Florida Keys air-ambulance chief is fired amid stolen-drugs investigation

Monroe County Fire Rescue fired the head of its helicopter-ambulance department Friday following her indictment last month in connection with an investigation into stolen medication.

The county released a statement Friday afternoon saying Division Chief Andrea Thompson’s termination is effective immediately. It comes on the heels of a recommendation by her superiors during a predetermination hearing this month. They concluded she violated county policy, “which constituted a breach of the public trust, particularly given her leadership role.”

“Monroe County remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability,” Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley said in a written statement. “We want to ensure public trust and safety throughout Monroe County Fire Rescue and all County departments.”

Thompson is among three high-profile county officials indicted by a grand jury in August as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged theft of narcotics from the Trauma Star helicopter-ambulance department by its former chief flight nurse in 2022. None of the three high-profile figures is accused of stealing the drugs.

READ MORE: Top leaders of Florida Keys air-ambulance department indicted by grand jury in stolen-drugs case

The indictments also swept up former County Administrator Roman Gastesi Jr., who has worked for Monroe for 16 years. Gastesi, 61, is charged with one count of official misconduct, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Thompson, 45, is charged with two counts of official misconduct, one count of providing false information to law enforcement, two counts of evidence tampering, three counts of witness tampering and one count of altering patient records.

Dr. Sandra Schwemmer, 72, the medical director of the county’s Fire Rescue and Trauma Star ambulance program, is charged with one count of official misconduct, one count of providing false information to law enforcement and one count of altering patient records.

All three indictments stem from the criminal investigation of Lynda Rusinowski, Trauma Star’s veteran chief flight nurse accused of stealing medical-grade narcotics — including fentanyl, dilaudid, versed, ketamine and morphine — from Trauma Star’s hangar

Thompson, Gastesi and Schwemmer have pleaded not guilty in their pending cases. While prosecutors have not released specifics of the accusations against Gastesi and Schwemmer, they say they pertain to either their actions or inaction during the investigation into the medication thefts.

The county fired Gastesi and Schwemmer following their indictments.

READ MORE: Grand jury indicts Monroe County’s top administrator. He’s third Keys official charged

The grand jury indicted Rusinowski this summer on 36 counts, including 10 counts of grand theft. The other 26 counts are related to Rusinowski allegedly falsifying records to conceal the theft of the drugs.

Her alleged crimes first came to light on July 25, 2022, when colleagues confronted her with discrepancies in inventory records. According to the Monroe State Attorney’s Office, she admitted to stealing the drugs and said she needed help for addiction.

Thompson then drove her to a detox facility in Palm Beach County, prosecutors say, adding that she also removed medical equipment from Rusinowski’s truck.

Rusinowski, 58, resigned from Monroe County Fire Rescue in August 2022, and the sheriff’s office arrested her a month later on felony grand-theft and fraud charges.

Thompson, whose annual salary was $151,127.87, was hired in July 2001.

Her attorney, Sean Parys, released a statement to the Herald on Friday saying his client is innocent.

“The decision to terminate Andrea Thompson’s employment was made solely based on her arrest and indictment, without consideration of the actual evidence in the case,” Parys said. “As she has throughout her career, Thompson acted with professionalism and integrity during this incident, and all decisions were made by or with her colleagues and superiors. When the actual evidence is tested in court, it will show Andrea Thompson is innocent.”