BOSTON — A Boston Fire Department lieutenant is behind bars after police seized methamphetamine, unregistered guns, and thousands of rounds of ammunition from his Milton home — a scandal that has thrown Mayor Michelle Wu’s fire department into crisis.

Lieutenant Joshua Thompson, 38, was ordered held without bail this week on 21 charges including meth trafficking, illegal firearms possession, and improper storage. Prosecutors say investigators discovered five assault-style rifles, five handguns, 76 magazines, nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition, ballistic vests, and about 100 tablets that tested positive for meth.

The raid followed a restraining order obtained by Thompson’s estranged wife, who raised alarms about his behavior. A judge cited escalating paranoia and the danger of combining drugs with a weapons cache in ruling him too great a risk for release.

Body Armor Bombshell

A Boston Fire insider told Mass Daily News that among the seized gear was department-issued “active shooter” armor that had been reported missing from Thompson’s fire truck earlier this year.

“There was never any police investigation into the missing armor as far as anyone knows,” the insider said. “Meanwhile a truly unstable and unfit fire officer was stockpiling it at home.”

The same insider said Thompson had just been suspended after refusing to respond to an emergency call with his company, with the fire chief later finding him sitting in the kitchen while his crew answered an accident.

A Black Eye for Boston Fire

Thompson, a decorated Navy and Army veteran once praised for his bravery during a deadly North End fire in 2017, now faces months behind bars awaiting trial. The bust has tarnished a department already under pressure from long shifts, tight staffing, and low morale.

Firefighters stress the scandal belongs to one man alone. Boston’s rank-and-file continue responding to daily emergencies, running into burning buildings and saving lives across the city.

Wu’s Department Under Scrutiny

The case comes as City Hall faces tough questions about its oversight of the fire department. While firefighters grapple with danger and burnout, Mayor Wu’s administration has emphasized political initiatives such as the fire cadet program, designed to diversify the force.

Commissioner Paul Burke received a $40,000 pay bump tied to that program, a move that drew sharp criticism from insiders who questioned standards after some cadets reportedly advanced despite failing required fitness tests.

Bigger Questions Ahead

Between the lieutenant’s shocking arrest, missing department gear, and concerns over leadership priorities, Wu’s fire department is facing one of its most turbulent moments in years.

For the men and women still putting on the uniform, the message is clear: Boston’s bravest continue to carry the load, even as scandal and politics threaten to overshadow their sacrifice.