Former Wausau Fire Department EMS Division Chief Enters Not Guilty Plea to Misconduct and Theft

Monday, November 24th, 2025 -- 3:01 PM

(Bree Bylak, WSAW) The former Wausau Fire Department EMS division chief charged with misconduct and theft pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday in Marathon County court.

According to Bree Bylak with WSAW, Jared Thompson, 46, waived his right to a preliminary hearing. The judge found there was probable cause a crime was committed and bound Thompson over for arraignment and trial. Thompson was arrested in August.

According to the criminal complaint, Thompson is accused of stealing pain medication from the Wausau Fire Department. Thompson was solely responsible for ordering fentanyl and other controlled substances.

The criminal complaint states that between Jan. 1, 2025 and June 16, 2025, approximately 486 vials of hydromorphone and approximately 612 vials of fentanyl purchased by the Wausau Fire Department were either unaccounted for or diverted.

For comparison, in 2023, the department purchased approximately 11 vials of hydromorphone and approximately 92 vials of fentanyl. Hydromorphone and fentanyl are administered to people suffering from severe pain in medical emergencies.

A statement from the Wausau Fire Department says staff members raised concerns about Thompson’s misuse of a controlled substance, which prompted a Wisconsin Department of Justice investigation. The conduct described in the criminal complaint reportedly happened between January 2024 and June 2025.

In the criminal complaint, a witness says Thompson would frequently order medication from the Aspirus Wausau Pharmacy on behalf of the Fire Department. He would order and pick up 10 or more vials of hydromorphone, which is also known as Dilaudid.

The witness said other orders from the fire department would rarely exceed five vials. The complaint says staff noticed blood spots, pieces of safety seals for fentanyl vials, and disposable tourniquets after Thompson used a fire station bay bathroom.

Thompson would also come into the station on his off days, including Father’s Day, which staff said was unusual for him. Thompson is no longer employed by the Wausau Fire Department.

His employment ended September 17. Thompson is free on a $25,000 signature bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for December 17.

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