administration-leadership

Jefferson Parish Investigation Finds Fire Companies Misspent $8.5 Million

The Office of Inspector General for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, has issued a report that identified $28 million in questionable spending by volunteer fire companies, including $8.5 million that the OIG concluded was misspent. The report covers a ten-year period between 2013 and 2023, and goes on to recommend some major changes, including the consolidation of fire districts and volunteer fire companies.

Read More »

Chicago IG Raises Concerns About Fire Department Badge Theft

The Chicago Inspector General’s Office has issued a press release and a five-page advisory outlining its multi-year investigation into the mysterious disappearance of several hundred Chicago Fire Department badges. A total of 340 badges had been reported as lost or stolen between January 1, 2015, through June 30, 2020.

Read More »

FDNY Implements New Anti-Nepotism Policy

FDNY has implemented a new anti-nepotism policy that has sparked some headlines over the past week. The policy, which states it is merely making clear what the city charter already requires, “prohibits City employees from using, or attempting to use, their position to obtain financial gain, privilege, or personal advantage for themselves or for people with whom they are associated with, including close relatives.”

Read More »

Chicago OIG Releases Report on Fire Department Discrimination

The Inspector General for the City of Chicago released a long-awaited report into race discrimination and sexual harassment in the Chicago Fire Department. The 51-page report titled an “Audit of Policies and Practices Related to Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Within the Chicago Fire Department,” outlines the reasons for the investigation and the OIG’s findings.

Read More »

St. Paul District Chief Claims He Was Forced Out for Whistleblowing

A district chief who was assigned to the St. Paul Fire Department’s training academy until he retired last December, has filed suit in federal court claiming he was retaliated and constructively terminated. District Chief Jovan Palmieri filed suit yesterday in US District Court for the District of Minneapolis.

Read More »

Eliminating Technical Rescue Services and Liability

Today’s burning question: If a department eliminates a technical rescue discipline due to liability concerns and a technical rescue incident occur, could those responders be accused of nonfeasance? Answer: The direct answer to your question is yes, responders could be accused of nonfeasance. I think your real question is whether they could be liable and the answer is probably not…

Read More »

Polk County Snapchat Update

The Polk County fire captain at the center of controversy involving the Snapchat video from the scene of a fatal fire, has resigned. Captain James Williams was facing a new investigation about additional photos and videos he posted from emergency incidents, and for lying to investigators.

Read More »

Illinois Chief Loses Suit to Block Termination

An Illinois chief who was found guilty of falsifying time sheets in 2015, has lost his effort to block his termination. Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Pieri filed suit against the Highwood Fire and Police Commission and Highwood City Manager Scott Coren earlier this year seeking to block their efforts to terminate him.

Read More »