The Anderson Fire Protection District, in Anderson, California has been sued by The Record Searchlight to obtain an investigator's report on the conduct of its former fire chief. Attorney Walter McNeill, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the newspaper in Shasta County Superior Court seeking documents regarding the district's investigation into ex-Fire Chief Joe Piccinini.
The Record Searchlight had previously sought information under the state's Public Records Act about the investigative report regarding allegations of mismanagement and misconduct of Piccinini, but were unsuccessful. Piccinini was placed on paid administrative leave in May, and resigned on July 1. The lawsuit alleges that the report is a public record, but fire protection officials say it falls under an exemption in the Public Records Act.
Neither Piccinini nor the fire board had offered an explanation for the resignation or the findings of the investigation, which cost the city $41,000.