A former Clearwater Fire and Rescue assistant fire chief who plead no contest on Monday to a retail theft charge has been charged with shoplifting twice before, according to court records.

  • Robert Gemsheim, 52, ticketed for shoplifting on February 22
  • Gemsheim resigned his post one week later
  • Gemsheim previously ticketed for shoplifting in 2007 and 2010

Gemsheim was dressed in his uniform February 22 when Clearwater Police said he was caught on surveillance video stealing a $3 energy drink from the 7-Eleven located at 657 Court St. Gemsheim was issued a ticket for retail theft.

Exactly one week later, Gemsheim resigned his position with Clearwater Fire and Rescue, where his annual salary was $85,000.

According to court records, a judge accepted Gemsheim’s no contest plea and adjudicated him guilty. The judge also ordered Gemsheim to six months of probation, 100 hours of community service and he must pay a $500 fine.

The 7-Eleven store manager, Thomas Bryan, told investigators that when he asked Gemsheim why would he steal an energy drink, the assistant fire chief replied that he gave money to a relative who was arrested for drugs, and he was going through a tough time with a divorce.

This incident marks the third time Gemsheim used divorce as an excuse when accused of shoplifting.

According to a Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office report, Gemsheim was caught on surveillance video walking out of a Virginia department store with a $90 iPod dock without paying for the item back on May 27, 2007. Gemsheim initially denied stealing the iPod dock, but later said he just bought a house, was going through a divorce, didn’t have any money and just wanted one for a long time.

At the time, Gemsheim was issued a ticket for misdemeanor shoplifting.

Three years later, on May 28, 2010, Gemsheim was accused of stealing $181 worth of groceries from a Virginia store, according to a Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office report. Gemsheim told a deputy he needed an expensive dental procedure, was going through a divorce and thought he could save money by walking out with the groceries.

The report goes on to say Gemsheim said he was employed as a firefighter, was very sorry and would never steal again. He was issued another ticket for shoplifting following the incident, and he subsequently came to an agreement with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office

Clearwater Fire and Rescue hired Gemsheim two years later as the assistant chief of health and safety. Gemsheim’s attorney, Ricardo Rivera, did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.

Gemsheim was given the 2016 Public Safety and Service Award less than three weeks before he was ticketed for shoplifting at 7-Eleven.