Phoenix Fire Marshal Reassigned Following Investigation Into Conflicts Of Interest

Phoenix Fire Marshall Jack Ballentine has been permanently reassigned to the fire department’s Homeland Security section following investigations into his involvement with fund raising for the public safety related charity, the 100 Club of Arizona.

Channel 12 News is reporting that a business that had some serious fire code problems donated $100,000 to the 100 Club, with the check being handed to Ballentine personally while on duty. What is unclear even from the news reports is whether the business, Madison Improvement Club, was given any additional considerations it would not otherwise have been granted. As is so often the case, just the perception of a conflict of interest is enough to create a problem.

Effective tomorrow Ballentine will no longer serve as fire marshal.