Polk County EMT Forged Promotion Paperwork: Sheriff

LAKELAND, FL — A 28-year-old Polk County Fire Rescue emergency medical technician is in hot water with the law and her employer after authorities say she forged documents to gain a promotion. Polk County deputies say the documents Kayla Anne Rivas Zehtab turned in to be eligible for a firefighter promotion – and a $11,123 a year raise – were phony.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation into the Lakeland woman’s alleged forgery began shortly after Zehtab submitted certification of completion of a physical abilities test from the Broward Fire Academy on July 19. The documents were dated June 10, 2017, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

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“Her supervisor noticed irregularities while processing the documentation," the email said. "The text on the certificate appeared to be darker than normal, slanted, and not parallel with the corresponding text on the document.”

When fire rescue reached out to the fire academy, no record of Zehtab ever attending the training could be found.

The sheriff’s office said Mark Wilson, director with the Broward Fire Academy stated:

"In reference to your fax of July 27, 2017, the Broward Fire Academy does not have a record of this person successfully completing a County-wide Ability test at our facility. Furthermore, we are unable to locate a registration form, payment confirmation, or a time/score sheet that would indicate participation on the date identified on the certificate. At this time, we must conclude that one of our original documents has been altered and presented to you."

That response led to Zehtab’s Aug. 1 arrest on forgery and grand theft charges.

"Instead of doing the right thing, Ms. Zehtab decided to forge a certificate to make herself eligible for a promotion in order to receive compensation for which she was not entitled," Sheriff Grady Judd said in announcing the arrest. "Forging a certificate to be promoted to a Firefighter is not only an integrity issue, but it is also a public safety concern."

Joe Halman Jr., deputy county manager of public safety, said that Zehtab’s alleged conduct “will not be tolerated. We expect nothing less than professionalism and honesty from our employees.”

Zehtab was hired by fire rescue as an EMT on Jan. 4, 2017, according to the agency. She has been suspended with pay pending an internal investigation by fire rescue. Zehtab makes $9.73 an hour as a non-exempt 56-hour employee, the agency reported.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office