was seen in a vehicle in the Dunkin' Donuts lot, and, the source said, a person police identified as Richardson was in a second vehicle, and this second vehicle followed the first vehicle to the parking lot of the Church of the Open Bible on Winn Street, where a transaction allegedly took place.

Reaction

"This is disappointing, very disappointing," said Mercier. "Obviously, David has made some mistakes; he has his side of the story, which I haven't heard yet, and he will have his date in court.

"Based on what happens with his case," the town administrator continued, "then, we will determine a course of action."

"The primary, overriding responsibility of this department is for the safety of the general public," Callahan stated.

"The appointing authority is the town administrator," the fire chief went on to say. "If these allegations are true, he (Mercier) will obviously have some decisions to make."

"The department is very disappointed at the allegations," Callahan went on to say. "The members just want to re-affirm to the public that we are to assist the public, with our fine fire and EMT service."

"Any illegal activity is not condoned by any member of this department," Callahan said. "This is just something we will have to overcome."